We’ve got yet another box on the table today for our August Mystery Unboxing. It took a while to arrive, but it was absolutely worth the wait. We’re diving into four highly anticipated products across the BB, Pellet, and Airsoft categories.
Here is a quick first look at what’s hitting the review table soon!
First out of the box is the Marksman 1018. This is a very budget-friendly (around $50), 1911-inspired spring-actuated pistol. It features fiber-optic sights on the front and back, making it an excellent, quiet option for basement or backyard plinking. While it can technically shoot darts and bolts, we'll be sticking to BBs and pellets for our tests.
Next up is a beauty from Umarex, the Glock 17 Gen 5 MOS. If you love ultra-realistic replicas, this is it. It features a heavy full-metal slide spring, a recessed barrel, and classic white dot sights. The "MOS" means it comes ready with all the mounting plates you need to attach your favorite red dot sights. It runs on a full-size, drop-out 17-round metal magazine and utilizes a full blowback system for ultra realistic blowback operation.
Basic Specifications:
Action: Semi-auto full blowback, single CO2 cartridge
I'm incredibly excited to finally do a proper field test on this one. This is a replacement for a previous model that had a leaky loading valve. This gas-operated, "Mares Leg" style lever-action rifle is heavily modernized. It features a gorgeous real wood stock, an enlarged lever loop, a Picatinny top rail, an M-LOK handguard for accessories, and a mock suppressor on the front.
Finally, we have an absolute powerhouse in a tiny package: the Specna Arms SA-E10 PDW. This is a super-compact AR-style AEG with a polymer-metal build and a telescopic stock. Specna Arms goes above and beyond with the box contents on this one. Along with the rifle, you get two S-MAG mid-cap magazines, an additional M90 drop-in spring to easily lower your FPS for indoor fields, a Deans adapter, and a vertical foregrip.
Basic Specifications:
Action: Electric (AEG) with Pre-installed MOSFET
Capacity: Includes two 125-round mid-cap S-MAG magazines
Velocity: 375-390 FPS (Drops to ~310-320 FPS with included M90 spring)
Length: Minimum 505 mm (approx. 19.8 inches)
Inner Barrel: 160 mm precision 6.03mm barrel
Stay tuned to the Replica Airguns channel, as I'll be doing dedicated tabletop and field test shooting videos for all of these very soon.
Today we’re looking at the A&K M1873R (the R version). There are a few different versions of this rifle in the lineup (some more compact, some more full-length), and the manual actually shows the variations so watch the video where I point that out.
This is a Table Top Review only, so we’re focusing on specs, details, and a walk-around. I was hoping to follow this up quickly with a Shooting / Field Test Video, but my sample has an issue: it’s leaking gas when I try to fill it (I tested with propane/green gas). I’ll need to sort that out first (repair or replacement), so the field test will have to wait until that’s resolved.
Speed loader (you’ll want this for loading the internal magazine)
Tools / Allen keys
Small bag of airsoft BBs
Simple 1-page manual
Manual Notes: Different Versions
The manual shows several versions of this lever action platform. Some are more compact and some are more traditional full-length lever rifles. There’s also a version that appears to run without the longer front barrel extension setup, which, honestly, is the version I’d personally lean toward since the included mock suppressor is mostly cosmetic.
Walk Around
This is a really sharp-looking rifle, it has that classic lever gun vibe thanks to the real wood stock and brass butt plate, but then it mixes in a modern tactical look with the M-LOK hand-guard and top Picatinny rail.
A few key points when handling it:
No sights included: there are no iron sights on this rifle, so you’ll want to add your own optic (red dot, scope, or rail-mounted irons).
M-LOK handguard + top rail: lots of freedom to build the look you want, keep it clean, or “tactical western” it up with accessories.
Internal mag / side loading gate: loads like a real lever gun, through the side. The external profile stays clean (no big mag hanging out).
Enlarged lever loop: easier to run with gloves or bigger hands, and it just looks right on this style of rifle.
Sling / carry: it includes a metal lanyard ring / sling hoop, so carrying it is easy if you want it strapped while moving around.
Mock Suppressor and Gas Fill
The included “suppressor” is mainly for looks. It does have an orange front, and it doesn’t function as a suppressor (it’s not extending the inner barrel either).
Important practical detail: you’ll need to remove the mock suppressor to access the gas fill valve, which means you’ll want to keep the included tool (or something similar like a washer/coin that fits) with you.
Issue With My Sample: Leaking Gas
My review sample is leaking at the fill area. It looks like someone may have tried to seal it (there appears to be silicone or residue), and there are a few scratches that make me suspect this unit could have been a return. I tried tightening it, but it still leaks and it may be stripped.
This is not what you should expect out of a normal new unit, but I want to mention it because it’s the reason I’m holding off on the field test until it’s fixed.
Pros
A lever action gas Airsoft rifle is just plain fun (and there aren’t tons of these around)
Classic look with real wood + brass butt plate, but still has modern utility with M-LOK up front
Feels solid in the hands (doesn’t feel cheap)
Top Picatinny rail makes optics easy (and you’ll want optics since there are no sights)
25-round internal magazine keeps the outside profile clean
Enlarged lever loop is great for gloves or cold-weather play
Lanyard ring / sling hoop makes it easy to carry
Speed loader makes loading fast once you get the hang of it
You can run it more compact by skipping the mock suppressor (it’s optional)
Cons
The internal 25-round magazine is awkward to load without the speed loader, don’t lose it
Green gas performance is temperature sensitive, which can affect consistency in colder weather
Not a fast follow-up shooter, you must work the lever for every shot (part of the charm, but it’s a limitation)
You’ll need to add your own sights/optic (none included)
The included mock suppressor must be removed to fill gas, which adds a little extra handling
Final Thoughts
The A&K M1873R is a really cool “modern western” mashup, classic lever action styling with real wood and brass, but with M-LOK and a top rail so you can build it out however you want. Lever guns force you to slow down and actually enjoy the shooting experience, and that’s a big part of why they’re so popular (even outside of Airsoft).
Once I get the leak issue sorted on my sample, I definitely want to do the field test, because this is exactly the kind of unique platform that deserves to be shot and evaluated properly. On the table, it looks great, feels solid, and offers a lot of customization potential, you just have to go in knowing it’s lever-action manual cycling, it uses green gas/propane (so temperature matters), and you’ll need to add your own optic since there are no sights included.
