This is the biggest story in the airsoft community this year so far, the termination of the exclusive licensing agreement between KWA and KRISS Arms. It is just surprising that it looks like an early marriage that led to quick divorce. What is really fascinating about this story is it is about the journey of the KRISS Vector firearm into the airsoft world.

Ever since MadBull Airsoft  announced in 2008  that they are working on an airsoft version KRISS Vector when it was still TDI before they got bought by the Swiss and became known as KRISS Arms SA, this turned to be such a long journey for one of the most wished for firearms to have an airsoft version. It was an unbelievable thing that the interest of airsoft players was sustained throughout the years even if there was no update on its progress from MadBull. We assume here that with the TDI now being KRISS Arms, it freed up the new owner to search for a new partner which resumed during the IWA 2010 & Outdoor Classics leading to the appointment of KWA as the official manufacturer for the KRISS Vector GBB in July 2010.

With that announcement, we also thought the release will be in 2011 but it will take over two years since the official announcement for the KRISS Vector Airsoft Gas Blowback SMG under KWA to finally hit the store shelves just a week before Christmas in 2012.  We knew the relationship between KWA and KRISS Arms was going strong since apart from the KRISS Vector and Sphinx Pistols licenses, KWA appointed Defiance, which is part of KRISS Arms together with Sphinx Systems to be the KWA European Distributor in July 2012.

The release of the KRISS Vector GBB by KWA was also a success with stocks of the SMG quickly depleted as airsoft players purchased the KWA KRISS Vector since it was released. Things did really look bright for the KWA and KRISS Arms relationship that an AEG version of the KWA KRISS Vector was also announced in January 2013.

But soon after the conclusion of the IWA 2013 & Outdoor Classics did we start hearing about troubles in KWA and KRISS Arms was also mentioned. We cannot really comment on what we heard since we treated these as rumours and there were no official announcements. Thus, we cannot really write about such since even official channels won't answer our queries. We already know that there is trouble and we get to confirm this with the press release from KRISS Arms terminating the licensing agreement yesterday.

This means also that KWA will have to cease in supplying the KRISS Vector airsoft gun. With the termination of the license, the KRISS Vector airsoft version got to see the light in the airsoft world for just about 4 months. KRISS Arms never mentioned the cause of the termination but  what is definite is that they would pursue the sale of KRISS products without their authorization.

So will there still be a KRISS Vector GBB? That is what the airsoft customers would like to know. We are not privy to the licensing details between KWA and KRISS Arms. Definitely the Trademarks and Trade Dress of the KRISS Vector are owned by KRISS Arms, but how about the internal schematics of the Gas Blowback KRISS? Will KWA retain ownership of the internal designs of the GBB given that they are the ones who make airsoft guns and did this under license from KRISS Arms to create the KRISS Vector GBB? If KWA does, then KRISS Arms may not be able to bring such internal designs to another manufacturer to continue production of the KRISS Vector. If KRISS Arms do get to own the internal schematics, then all they have to do is appoint an OEM to continue production. In their press release, KRISS Arms are seeking new partners to continue making their airsoft products. But let's assume the worst for now. The best thing for now if the gas blowback version will be in contention between the two parties, is to focus on the AEG version, Sphinx GBB Pistols, and Defiance Silencers for the airsoft market.

What will happen to those KWA KRISS GBBs being held by the sellers? Well, they now have will become very rare KWA KRISS Vector GBBs which means the price will go up, whether brand new or second hand, since rare items will always fetch a higher price. These are now collector's items until KRISS Arms get to resume the production of the KRISS Vector airsoft version.

If you own one, keep it well. You are holding an airsoft gun that has an interesting history. We'll have to wait for the next batch of airsoft KRISS Vectors from another manufacturer which we pray will not take another 4 years of waiting.

(Teaser photo used is the Tominator of the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog trying to hold on to the last KWA KRISS Vector GBB available, though we're kidding about the photo description.)