Tanio Kobayashi just celebrated his 76th birthday. For those who haven't delved much into airsoft's history, Tanio Koba, as he is popularly known for, was part  and the first employee of Model Gun Corporation (MGC) one of the airsoft corporations from Japan that led the first charge of airsoft from a just being mainly a Japanese past time to a global thing. MGC has produced a good line of pistols, with Tanio's design and still in fact influenced the development of gas blowback pistols which a good number can trace their origins to Tanio's designs. MGC also developed an M16, MP5 and Ruger airsoft replicas. But what I fondly remember MGC for is their Calico airsoft rifles.

The MGC Calico M100 was my first fully owned airsoft gun back in 1988. Though I started airsoft in 1987, it was in 1988 that I was able to have my own one, rather than borrowed or rented. It's non-blowback and is not magazine fed. Even the owner of the gun, Calico Light Weapons Systems, was also a very young company, having been established in 1982 and the Calico M100 rifle is very unique with its helical-fed magazine which can put carry 100 rounds. The MGC Calico M100 can have 800 rounds which are loaded on top of the rifle. Just open the top, and dump a bag bbs there and are then fired with its power source being an external tank with the hose snaking through the pistol grip. Both the real and airsoft Calicos were unique, space-age looking designs that seemed to have taken inspiration from a forgotten sci-fi flick, and also their round capacities which beat the usual magazine fed rifles.

The MGC Calico M100 was then followed by the M1000 which was a semi-automatic one and had an internal tank in the grip. Like the M100, it also had a folding stock. But by the 1990s, most Japanese airsoft companies had to close down due to bad investments in other areas. Only a few remain, making classic or period airsoft guns, with Tokyo Marui growing to be the larger airsoft company which remains to be right now, due to the right move to AEGs and their legendary hop-up system.

Nowadays, there are still some MGC Calicos available, albeit are still the classic airsoft ones traded among collectors of classic airsoft guns. Some are still skirmishable whilst others are bought to provide spare parts for other still working models. They still fetch a very good price as some are either equal or more expensive than other newer airsoft guns in the market today in terms of pricing.

We have seen some of the models made during the Classic Airsoft days being produced nowadays as new models with contemporary airsoft internal designs. Most of the airsoft models which are based on gun designs made before the start of the 21st Century have their own recent versions, and not based on the old classic airsoft internals. When I was looking at my old printed copy of the Classic Airsoft Wiki Entry (it's not at Wikipedia anymore), the MGC Calico and the L2A3 Sterling (made by Japan Arms Collection or JAC) were the only airsoft models made in the Classic Airsoft period that do not have their own recent revival.

Perhaps airsoft players nowadays may find the Calico fugly though when it was first released, it was a bleeding edge design due to its sleek looks and unconventional feeding system. That's why I loved the MGC Calico as it did give me an edge against other players with its high capacity to hold bbs.

I am not after a Classic MGC Calico nowadays, but looking forward to a reincarnation of this rifle as an AEG (or a gas blowback in Daytona Gas Blowback-style in a lesser way). I want it to be brand new and smelling of fresh paint, out of its own brand new packaging, and newer materials. Or still, I wouldn't mind a brand new airsoft Calico that still takes in the internal design of MGC with a hop-up system added. With MOLLE loops and better load bearing systems for tactical use these days, the tank and its hose is less of a hassle to bring around.

As to which manufacturer. I do have my preferences but would rather keep it to myself. Any airsoft manufacturer can pick up the design and release a new version and it will keep me happy. Sounds selfish? Perhaps, but then who knows? A company might just grant my wish.