Double Eagle airsoft guns are made primarily in China. The company Double Eagle is a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of airsoft products, with their headquarters located in Dongguan, China. While some Double Eagle branded airsoft guns may contain components from other countries, the final assembly and manufacturing of the airsoft guns takes place in China.
Double Eagle Company Background
Double Eagle was founded in the 1990s as one of the first companies to manufacture airsoft products in China. They started by making spring airsoft pistols and rifles, gaining popularity for making affordable and decent quality airsoft guns compared to options from Japan at the time.
As airsoft continued growing as a sport globally, Double Eagle expanded its product line to include gas and electric powered airsoft rifles and pistols. They also began exporting worldwide to meet demand for budget airsoft guns. While quality control and quality assurance issues plagued some of Double Eagle’s early products, their manufacturing and product development improved over the years.
Today, Double Eagle offers a wide range of airsoft guns across all price points. Their headquarters and main factory are located in Dongguan, China. This is where the majority of Double Eagle airsoft guns are manufactured and assembled before being distributed worldwide.
Reasons Why Double Eagle Airsoft Guns Are Made in China
There are several key reasons why Double Eagle manufactures their airsoft guns in China:
- Lower manufacturing costs – Labor and operational costs are much lower in China compared to the US, Japan or Europe. This allows Double Eagle to produce affordable airsoft guns, especially for entry level and budget focused players.
- Established manufacturing infrastructure – China has an established manufacturing ecosystem centered around the Pearl River Delta region where Double Eagle is located. This gives them access to trained workers, specialized factories, and supply chain networks for airsoft production.
- Proximity to component suppliers – Many of the components, such as magazines, gears, rails, stocks, etc come from Chinese suppliers located in Guangdong province. This simplifies Double Eagle’s supply chain and logistics.
- History and experience – Double Eagle has over 20+ years experience manufacturing airsoft guns in China. The knowledge base and relationships with local vendors they have developed over time would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Additionally, by keeping production in China, Double Eagle does not have to deal with the costs and difficulties of importing finished airsoft guns into the Chinese market. China has strict regulations on importing replica firearms, so domestic production avoids those issues.
Double Eagle’s Main Manufacturing Facilities
Double Eagle operates several factories and facilities in the Dongguan region of southern China. This includes:
- Double Eagle Plant 1 – Their original and main production factory located in Humen town, Dongguan. Manufactures many of their airsoft AEG rifles and pistols.
- Double Eagle Plant 2 – Additional manufacturing facility located near their headquarters. Produces plastic components and OEM products.
- Molding and Tooling Facilities – Double Eagle operates specialized factories for developing and producing injection molds, die casting molds, and other tooling used in airsoft manufacturing.
- Research and Development Center – Double Eagle has an R&D facility in Dongguan focused on developing and improving airsoft products.
- Quality Control and Testing – Double Eagle’s headquarters has dedicated quality control and testing labs to evaluate products before distribution.
By keeping all of these major operations centralized near their headquarters in Dongguan, Double Eagle can closely oversee and control the end-to-end production of their airsoft guns. This gives them a competitive manufacturing advantage in the Chinese market.
Typical Double Eagle Airsoft Gun Production Process
The typical manufacturing process for Double Eagle airsoft guns when done at their factories in Dongguan is:
- Design and Prototyping – Double Eagle’s R&D team creates CAD designs and functional prototypes for new airsoft gun models. This can take weeks or months of iterative testing.
- Tooling – The molding and tooling factory produces any required injection molds, die casts, and custom machine tools needed for mass production.
- Components Manufacturing – Double Eagle’s suppliers and partner factories produce all the individual components required for the airsoft guns like barrels, magazines, gears, rails, stocks etc. Some components are also imported.
- Assembly – At Double Eagle’s main plant, workers assemble the guns by hand by putting together all the manufactured components.
- Testing – Function tests are conducted on sample products from the production line to verify performance and quality.
- Packaging – The airsoft guns are individually packaged along with any accessories, manuals etc.
- Warehousing – The finished products are warehoused at Double Eagle’s headquarters facilities before distribution.
- Shipping – Large batches of the packaged airsoft guns are exported worldwide to wholesalers and retailers to be sold to consumers.
This streamlined, centralized manufacturing process allows Double Eagle to quickly scale production of new airsoft gun designs in China once the prototyping stage is complete.
Quality Control and Assurance
Double Eagle factories follow quality management protocols such as:
- ISO 9001 standards – Double Eagle’s facilities are ISO 9001 certified for quality management systems. This requires process documentation, training, and compliance audits.
- QC testing – 100% functional testing is done on completed guns. Random samples from production batches go through additional performance tests.
- Production monitoring – Factories have workers inspect WIP products between production stages to catch issues early.
- Supplier audits – Double Eagle routinely audits and visits key component suppliers to verify their quality processes.
However, Double Eagle has received criticism in the past around their quality control practices. When production scales up rapidly for a new product, manufacturing defects and issues can slip through. Customer service and warranty support is not always timely. There is a perception their QC has room for improvement compared to elite airsoft brands.
Use of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Partners
In addition to their own brand of airsoft products, Double Eagle also manufactures airsoft guns for other brands through OEM partnerships. These other companies design the products, while Double Eagle serves as the factory producing the airsoft guns to the client’s specifications. Some examples of brands Double Eagle provides OEM manufacturing for include:
- Game Face – US based retailer that sells Double Eagle produced airsoft guns under the Game Face brand.
- Crossman – Double Eagle makes airsoft products for them such as the R76 Pistol.
- Umarex – Double Eagle produced the Umarex Legends MP40 airsoft rifle.
- Cybergun – Provided manufacturing for Cybergun licensed airsoft guns under brands like Colt.
