ARE YOU LOCAL? PLAY AT FAF AIRSOFT!
Fox Airsoft has an interesting story that all began with a group of teenagers and young adults who played airsoft in the woods in Colorado long before it existed as we know it today. As it was 20 years ago, Airsoft was a very underground sport that began to gain notice at a time when the internet was growing as well.
At the early beginnings of airsoft in the United States, interested people had very little support stateside regarding technical knowledge or places to shop, let alone legally sanctioned fields to play at. Players interested in airsoft were paying a premium for airsoft guns, which were largely plastic, did not shoot that hard, and were very expensive to upgrade. A typical AEG costs 3-4x what you pay for today for an equivalent gun. All your shopping was done over the internet, where you imported your guns from overseas and hoped and prayed that you didn't get ripped off or your airsoft gun confiscated by customs. You had to invest a fair bit of money into the guns themselves. Since these guns have no support from the manufacturer stateside, you were relegated to servicing the guns yourself or relying on a small pool of people who knew. YouTube and Facebook don't exist yet, so we have relied on message boards to get help.
As airsoft grew in popularity worldwide, more manufacturers started giving you options with more competitive pricing. Soon, US-based distributors started to appear, headed by players who turned into business people who were as passionate about the sport as we were as players. This was when airsoft started gaining legitimacy, and you could get worthwhile products, get into the sport, and still have it backed by a warranty for the first time. The epicenter of where the airsoft industry was growing was in California.
Over here in Colorado in the early 2000s, airsoft was a niche sport. You could say it was even on the fringe. Small groups of people got together and built a common interest. Games would be played either on private land or in places out of the public eye. Knowledge of the games was underground, so you had to get to know people to be invited. You couldn't just pass by on the street and see what was going on and walk onto a field the way you might see happening today.
A small group of friends who formed the team Swamp Fox 12 would frequent or host many of the games in the area with a desire to train and build the airsoft community. A retail store in Colorado that sells airsoft goods did not exist yet; at this point, a light bulb went off. The team decided to pitch in and go into business together by forming Fox Airsoft. So, Fox Airsoft was started with just a pocket full of cash and a commitment to each other.
The early years were simple enough. The guys would sell supplies and special order things people requested out of the back of a Jeep. As things progressed, Fox Airsoft moved into a tiny retail space with a couple of guys working odd hours between their real jobs and school. At this point, Airsoft was picking up in popularity, and the local games being hosted got bigger and better. As Fox Airsoft grew, the commitment to grow airsoft remained the same and has been the mission ever since. Swamp Fox continued to push their training as players and reaffirmed their commitments to the team. This could be seen through their playstyle as Swamp Fox took to major events nationwide and left an impression.
Although some of the original founding Swamp Fox members have moved on from airsoft to focus on their personal lives, a few people from that team still exist as the leadership and backbone of Fox Airsoft. The tradition of Fox Airsoft and its mission is to be the unmatched expert in providing quality airsoft solutions. We strive to bring you a high level of service that is not seen anywhere else. We offer products and services that we trust and can stand behind, which only comes from our years of experience in airsoft. Outside of the scope of our retail business, we want to impart the importance of being good ambassadors of airsoft to build a good community and grow our sport. The growth of our sport means legitimacy, more places to shop, more places to play, cool events, and more products to choose from. Airsoft has been a positive influence in many people's lives, and through that, many of us are thankful to have built lifelong friendships that all came from a simple game of shooting plastic pellets at each other.
We invite you to visit us in Parker, Colorado, to experience the camaraderie and excitement of airsoft. Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned player, Fox Airsoft is your gateway to a community where the love of the game creates bonds that last a lifetime. Join us as we continue to write the story of airsoft in Colorado and beyond, pushing the sport to new heights and welcoming all who share our passion.
Come down to Parker, Colorado, and stop by Fox Airsoft to learn more about the sport of airsoft. We look forward to seeing you!
