Package from Taiwan

After giving up hopes in HK I decided to go Taiwan - both unique from the Formosa...




Can't see anything so special though - but wait...

Better open up the Browning first to see how its like:




Custom Browning Hi-Power GBB Republic of China (ROC) - apart from the "Properties of the ROC" marking in Chinese (correct font ) it's the added lanyard ring that makes it special...ah and the black grips as well (finishing not as good as I expected)...




Then the centre of attention...





Not supposed to ship the Vipers with Colt Markings overseas but still here we go...

Comes with the supplied mag - much more heavier than the Prowins (and G&P and WA etc) and yet much cheaper if sold separately (1/2 the price of Prowin) - only available in TW...




A brand called E-B - was told it is actually Viper as well...anyway:





Give the bag a "like" as it replicates the real Colt one quite faithfully...

Unfortunately :

Either it's the design fault of the gun or the mag (definitely not me!) - I drop it 5 minutes after opening: when I thought I loaded it correctly and pull the bolt from a metre in height...its weight also make this more serious




How I wish the warning sticker can address this problem as well instead of all these cliche...

Then a comparison of the markings with Marushin's pfc version (Marushin on top - I don't want the Viper to crush the fragile modelgun):






Shame the Viper's bolt can only go 3/4 back (making it less realistic) - other than that, Viper is making a very strong GBB (both the gun itself & the recoils)

Got the prowin mag a couple of days later (and it fits nicely with the gun) - the original one is simply too impractical to carry around...thanks for reading!

What company did you get the browning from? The viper looks a bit strange, what are your thoughts on it?

denisonsmock wrote:

What company did you get the browning from? The viper looks a bit strange, what are your thoughts on it?

Obviously Browning's made by WE - but I know that you're asking which shop customise it = a particular CWI...

Would like to find out which part that you find the Viper strange...I reckon this is the most realistic XM177E2 to date (price's unrealistic though)...so I wonder if I'll get more Viper in the future...

One thing - the sound's too loud/hard & sharp when the bolt returns...will try to post a video here to show it...

These vipers are bloody expensive, I dont know what they're like to skirmish? The bolt doesnt go back as you high lighted, I thought it would be a top model and thats the strange part? They look great compared to the WE one, but over £400 - too much.
http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21101182951382
The paint job on the the browning plastic mag looks a bit scruffy?
http://www.bbdragon.com.tw/product_info.php/products_id/1801/Twesid/ffd8cde5fb0464a969637d69cf140755

When everybody reckon Inokatsu guns are expensive - here we have the Viper...initially I want the strictly limited M16A2 and apparently I'd missed out (only acknowledged Viper permits Colt marking several months after it sold out ) so this 177 is the next best thing...regarding the bolt unable to go full distance I don't know if Inokatsu M4 share the same problem...

Too heavy & expensive for wargaming so this one have to stay home...and it's actually £515 : browning mag is full metal but the black paint's too glossy making it plastic looking ...I'm OK with it though...

£515, don't let it near the the WE XM177's, they might bully it, call it names like - posh! snob!, go and play with the Inokasus. It could happen.

I was thinking of spray painting my Browning HP grips, but I cant find a fine line in paint. Maybe spray them flat black and then add a semi gloss to them? Can you get real grips? I paid 2500NT for my Browning, the real grips would more than likely cost more:?:

Nice Browning replica, Jim.

I like the Chinese markings on it - will have to look for a real one here.

The Hi-power is terrific, I loved it, right up to the point that I owned my first 1911.

Jesse.

denisonsmock wrote:

£515, don't let it near the the WE XM177's, they might bully it, call it names like - posh! snob!, go and play with the Inokasus. It could happen.

I was thinking of spray painting my Browning HP grips, but I cant find a fine line in paint. Maybe spray them flat black and then add a semi gloss to them? Can you get real grips? I paid 2500NT for my Browning, the real grips would more than likely cost more:?:

Tough - normal paint for model kits (let's say Tamiya) don't make smooth surface and might not be able to withstand frequent handling (these tend to be cosmetic paint not functional) - nobody wants to have black palm after holding it for several minutes...

I wonder if real HP grips makes perfect fit with the WE - also I'm not too sure now is the marking / lanyard ring / painted black grip / different serial number really worth double the price (5000NT)...bought this partly to make the EMS shipping cost more worthwhile (Viper alone cost the same)...

Now after fiddling with the Viper - I don't really want to go back to my WEs as they're so toyish (still practical though)...also something's wrong with their XM177 prototype (they made a E1/E2 mix) - hope they'll correct it...

pitfighter wrote:

Nice Browning replica, Jim.

I like the Chinese markings on it - will have to look for a real one here.

The Hi-power is terrific, I loved it, right up to the point that I owned my first 1911.

Jesse.

Thanks for the appreciation Jesse

By this time I think the real ones might get so beat-up...but not sure can these be considered as relic now that might be lawfully easier to get in CA (forgot the cut-off date - 1946 or something)?

I used to own a real MKIII (maybe even the MK II - it was made & assembled in Belgium and without that long rail between the sights) as I preferred the more contemporary look especially the grips...

