Different versions of the VFC HK417

navypanda · February 3rd, 2016, 19:23

I was looking around for a VFC HK417 and came across two versions. How do you tell the difference between the two visually? I was told one version was from the first batch. Was there something wrong with it?
There are some sites that say it comes with a Hi-cap 320 round mag and I thought the default for this gun was a mid-cap 100 round magazine.

I believe the current one is VFC HK417D and the former was just a VFC H417.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Danke · February 3rd, 2016, 22:27

Usually the first run from VFC will have some nice features the later runs don't get.

A case, 2 barrel lengths, stuff like that.

Hectic · February 3rd, 2016, 23:02

And the limited edition one is clearly marked with a 417 D
It comes in a hard case as said and also comes with a scope and bi pod. There were 350 of those made. There is now also a g28 version as well

navypanda · February 3rd, 2016, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danke

Usually the first run from VFC will have some nice features the later runs don't get.

A case, 2 barrel lengths, stuff like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hectic

And the limited edition one is clearly marked with a 417 D
It comes in a hard case as said and also comes with a scope and bi pod. There were 350 of those made. There is now also a g28 version as well

Thanks. I'm actually also wondering about the 3 different types of trademarks that are on these guns, for example:

1. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eWasQDEEvsA/maxresdefault.jpg
2. http://www.brotherprice.com/ebphoto/...%20GBB%20d.jpg
3. http://triggerairsoft.com/shop/Umarex-HK417D-12RS.html

lurkingknight · February 4th, 2016, 00:27

If I understand it correctly:

usa/worldwide editions must be licensed through umarex. They are the company that serves as HK's licensing agent if someone wants to use HK branding in the regions they have negotiated the rights for. That means any product through umarex has to show umarex trades that show hk trades.

Asia can't give a fuck about that. Umarex does not hold the licensing for asia region, so companies are free to print HK right on it without having to pay umarex from what I understand. This is mainly for the states and europe I think, and some extent canada, but HK/umarex is very aggressive in going after likenesses of their intellectual property in the states.

The ones with more simple trades are asia versions. The made in taiwan one looks like a sticker covering trades that may or may not be asia version or us version lol. Also you're not always guaranteed to get one or the other from some vendors... depends on what they are advertising, what they're stocking and where the stock is coming from. Direct from factory or asia distributor orders will probably be asia versions as long as fps is high enough to import. If they have to come from the states, they will be umarex versions for sure.

As far as the different revisions of the 417, vfc did make some hardware changes between the first run of guns vs the guns out now. There were quite a number of gearboxes that cracked up front with even just 400 fps output. Some guns even did that with sorbo pads installed. I believe the gearboxes were revised slightly to try and prevent that from happening. The rest of the gun is the same from what I've seen.

On a technical side note, I hate this gearbox with a passion. VFC did everything wrong on it from an ease of repair perspective. Also the upper is fucking huge, and you're telling me you couldn't make a box with a reinforced front end with all that empty space inside? Or a reinforced upper gearbox portion that has a viable quick change spring given that the buffer tube is completely hollow to the back of the gearbox, or that the buffer tube screws off entirely revealing the back of the gearbox? I got more complaints about trigger springs, contacts, gearbox assembly, shape and design, wiring routing and the list goes on, but I digress.

EOD Steve · February 4th, 2016, 09:36

^ give this man a fistbump

navypanda · February 4th, 2016, 19:40

^ Thanks a ton. That was super helpful.

Silvrmike · February 19th, 2016, 20:47

The differences in the photo you see are a few things. Some photos are of the gbb, others are of the aeg.
Aeg does not have amb-selector, gbb does,
Aeg "bolt" is just a thin piece of metal, gbb is a "real" bolt
Aeg has small writing above the fire selector indicator saying "6mm caliber blah blah blah " gbb does not have that .

Also I'm not sure but the made in Taiwan sticker on the magwell may only be present on the gbb, the aeg doesn't have s sticker on it fresh out of the box,

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February 3rd, 2016, 19:23	#1
navypanda Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2011	Different versions of the VFC HK417 I was looking around for a VFC HK417 and came across two versions. How do you tell the difference between the two visually? I was told one version was from the first batch. Was there something wrong with it? There are some sites that say it comes with a Hi-cap 320 round mag and I thought the default for this gun was a mid-cap 100 round magazine. I believe the current one is VFC HK417D and the former was just a VFC H417. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. Last edited by navypanda; February 3rd, 2016 at 21:08..

February 3rd, 2016, 22:27	#2
Danke Prancercise Guru Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Danger Zone	Usually the first run from VFC will have some nice features the later runs don't get. A case, 2 barrel lengths, stuff like that. __________________ Airsoft, where nothing is hurt but feelings.

February 4th, 2016, 00:27	#5
lurkingknight "bb bukakke" KING! Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ottawa	If I understand it correctly: usa/worldwide editions must be licensed through umarex. They are the company that serves as HK's licensing agent if someone wants to use HK branding in the regions they have negotiated the rights for. That means any product through umarex has to show umarex trades that show hk trades. Asia can't give a fuck about that. Umarex does not hold the licensing for asia region, so companies are free to print HK right on it without having to pay umarex from what I understand. This is mainly for the states and europe I think, and some extent canada, but HK/umarex is very aggressive in going after likenesses of their intellectual property in the states. The ones with more simple trades are asia versions. The made in taiwan one looks like a sticker covering trades that may or may not be asia version or us version lol. Also you're not always guaranteed to get one or the other from some vendors... depends on what they are advertising, what they're stocking and where the stock is coming from. Direct from factory or asia distributor orders will probably be asia versions as long as fps is high enough to import. If they have to come from the states, they will be umarex versions for sure. As far as the different revisions of the 417, vfc did make some hardware changes between the first run of guns vs the guns out now. There were quite a number of gearboxes that cracked up front with even just 400 fps output. Some guns even did that with sorbo pads installed. I believe the gearboxes were revised slightly to try and prevent that from happening. The rest of the gun is the same from what I've seen. On a technical side note, I hate this gearbox with a passion. VFC did everything wrong on it from an ease of repair perspective. Also the upper is fucking huge, and you're telling me you couldn't make a box with a reinforced front end with all that empty space inside? Or a reinforced upper gearbox portion that has a viable quick change spring given that the buffer tube is completely hollow to the back of the gearbox, or that the buffer tube screws off entirely revealing the back of the gearbox? I got more complaints about trigger springs, contacts, gearbox assembly, shape and design, wiring routing and the list goes on, but I digress. __________________ I futz with V2s, V3s and V6s. I could be wrong... but probably, most likely not, as far as I know. Last edited by lurkingknight; February 4th, 2016 at 00:33..

February 4th, 2016, 09:36	#6
EOD Steve Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2012	^ give this man a fistbump __________________ The Steve has spoken.

February 4th, 2016, 19:40	#7
navypanda Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2011	^ Thanks a ton. That was super helpful.

February 19th, 2016, 20:47	#8
Silvrmike Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Toronto	The differences in the photo you see are a few things. Some photos are of the gbb, others are of the aeg. Aeg does not have amb-selector, gbb does, Aeg "bolt" is just a thin piece of metal, gbb is a "real" bolt Aeg has small writing above the fire selector indicator saying "6mm caliber blah blah blah " gbb does not have that . Also I'm not sure but the made in Taiwan sticker on the magwell may only be present on the gbb, the aeg doesn't have s sticker on it fresh out of the box,

Different versions of the VFC HK417

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