Not a manufacturer, but as many modelguns were sold under "RMI" brand, it has to be included in this list.
RMI was an American company that was selling Japanese modelguns outside of Japan under their own brand, as MGC could not use their brand outside of Japan. RMI was created in 1968, initially to trade militaria. In 1972 a sister company called "Unique Imports" was created. Both merged in 1980 to create Collectors Armory.
Currently Collector's Armoury still exists as a large internet shop specialising in militaria.
kiwigunner Modelgun Master
Number of posts : 556 Age : 73 Location / Country : Auckland/New Zealand Registration date : 2010-03-10
Subject: Re: RMI (Replica Models Incorporated) Mon Nov 01, 2010 12:51 am
When I was growing up in America during the 1970s, 80s and even up until the early 90s, the Collector's Armoury (aka Replica Models Inc. and Unique Imports, Inc.) was the coolest catalog to get in the mail! (We did get the Squadron Shop military model catalog as well, but they did not sell 1:1 scale gun replicas, just mainly 1/35 military models). Anyways, I recently completed some research on the old R.M.I company store locations in America since I was curious as to the 3 different addresses I have seen listed over time.
First they were located at 6233 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA USA according to the BATF paperwork of 1968.
The last store location before going internet only (mid 1970s to quite possibly the very early 1990s?), which I was able to visit in 1981 or 82 (I forget the year, but it was awesome to see in person), was located at 800 Slaters Ln. Alexandria, VA USA; it is now a print copy business:
HIGUsan was kind enough to share these two rare early 1970s R.M.I fold-out posters with the members! I "cleaned them up" Photoshop per his request; they were pretty rough and yellowed; they are not perfect but way better than before.
Info on the two large format posters in HIGUsan's own words: "Issued in 1970 and 1971 but must be 1969 and 1971. Catalogue in 1969 used real gun picture of Mauser M1916.MGC released Mauser M1916 in 1970. Catalogue in 1971 has SW M44 auto. It was released in 1971". So they are really early examples of RMIs marketing, and truly rare pieces indeed. Enjoy! (For high res/downloads, you can click on the pic and then on the "pointing down" arrow, and there you can choose the original size)
There MUST have been an earlier (or later) version of the fold out poster as I had every one of them PLUS a Baby Browning pistol. The hardest ones to find were the Buntline Special and the Mauser Hsc.
Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:59 pm
