So I've got a looot of thoughts about 5KU, and overall I'm glad that they're improving their quality. On that note I'd say actually that it's the advent of more good-quality parts companies that have pushed 5KU to up their improved quality as now that there's more parts consistently available a lot of people wouldn't care to take the gamble of older 5KU quality. But to the point a few things to keep in mind with the 5KU stuff; one part of their low prices is that almost nothing they make is original and it's essentially all making except copies of original designs. Which, to an extent is inevitable, and when it's something that's not readily available to peope otherwise (more on that in a second) it's perhaps not as bad. But it's worth keeping in mind that part of their pricing is because they can take stuff that other artists and designers made to look cool and function well, and just directly copy that, which means they have much less developement and creative costs and also can copy designs they know will sell. The frame and slide kit you're looking at, for example, is as far as I know a direct copy of a kit made by a comapny called UN Manufacturing (also sometimes or in the past called Invicta, I think?) which is a niche Chinese shop that only sells domestically in China, selling "TM Spec" kits that use gas magazines for cycling but actually use a laser mechanism for competitive shooting, since they're generally not (easily) allowed actual airsoft in China. So, what you're looking at is a *copy* of an original and very cool design, but at least in this case the original is almost unobtainable outside of China unless you know the right connections and are willing to pay a premium, so it's less egregious than some things. The other thing is that I believe it's likely the frames, at least, are mostly cast and the CNC finished using one of a few easily cast-able alloys that still anodize relatively well. This is suggested by the more limited color availaiblity since the less common colors are more difficult to anodize with those alloys. I've yet to grab one to do a material analysis on it to confirm though; will do that at some point. All this is to say that 5KU is definitely a much more viable option than it was in the past and has some interesting stuff coming out (or, at least, they're choosing the right things to copy), but it's worth keeping in mind the context that some of that cost savings is coming from their making clones and not doing a lot of creative work, vs the higher prices companies that are putting in the time and effort to make fully new, fresh, unique designs and using only fully billet CNC. I have a much more I could say but some encroaches on industry stuff that I'm not sure I want to allude to publicly.
No worries, nothing gets blocked on here but they are moderated so I dont have to deal with dumbasses or rude comments lol. Great information and wonderful insight on it. I've tried to keep this channel out of that side or basic as possible as I do know alot of the behind the scenes stuff, that stuff I usually talk with my friends who work in the industry and so forth. As for the channel, I'm always trying my best to be objective and think about the pistol skirmisher at the end of the day, many who cannot afford the higher end. I know 5ku copies and it saves money for them and for sure they are casting them and cncing them, its the only way to get the costs down this low. I actually reached out to UN and will be trying to get several of their kits, I'm sad I was gone for the awesome warhammer kit and evang kits, but I got my eyes on them. 5KU is now a viable option as you mentioned, growing up with them in the past they were just at the bottom and AIP was always my go to budget guys for cheaper builds. I do feel bad for the copying but you and I both know its going to happen regardless, what it can do is push innovation and just solidify quality and expectations in other companies. AMD vs NVIDIA / INTEL is a great example of just coming in hard and putting the pressure on them. At the end of the day, I must try to cover as much as I possibly can and provide it in a digestible way that I think I've done for the channel. Thanks for the information!
The UN guy scammed me big time. Got their original kit from a probably a smuggler from HongKong, nothing fit. Contacted them not no responce despite I have the guy's Wechat. Likely he decided to cooperate with 5KU to be able to make some money outside of China.
Using a whole piece of aluminum CNC, 5KU has over 70 CNC machines on its own, so earning only CNC machining money is enough for 5KU. However, you think most high-end brands are looking for CNC factories for OEM.
In my opinion, some of the 5ku parts are basic cheap parts, reasonable for the $. But sometimes they go above and beyond for the price. For instance, the first stainless steel black slide stop and thumb safety I bought came nicely polished and tin coated. Thoroughly impressed for the $. But through trial and error I found out that they offer parts 'matte' and 'polished' black but only advertise "black". To know the difference you have to look at the pics to see which you're buying, polished or matte. Well, that's my 2 cents for this vid. Thanx for the vid Knuckles 🙂🤙
Been wanting to get an advanced frame from AM but it's quite costly, curious about the QC on 5KU, might consider buying it and pairing it with my AM slide
Same here, NGL when I did the unboxing video I was looking at it like damn and with the whole FPR trouble going on, it just pushed me to review these guys and push em up. They did a nice job for first impression for price point.
Hey buddy, have you come across a decent slide mount RMR slide, I can’t get my adapter plates to hold zero with all the bbs I shoot for training. Glad that you are obviously feeling better, you the man. Pete
you are in luck, just finished trying out a 4.3 advance frame, sadly its a very long video, sorry about that but at least its a 1 take so no BS in it.. i saw somewhere on 5ku that they had an issue in 2023 with their advance frames but that seems to be fixed. facebook.com/profile/100063798692685/search/?q=frame
![บังเอิญมันได้อ่ะ - แอน อรดี [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9fwjammKY4A/mqdefault.jpg)
So I've got a looot of thoughts about 5KU, and overall I'm glad that they're improving their quality. On that note I'd say actually that it's the advent of more good-quality parts companies that have pushed 5KU to up their improved quality as now that there's more parts consistently available a lot of people wouldn't care to take the gamble of older 5KU quality.
