May is the month when airsoft players look forward to visiting Coventry, though not exactly the city itself, but at the outskirts near Solihull, where airsoft shops have setup their booths at The Grange for the Airsoft Arms Fair, which on the 18th of May 2013, held its seventh event. It was also my first time to get there without my usual wingman, Master Chief, and was able to get to the venue with the help of John Drury of Rules of Engagement Airsoft (ROE Airsoft).

We arrived just right before the Fair opened and since being regular attendees as media guys, everything was a breeze as we have to get started covering the event. Paul Fernandez was already there too, so we got our bands and off we go to the Fair grounds. Thanks to Marie Knight for handling our entry. We also bumped into Yosser and the Airsoft Odyssey Crew.

First thing was to find Jim Septhon, the man behind the Airsoft Arms Fair, to say high and see if there's something that we should be aware of. Nothing really new but if we want to hold interviews, he has set-up an interview corner so we won't be away of the visitors and exhibitors when we want to learn more about a company or two. 

MilSpec Solutions was the first booth we visited, with the WE Airsoft Europe Team headed by Matt already with the MilSpec Solutions team. They mentioned the availability of the WE 999C AEG, or WE Airsoft's take on the G36C, and it's a well-built AEG with crisp trigger response. Helen of Gun Mart, whom we met first at the Airsoft Plantation weekender, also arrived there too.

Łukasz Bonczol, the Sales Coordinator of Gunfire, the Poland-based airsoft reseller and distributor found me and together we went to the Gunfire Booth, which was just right at the entrance of the Exhibit Tent where most of the paying exhibitors were located. We had a long and wonderful discussion about Gunfire and products that are under their brand. Full account of our discussion will be posted as another story and I would like to thank Łukasz for the Polish Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka.

After the visit to the Gunfire booth (and nicking three of their glowsticks with the approval of Łukasz) and leave to discuss business with other potential customers and clients, it was roaming time to check the whole place. By 11am, the Fair is now getting steadily filled, I checked the various exhibitors in the tent, which by now you are all familiar with as we have already interviewed or wrote about them during the previous Airsoft Arms Fairs and even the British Airsoft Show. Armed with both stills and video cameras, I took photos and videos of the exhibitors. RedWolf Airsoft, The Grange, Airsoft International, Ammo Drop, Pro-Airsoft, Swindon Airsoft, and Apocalypse PX Airsoft were located there.

At the hall, I noticed so nicely made custom Galil guns made by Dave's Custom. There are three five of them, called the "Suppressed," "Support," "CQB," "Battle Rifle," and "DMR" which are based on the ICS ICAR (Galil) Series (the AR and . These are made to order custom airsoft guns and will take at least a week two to four weeks to make one, depending on the orders placed. According to Dave they will be available at other airsoft stores in the next few months and directly from Dave's Custom Facebook Page.

One of the new exhibitors was SNAFU Airsoft Apparel, a clothing line for the airsoft player with some catchy text's and designs. It was also their Grand Opening so it was also the first time for everyone to see them. You can check their Facebook Page to see their clothing line.

By 1pm, the Fair really was in full steam as the 1pm ticket holders now have entered the Fair. The Car Booth Sale area was especially busy this year with more personal gear sellers there. Dave Manning of TAG Airsoft and Stirling Airsoft was busy at their area, and he waved us in to watch some training sessions for airsoft players.

The rest of the afternoons saw the raffle draw and charity auction to raise funds for the Help for Heroes Charity. Prior to this, I got to talk to Jim Septhon regarding October 2013 and he mentioned to me that a big airsoft practical shooting event will instead take place for two days in cooperation with Clarence Lai/Airsoft Surgeon and RedWolf Airsoft. European airsoft practical shooters will be invited for this event, and will serve also as qualifiers for the world airsoft shoot event that will happen next year. I cannot write further about this event pending details from the AIPSC.uk.

And speaking of the airsoft practical shooting, the AIPSC UK match happened the next day, 19 May and we're just waiting for the results from Jim to post here.

Photos of the Airsoft Arms Fair 7 are now posted at the Popular Airsoft Facebook Page. Our video and more photos from Paul Fernandez will be announced here as soon as they're ready.