H&K UMP Two Tone RIF

In the great, wide world of airsoft there is a massive debate over the place of so called “two tone” replicas in the marketplace. The law in the UK dictates (as summarised below) that any airsofter owning a realistic replica must have their Defence sorted out before they attempt to purchase said replica.

It is, however, perfectly legal to own an airsoft replica which is not “realistic” without a Defence and the rise of two tone replicas (either black and sky blue or black and orange for the most part) has come about to fill that gap in the market. The fact of the matter is that many new airsofters want to have their own replica as soon as possible, and will buy a two tone to get started. Be aware though that not all site operators allow two tone replicas for their games.

This argument about whether or not the two tone gun is a good thing will rage on, but many retailers will offer a “two toning” service and numerous manufacturers have created some excellent models in their range offering to look after the beginners. One such model is the fully licensed H&K UMP produced by Umarex.

UMP

The “Universale Maschinenpistole” or “Universal Machine Pistol” (UMP) was developed by Heckler and Koch during the 1990s to supersede the aging family of MP5 sub machine guns, and is manufactured using state of the art polymers. It is able to handle not only 9mm, but also the larger and more powerful .45 ACP and .40 S&W cartridges which makes it something of a powerhouse. If you’re a movie fan it’s instantly recognisable as the firearm used by “Mrs Smith” and by the Albino Twins in “The Matrix Reloaded” amongst many others!

The Umarex replica comes from their affordable entry level “Sportline” range and is officially licensed by H&K so although there is a main bright blue upper you still get all the correct trades and markings, albeit muted. The UMP has as an ABS body, standard metal gearbox, metal barrel, folding stock, top rail and railed hand guards at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock for accessories. There is a fully illustrated instruction manual, high capacity 420 round magazine, stick battery and charger included in the package to get you started, although frankly I’d ditch the charger and invest in both a new one of these and possibly a small LiPo battery as well.

In operation the UMP is simplicity itself. Chronoing in at a friendly and immediately site usable 335 fps on a .20g BB, it has safe, semi, and full auto settings with an ambidextrous selector switch. The battery is fitted by swinging the folding butt to the side and accessing the compartment via a small door to the rear; a simple setup which makes it easy to change batteries in game in you need to. The hop is equally easily set and accessed by sliding back the bolt cover on the right side of the receiver. Sights are simple with a front enclosed post, and a two position rear.

Overall this is a lot of replica for the money; look to pay around £135.00 from any reputable retailer. If you really can’t wait to own your own airsoft gun, or you simply wish to have something to “plink” with and never get into a game, then the two tone H&K UMP from Umarex is a REALLY nice choice with a lot of character.

Notes on Airsoft and the Law:

As a new airsofter you are no doubt finding out all about the rules and regulations which govern us as players. In a nutshell you will need an exemption from the VCR Act of 2006 to legally own a Realistic Imitation Firearm (RIF). This means having a Defence in Law for owning such a replica, and the best way of gaining this is to be a member of an insured airsoft site and meeting the Home Office requirement of playing 3 times in more than 2 months there.

Making a purchase is then far easier if you have registered your site membership on the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association (UKARA) system as it means the sale of a RIF can take place without the retailer needing to contact the site to verify your membership, which means there is no delay in getting your new replica whilst waiting for a site owner to reply. Before you try to buy a RIF please visit the excellent Q&A page on the UKARA website to find out what you need to do to become a legally registered player in the UK.