The buzz over the weekend is the news from Taipei Hooha Show, Taiwan's militaria and airsoft trade show that's also held on an annual basis, is the new WE Airsoft "Katana" split-type AEG gearbox that seems to be a melding of different airsoft technologies into one easy to use, and maintain package. Has WE really made an effort of introducing its own technology to really make an impact in the airsoft market?

Watching the video below, the first impressions that you get are: 1) Systema with the replaceable cylinder system; 2) ICS with the split gearbox technology; and 3) Tokyo Marui for all the other internal parts to easily replace with after-market parts. Alan, the Editor-in-Chief of Public Enemy, took this video as he went to Taiwan to cover the Hooha Show.

In the past year or so, WE has been working very hard to expand their gas blowback rifle line-up, managing to make airsoft players happy with different models of airsoft gas blowback rifles, though fully differentiating themselves as one the true innovators in airsoft have not really come by. WE was thought more as a follower rather than an innovator in making airsoft products, and with the Katana Gearbox, they aim to dispel that impression.

Two of the best-selling points of their patent-pending "Katana" gearbox is the ability to change the cylinders quickly, just like the Systema PTWs, and you can change the power of your AEG and the ability to use Tokyo Marui and Tokyo Marui-compatible after-market parts to maintain or upgrade the AEG. The split-gearbox makes it more convenient to do all of these changes. The other convenient thing is you can use existing M4 AEG bodies to use this technology, lessening worries about costs and non-compatibility, allowing you to make different M4 AEG models work with the Katana gearbox.

How will it perform against the technologies from the different airsoft manufacturers? Well, we cannot say for now until the Katana Geabox hits the shelves of retailers. For now, the pressing question is: will WE abandon the M4 AEG rifle that they have recently released in favor of new airsoft M4 AEG models using the new gearbox? They have just recently release the M4 AEG, which is their first foray into the AEG segment of the airsoft market, and perhaps that model was their dry-run to introduce something innovative in that segment.

We won't complain, the more airsoft technologies offering their own take on improving the airsoft experience of players is often a very welcome thing.

Let the airsoft techwars begin.