By taking on OEM work, Double Eagle keeps their production lines busier during periods of lower internal brand demand. The additional revenue funds investments back into enhancing their own airsoft products and capabilities.
Double Eagle Airsoft Gun Quality
Double Eagle airsoft guns are primarily focused on the entry level and budget price segments. Their products usually range from $50 to $300 at retail. At this affordable price point, Double Eagle guns deliver decent out-of-the-box performance and quality for casual airsoft players. However, more serious enthusiasts often upgrade internal parts to improve performance and durability during combat.
Common positives associated with Double Eagle airsoft guns made in China include:
- Low cost – Entry level prices make airsoft more accessible for new hobbyists.
- Ease of use – Many guns come ready for shooting out of the box with included battery and charger.
- Decent performance – Accuracy and range are acceptable for casual play and target practice.
- Good variety – Double Eagle offers a wide range of airsoft gun models and types to choose from.
Common negatives cited by consumers include:
- Cheap materials – Extensive use of low cost pot metal and ABS plastic feels flimsy and toy-like.
- Looser machining tolerances – Moving parts can wobble and fit inconsistently.
- Lower long-term durability – Prone to cracking and breaking compared to premium airsoft guns.
- Less reliable – Issues like jamming, double feeding, misfires are more common.
While their guns may not stand up to heavy combat use over time, Double Eagle airsoft products offer a decent starting point for casual players on a budget. More demanding users often upgrade internal components like the gearbox, piston, barrel, and hop up to improve longevity and performance. There is a healthy aftermarket parts scene from Asian retailers focused on tuning Double Eagle airsoft guns.
Double Eagle Airsoft Gun Model Examples Made in China
Here are some of the most popular airsoft AEG rifles and pistols manufactured by Double Eagle in China:
M56 Series Assault Rifles
- M56A – M4 style entry level AEG rifle
- M56B – Upgraded M4 with metal exterior
- M56C – M4 variant with retractable stock
- M56D – M4 model with integrated grenade launcher
M83 Series Rifles
- M83A – AK47 Kalashnikov style AEG rifle
- M83B – Upgraded AK rifle with folding stock
- M83C – Tactical AK with picatinny rails
- M83D – AK with attached grenade launcher
M85 Series Pistols
- M85A – Gas blowback pistol (based on Colt M1911)
- M85B – CO2 blowback pistol
- M85C – Green gas blowback pistol
M90 Series Spring Rifles
- M90A – Bolt action spring rifle
- M90B – Break barrel cocking spring rifle
- M90C – Repeater cocking rifle
These airsoft guns represent some of Double Eagles’s most copied and cloned designs that they continually manufacture at their Chinese factories for the entry level market segment worldwide.
Double Eagle’s Export Distribution
The majority of Double Eagle airsoft guns produced at their factories in China are exported for international sales. Only around 15-20% of their airsoft production volume is sold domestically within China. Their two main export sales channels are:
- Wholesale – Double Eagle sells container loads direct to large wholesale distributors in Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and elsewhere. These wholesalers then distribute to local retailers.
- ODM/OEM – Double Eagle manufactures airsoft products for other brands that then export the guns under their own branding and distribution. This includes making packaged deals for retailers to sell airsoft guns under their own private labels.
In recent years, Double Eagle has also increased their own direct to consumer retail presence by setting up flagship stores outside China and selling through major ecommerce platforms like Amazon and Alibaba. However, wholesale distribution still makes up the bulk of their export approach.
Is Double Eagle a Good Airsoft Brand?
Double Eagle has a mixed reputation among airsoft enthusiasts. Here are some pros and cons of Double Eagle as an airsoft brand:
Pros
- Inexpensive – Great option for new airsofters on a tight budget
- Wide selection – Tons of different airsoft guns and models to choose from
- Good beginner performance – Usable out of the box accuracy and range for casual play
- Easy to upgrade – Compatible with aftermarket upgrade parts
Cons
- Lower build quality – Many guns feel like toys and prone to breaking
- Quality control issues – Lack of reliability and defects out of the box
- Poor after sales service – Warranty support and customer service lacking
- Cutting corners – Cheaper materials, looser tolerances, less care in assembly
Ultimately, Double Eagle offers very affordable entry level airsoft guns thanks to their Chinese manufacturing. But many enthusiasts advocate saving up your budget for a more premium airsoft AEG rifle or pistol if you plan to play regularly or competitively. Double Eagle is best suited for very casual plinking and target practice rather than heavy combat duty. Their quality has improved but still trails top tier airsoft brands.
Double Eagle Airsoft Alternatives
For players wanting guns with better performance and build quality out of the box, some alternatives airsoft brands to consider over Double Eagle include:
- Tokyo Marui – The pioneering airsoft brand from Japan focused on high quality but at premium prices.
- Classic Army – Taiwanese company striking a good balance between affordability and performance.
- G&G – Renowned for their Combat Machine M4 airsoft rifles made in Taiwan.
- CYMA – Good value Kalashnikov style AK replicas made in China.
- VFC – Leading provider of 1:1 scale officially licensed replica airsoft guns.
While you will pay more upfront, investing in a better made airsoft AEG will save you headaches and money over time through superior reliability and less need for repairs or upgrades.
Conclusion
Double Eagle has established itself as one of the leading manufacturers of entry level and budget friendly airsoft guns. Their headquarters and main production facilities located in Dongguan, China allow them to produce inexpensive airsoft products on a massive scale. While quality control issues remain a concern for some enthusiasts, their guns offer an affordable way to enjoy recreational airsoft for new players. As Double Eagle continues expanding their facilities and improving manufacturing processes in China, the performance and reliability of their airsoft products is expected to keep rising while maintaining extremely competitive pricing.