When information broke out that Magpul will be stopping production of its products for the airsoft market, there was a collective gasp of disbelief. Reactions were varied, but mostly of dread. Magpul, through its Professional Training Simulation (PTS) Division, has made big in roads in this market without rip-offs taking a big chunk of revenues from company. Airsoft players flocked to genuine Magpul products that are compatible with airsoft guns, knowing that they're having the real deal, albeit made specifically for the airsoft market.

When we got the information from the posting of Airsoft Outlet Northwest and wrote about it, Popular Airsoft sent an inquiry regarding this as there was no official public announcement from PTS or Magpul. PTS always sends updates and announcements and it was such a surprise that such a development in the airsoft market, there was no official statement.

As of this writing, there was no response from PTS, which has its headquarters in Hong Kong.

So some will question if such news is really true or not. We got a more solid confirmation from a reliable source that it is indeed true. PTS in the USA emailed Magpul Dealers that they will be halting Magpul-related airsoft products as shown in an email forward to Popular Airsoft below (we removed some information in the email as per request by our source):

From: PTS XXX [[email protected]]

Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 X:XX PM
To: 'PTS XXX'
Subject: PTS OFFICIAL UPDATE
Importance: High
 
Attention Magpul dealers,
 
PTS will be halting production of all Magpul related airsoft components immediately.  This action was determined in conjunction with Magpul USA to stem the proliferation of counterfeit Magpul USA and Magpul PTS components.  These counterfeit parts are being offered not only in the airsoft market but, of much greater concern, in the real firearms market and they are showing up in the military supply pipeline.  This action was taken to close off the US borders to all Magpul related imports to ease the identification of Magpul counterfeits.  Magpul USA is working closely with the State Department, Dept. of Homeland Security, US Customs, and other US federal law enforcement agencies on this issue.  PTS Magpul products may return in the future but no timeline has been given.
 
Thank you,

XXXX

That's the nearest that we can have for an official statement until PTS decides to make one for public consumption. We are not sure if such stop in production is US-specific only since the email is explicit in the issue of counterfeit products mixing with genuine Magpul and PTS products in both real steel and airsoft markets and that they are coordinating mainly with US government agencies.

One would assume that the no public announcement was made so that there won't be an immediate shortage of PTS products among retailers when airsoft players get their supplies knowing that the products won't be available in the foreseeable  future or not to give advance notice to manufacturers and sellers of unauthorized copies and catch them unaware. Whatever is the action of PTS and Magpul, we'll have to assume that what they are doing are for the best of both airsoft and real steel communities. And also for their own benefit as business entities.

Should you buy your PTS needs for that airsoft project you have right now? We do recommend that you do so, especially if what you need is essential for your airsoft gun. As for the campaign of Magpul and PTS to stamp out counterfeit products, we say good luck to them. However, with the vacuum left by the absence of genuine Magpul products for the airsoft market, counterfeit makers may just fill that rather than go into retreat further as more customers prefer the genuine products for airsoft.