Thanks Jim for the comparisons and costs.
Excellent reading!
The HP looks great - I just have the standard WE version with no markings. It shoots well and I'm more than happy with it. Trying to get a local laser company to inscribe some markings for me (standard Canadian Inglis version).

Kiwigunner

Quote :

It shoots well and I'm more than happy with it.

How many times have you used it? Do you use your WE Browning for skirmishing?

I've had a for a few months and use it for target shooting and plinking. I don't skirmish often, but when I do I use my WEP08 with a Snail mag as a back up to my Stg44.
Getting too old for running around being shot at !

I also use my bb guns for basic weapons training with newbies.

Kiwigunner

I'm having a go at the survival game ar 40 something, been asked many times and decided to have a go, I'm not a walt tho! But I wil be taking by HP and an M4, and I will not be dressing up.

Excellent! Good on ya mate!

Kiwigunner

In Britain, you have to dress up to enjoy your hobby, to be able to keep and your deacts or BB guns if you want to use them in the open. You cannot go into your back garden, put up a few beer cans and shoot them as in the old days.

There is no off topic on this forum.

Whats the case in in NZ?

I'll do my best to explain what I understand is the basic bottom line that:
It is an offence to cause anyone to become afraid of something that they believe is a firearm.
At one end of the scale that means if you pointed even a black banana at someone in a manner that led them to think it was a gun, you could find yourself up on a firearms charge.

At present anyone over 18 can buy a bb gun or air rifle (except for those high powered types). If you're 16 you can buy one if you have a firearms licence. Likewise, at the moment anyone (as defined above) can import any Airsoft gun other than one that is fully auto. Semi-autos only at present. Next year that will change and you'll require a permit to import; but the fully auto bb guns will become legal to own ----but might require a licence to do so.

You can carry a real rile or air rifle in a carry bag, with no worries - unless to try to go into a bank, post office or political rally or something stupid like that
So shooting cans in your back yard is ok unless you neighbour complains to the cops .... refer to the basic law above!

We have excellent and fair gun laws at present compared to Aussie and the UK. With a population of only 4 million people (1 million in Greater Auckland) the idiots are quickly found and dealt to.
We have over 250,00 gun owners (licensed) and a powerful lobby with farmers, hunters and military enthusiasts as relatively sane and caring people.

Mind you we have to be ever vigilant towards changes, as recently happened. I wrote some opposing submissions, which helped change some things, but failed to change some other things. But all submissions are published on the Government website: (mine is here on this link)
http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/0D61DED2-E1AA-4850-830C-756872C9CF22/194432/49SCLO_EVI_00DBHOH_BILL10610_1_A193982_JohnMaine_1.pdf

Blank guns are OK so long as they are vetted by your local Police Arms officer and can't be modified to fire real bullets (controversial at the moment).

And replica or Modelguns are of no interest to the police at the moment unless the black banana rule is actioned.

It is a given, that you must have a fit and proper reason to transport any of these things if you happen to be stopped for a traffic violation or check.....so if you fail to convince the officer questioning you then the basic law might come into force.
And all the procedures that go with it! Same thing applies if your home is searched for some reason.

So Common sense prevails at the present time....but given the increasing use of drugs, immigration issues and the international terrorist paranoia who knows what will be?

All I know, and believe is that there are people who will use the guise of anti-terrorism to remove basic freedoms that we currently have, in the name of security Beware of those wolves in sheep's clothing!
There are ways you can oppose them if you're willing to do so. But it ain't easy!

But for now, sanity prevails in this fair country. And I feel privileged to be a New Zealander who can collect and enjoy modelguns relatively easily.



Kiwigunner

.

kiwigunner wrote:

Thanks Jim for the comparisons and costs.
Excellent reading!
The HP looks great - I just have the standard WE version with no markings. It shoots well and I'm more than happy with it. Trying to get a local laser company to inscribe some markings for me (standard Canadian Inglis version).

Kiwigunner

Or do you want a factory WE slide with Belgian marking? I can ask for you if you want ...

I would'nt mind a slide with standard English markings if you're in the know?

Thanks Jim,

I appreciate the offer but I really would like something like this on the slide:


Do you think they might be interested in doing a Canadian slide?
I'm sure there's a market for it.

Cheers,

Kiwigunner

denisonsmock wrote:

I would'nt mind a slide with standard English markings if you're in the know?

(Whisper) "Not supposed to reveal it here: this is actually Under-the-Counter sales from a particular WE distributor here in HK - you might like to ask around in Taipei as well...shhh..."

This is the Belgian-French marking for the optional slide - I reckon this is more beautiful:

kiwigunner wrote:

Thanks Jim,

I appreciate the offer but I really would like something like this on the slide:

Do you think they might be interested in doing a Canadian slide?
I'm sure there's a market for it.

Cheers,

Kiwigunner

So you only want the line "Browning F.N. 9MM H.P. INGLIS CANADA" on the bottom of the slide-left minus the Chinese characters? Don't really think so as it looks quite bald (or not as attractive for the Chinese market)...might be better for you to get local laser job ;-) ...

denisonsmock wrote:

I would'nt mind a slide with standard English markings if you're in the know?

You can try to ask Robert of CWI to see if he can get you one cheaper since it is without the Chinese characters...