FEATURE CLARENCE LAI
So why the move and the change? Clarence related to us that Taiwan is becoming increasingly attractive as a powerhouse of highly experienced and qualified machining operations and production facilities, encompassing all manner of surface treatment and other material processing specialists. As Bill relayed all those issues back when I first began when I first began contributing to Airsoft Action, Taiwan really is becoming “airsoft central”, with an ever-growing array of domestic manufacturers and other names who have moved here from Hong Kong to improve their production capabilities and volumes.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
While “Airsoft Surgeon” is synonymous with Clarence’s persona and past efforts in turning out truly unique high-end offerings to order, last year he decided to make a step change in his direction and goals for his presence within the airsoft community at large. “Clarence Lai Project Design”, his new venture, has aimed its sights squarely on a wider market and the ability to make a name better satisfying a wider user base with equally well-considered designs, but with more attainable volume and pricing. Thus ensuring that everyone can share in his experience and attention to detail, rather than just those who have the highest means and passion for all things bespoke-designed. This new outlook towards consumer focused design 82
OCTOBER 2021
and manufacture has already borne fruit, with many of his existing product lines being produced in bulk, to the order of hundreds (or thousands) of units. Already the positive feedback and calls for more stock and further designs are being well received, as is his presence within the community here in Taiwan, making progress towards collaborations with more established names. This will bring his experience and personal touch to the wider market with the help of larger manufacturers, as well as his own efforts in prototyping and assessing new components and considerations. While many existing brands will look towards existing products in the market and derive their own equivalents following wider trends, Clarence seeks to draw extensively from his own experience - not only as a gunsmith, but as a competitor as well - focusing on the minutiae of each individual component he turns his skills to; considering the user experience and quality of the product, rather than merely focusing on aesthetic factors. Having handled the gamete of guns flanking his TV on the very nicely backlit presentation shelves and stands, it definitely shows! Not just the typical smoothing of trigger and cycling function in his custom internals, ensuring excellent response and crisp breaking of the action, but also in just how naturally the gun fits in the hand – even, in my case, with my larger bear paws. With consideration given to providing “fencing” on his custom 1911 platform