But to the point a few things to keep in mind with the 5KU stuff; one part of their low prices is that almost nothing they make is original and it's essentially all making except copies of original designs. Which, to an extent is inevitable, and when it's something that's not readily available to peope otherwise (more on that in a second) it's perhaps not as bad. But it's worth keeping in mind that part of their pricing is because they can take stuff that other artists and designers made to look cool and function well, and just directly copy that, which means they have much less developement and creative costs and also can copy designs they know will sell.
The frame and slide kit you're looking at, for example, is as far as I know a direct copy of a kit made by a comapny called UN Manufacturing (also sometimes or in the past called Invicta, I think?) which is a niche Chinese shop that only sells domestically in China, selling "TM Spec" kits that use gas magazines for cycling but actually use a laser mechanism for competitive shooting, since they're generally not (easily) allowed actual airsoft in China.
So, what you're looking at is a *copy* of an original and very cool design, but at least in this case the original is almost unobtainable outside of China unless you know the right connections and are willing to pay a premium, so it's less egregious than some things.
The other thing is that I believe it's likely the frames, at least, are mostly cast and the CNC finished using one of a few easily cast-able alloys that still anodize relatively well. This is suggested by the more limited color availaiblity since the less common colors are more difficult to anodize with those alloys. I've yet to grab one to do a material analysis on it to confirm though; will do that at some point.
All this is to say that 5KU is definitely a much more viable option than it was in the past and has some interesting stuff coming out (or, at least, they're choosing the right things to copy), but it's worth keeping in mind the context that some of that cost savings is coming from their making clones and not doing a lot of creative work, vs the higher prices companies that are putting in the time and effort to make fully new, fresh, unique designs and using only fully billet CNC.
I have a much more I could say but some encroaches on industry stuff that I'm not sure I want to allude to publicly.
No worries, nothing gets blocked on here but they are moderated so I dont have to deal with dumbasses or rude comments lol. Great information and wonderful insight on it. I've tried to keep this channel out of that side or basic as possible as I do know alot of the behind the scenes stuff, that stuff I usually talk with my friends who work in the industry and so forth. As for the channel, I'm always trying my best to be objective and think about the pistol skirmisher at the end of the day, many who cannot afford the higher end. I know 5ku copies and it saves money for them and for sure they are casting them and cncing them, its the only way to get the costs down this low. I actually reached out to UN and will be trying to get several of their kits, I'm sad I was gone for the awesome warhammer kit and evang kits, but I got my eyes on them. 5KU is now a viable option as you mentioned, growing up with them in the past they were just at the bottom and AIP was always my go to budget guys for cheaper builds. I do feel bad for the copying but you and I both know its going to happen regardless, what it can do is push innovation and just solidify quality and expectations in other companies. AMD vs NVIDIA / INTEL is a great example of just coming in hard and putting the pressure on them. At the end of the day, I must try to cover as much as I possibly can and provide it in a digestible way that I think I've done for the channel. Thanks for the information!
Forgot, for the last sentence, keep it a secret please lol I dont want to be in trouble and I do not want drama on this channel as well
The UN guy scammed me big time. Got their original kit from a probably a smuggler from HongKong, nothing fit. Contacted them not no responce despite I have the guy's Wechat. Likely he decided to cooperate with 5KU to be able to make some money outside of China.
Using a whole piece of aluminum CNC, 5KU has over 70 CNC machines on its own, so earning only CNC machining money is enough for 5KU. However, you think most high-end brands are looking for CNC factories for OEM.
In my opinion, some of the 5ku parts are basic cheap parts, reasonable for the $. But sometimes they go above and beyond for the price. For instance, the first stainless steel black slide stop and thumb safety I bought came nicely polished and tin coated. Thoroughly impressed for the $. But through trial and error I found out that they offer parts 'matte' and 'polished' black but only advertise "black". To know the difference you have to look at the pics to see which you're buying, polished or matte.
Well, that's my 2 cents for this vid.
Thanx for the vid Knuckles 🙂🤙
Been wanting to get an advanced frame from AM but it's quite costly, curious about the QC on 5KU, might consider buying it and pairing it with my AM slide
That conversion kick is sick
Hey dude do have any experience with the 5ku pit viper conversion kit that goes for around 220 dollars?
im looking at it, we will see
@KnucklesGSM please do a analysis on it. Thank you ahead of time.
been waiting for this
Same here, NGL when I did the unboxing video I was looking at it like damn and with the whole FPR trouble going on, it just pushed me to review these guys and push em up. They did a nice job for first impression for price point.
Hey buddy, have you come across a decent slide mount RMR slide, I can’t get my adapter plates to hold zero with all the bbs I shoot for training.
Glad that you are obviously feeling better, you the man.
Pete
check out c&c tac rmr plate for the tm hicapa, i installed it on a customers gun, wasnt bad
probably could also do orings and blue loc to help stabilize
I use 5ku frame and slide and it s work great
Some 5ku still have tolerance problem. The hammer assembly on the advanced frames didn’t fit. Can you see if the new ones with the comp fit?
you are in luck, just finished trying out a 4.3 advance frame, sadly its a very long video, sorry about that but at least its a 1 take so no BS in it.. i saw somewhere on 5ku that they had an issue in 2023 with their advance frames but that seems to be fixed. facebook.com/profile/100063798692685/search/?q=frame
@@KnucklesGSM oh I must have gotten the first batch