Maker: Western Arms SCW (Shibuya Custom Works)
Model: WA-WLO
Release year: 2003
Model name: Wilson Combat CQB
Model type: gas blowback pistol, w/ Hop-Up barrel
Model length: 216mm
Barrel length: ? mm
Model weight: 870g
Calibre: 6mm BBs
Magazine capacity: 15 rounds
Muzzle velocity: 250 m/s (w/ HFC134a)
Rate of fire: semi-automatic
Price: 26,000 yen
Model number: WCQB-A-A
Gun type: semi-automatic handgun
Gun length: 8 5/8"
Barrel length: 5"
Gun weight: 38 oz. (empty), 44 oz. (loaded)
Calibre: .45ACP
Magazine capacity: 8 rounds
Muzzle velocity: ? m/s
Rate of fire: semi-automatic
Price: $1985.00
The Wilson Combat CQB was my first gas pistol. Taking no chances and going straight for the best, Western Arms is as much a replica model company as they are an airsoft model manufacturer. Honestly, I don't think I could ever buy anything else now that I've been spoiled by this fantastic piece. I paid $250 for my Wilson (eBay purchase). Certainly not an inexpensive option, you could buy two lesser gas pistols for that price. And with a spare magazine cost of $50 each, this is a reason why Western Arms have something of a awe factor to them. Indeed, players look at my Wilson Combat and say, "Oh wow, is that a Western Arms?" Sure, you can do just fine with a Tokyo Marui or KSC gas pistol, but it's just not as special as a Western Arms, especially a Shibuya Custom Works, which are even more rare and limited (and expensive).
I had wanted a Para-Ordnance P14-45 in the dual tone green/black colors. I like the tactical look of the OD frame with a black slide, but I saw Western Arms had this "SCW Wilson Combat CQB," and I asked around what "SCW" meant and why the cost was so much higher. After receiving some responses about the higher quality Shibuya Custom Works and tighter manufacturing control at Western Arms smaller subset custom wokshop, I decided on the Wilson. If you're going to buy something, might as well buy the best.
The quality is there, the grips are authentic and all trademarks are intact. My Wilson has no orange on the barrel, not wanting to ruin the appearance any. It has great weight and balance and feels good in the hand. No, better; it feels real in the hand. The sights are adjustable, and all the typical 1911 functionality is there. The hop-up is easy enough to adjust; just lock back the slide, insert a 1.5mm allen key into the chamber (included with the pistol) into a small hole just below the barrel and turn to adjust hop.
The magazine only holds 15 rounds, which is twice what the real Wilson can hold, but compared to high capacity pistols double stacker pistols which have 25 to 30 rounds in their magazines, 15 rounds seems a bit small. I've never felt I've lacked firepower however, and I think a single stacker grip is preferable even though I have fairly large hands. Good reloading skills and shot counting will improve your pistol ability, so I've never been surprised when I fired my last round, having another magazine all ready to go.
I use only HFC134a gas in my Wilson. The gas system is efficient enough that even with this weaker gas, the pistol will shoot 250fps (w/ 0.20g BBs) consistently, which is plenty fine for a pistol which will only be used in CQB anyway at ranges not exceeding fourty feet. I would not recommend using HFC22, especially the higher powered Taiwanese variant, unless you want a broken Western Arms which I'm sure will make a fine paperweight. The recoil is fast and has a decent kick as far as airsoft pistols go. I can pull off four rounds a second, which is quite fast for a semi-automatic airsoft pistol. A factor not commonly looked at in gas pistols is rate of fire, and slide recoiling action is a major component in determining how quick on the trigger you can be.
I don't think I'll partake in upgrades to the Wilson until something finally breaks in it, which is eventual even with regular care and maintanence. The plastic slide and frame are plenty strong, heavy and realistic enough. I have all the power and accuracy I could ask for in a handgun. There are plenty of upgrade options for Western Arms pistols, more than any other company, but I've not looked into those just yet. Let's just sayu you could practically build a Western Arms pistols just from the amount of aftermarket parts available.
The negatives? The magazine that comes with the pistol has a very deeply recessed fill valve, mostly from the extra space caused from the bumper. I could not get at it with a can of HFC134a someone had let me borrow. A can of HFC22's nozzle was long enough to reach it, but I wasn't going to risk using it. I managed to locate HFC134a with the supposedly longest nozzle available, called "Green Forane 134a" (black label, red text). Indeed it can fill this magazine without trouble, but I'll buy the Western Arms 15 round 1911 magazines without the bumper to save myself the trouble and not limit myself to only one kind of 134a gas.
Overall, this is about as nice a gas pistol as you will find. It's almost too nice to use, not wanting to risk any damage, even if superficial. I use a Specialty Defense Systems MOLLE pistol holster which covers the entire pistol and keeps it free from dirt but also keeps it very secure. Not a very fast draw solution, but none safer. There are some who would question the price involved in a Western Arms sidearm and opt instead for something less expensive but offers similar performance. Tokyo Marui has my interest with their very affordable Hi-Capa 5.1 Government model. While undoubtedly a nice piece and very skirmishable, it's not a 100% replica that the Wilson Combat is. It gets a lot of attention from other players and it very unique and recognizable, especially because of the dual tone scheme.
Update: A bit of disappointing news (an understatement), but my Wilson Combat CQB broke just recently. I've no idea what's wrong with it just yet, but the hammer is locked in a half-cock position and will not move all the way back without feeling as though something is definitely wrong. I've taken the slide off, but it is beyond my skill to repair. I essentially own a $250 paperweight. This is a pistol I properly maintained, used only HFC134a gas in, and fired less than 500 rounds with. Quite frankly, this has put me in a negative attitude as far as gas pistols go, and I am through with them. One of the magazines I own has been malfunctioning as well, with the spring becoming jammed and not feeding the BBs upward. Even lubricated, it still fails. I may get the pistol fixed (if it can be), but I will no longer use it in skirmishing. If a Western Arms, "the Ferrari/Cadillac of airsoft guns" is so easily busted and for no reason, and a Shibuya Custom Works at that, then I'm swearing off pistols and sticking with AEGs. I'm purchasing a Tokyo Marui MP5K-PDW and that will become my backup weapon.
I no longer fully recommend this pistol as any more than a display piece (Western Arms themselves have maintained the position that they don't pay the upmost attention to the operation of their replicas as they do with detailing authenticity; the Japanese mindset is a Western Arms is too expensive to skirmish with and prefer a simpler and as equally effective Tokyo Marui or KSC), and recommend a small AEG for a capable secondary model. They cost less to use, greater ammunition capacity per magazine and firepower on par with any full-sized rifle AEG. I will provide a review of the PDW as soon as I have received and had time to use it in the field.
For those that absolutely need a gas pistol for one reason or another, I recommend a Tokyo Marui or KSC gas pistol. They're less expensive both in the pistol itself and spare magazines, offer roughly the same performance, and if you break it, it's not as big a deal and probably less cost to repair. TM and KSC are more skirmishable pieces, especially Marui, whose gas system has a lineage back to Tanio Koba, legendary airsoft pistol designer.
Update (2004/11/25): The Wilson was finally fixed, and at no cost. I still have no idea what was wrong with it or how to fix it should it happen again. I will probably sell the Wilson since I got the need for a Western Arms out of my system, and no longer see much use for it other than an expensive display model.