CPS 2100 Marks

[atvan]

Mostly a question to DX- what is the difference in the seam on the reservoir between the Mk1 and Mk2?

And to iSoaker- I want a CPS 2100 smilie. If you can direct me to a good teaching site, I'll even make it.

[DX]

The MK1 has a flat seam. The MK2 has a raised seam, like a thin ridge. Earlier documentation says the raised ridge can be either, but that was only because nobody had an MK1 to compare against. iSn shows an MK2, SSC shows MK2 and MK3. There are a couple pics on Google that could be MK1, but the reservoir backs are not shown. I currently have all three versions and the reservoirs are all distinctive enough to not be confusable. I'll take some pics after dinner.

[atvan]

It's probably the Mk 2 then. Still a wonderful gun stock, especially compared to my other guns.

[DX]

Sorry, that took longer than expected. Don't ask why I am up posting this at 3:55 AM, haha. After a good hard look at my CPS 2100s, I've found that some indicators we used to rely on don't work. The screw placement, sticker placement, width of decorations, and design of reservoir cap shouldn't be trusted.

Here they are side-by-side in all their glory, with an MK1 for the first time ever:



^Left to right: MK1, MK2, MK3. I don't have an unpainted MK3, but it's still an obvious example of the version. The MK1 is actually slighter taller than the other two, it's not just the lean. Notice how all the reservoir cap designs are identical across these three guns vs the two different ones in SSCentral's picture.



^ The MK1 at bottom vs the MK2 at top. The MK1 pump cap is never glued, the MK2 cap is always glued. I said before that sticker placement is no longer reliable, but with the 3 MK1's that I've seen, the stickers were all screwside. Most 2100s have the sticker cleanside, like that MK2. I own a broken MK2 with a screwside sticker, though.



^ Notice how the screw placement is different. There are several other possible combinations, use Google for now as no article tells you all the different kinds. So far, MK1 screw placement does not change. MK2 and MK3 placement is variable.

[atvan]

Mine seems to have more screwholes in general, in different places. Is the seam on the Mk 1 raised at all, other than the normal little bit? How easy is it to remove the Mk 1 pump cap?

Side note: I have fallen in love with tracked pumps.

[DX]

The seam is never raised more than a tiny amount. Imagine the MK2 seam being sanded down all the way and you have the Mk1 seam. The pump cap rotates freely when you get the gun and while it may take a few seconds of prying, it should pop right off with minimal effort. That used to be a test for mark back when 2100s were new on shelves - people would reach into the box and twist the pump cap. If it moved, they bought the gun, if it did not budge, they moved on.