4100s, 2100s, 1500s, and Larami: Oh My!

[DX]

I noticed that my broken 4100 MK2 shell says it was copyrighted in 2000, despite being a 2002 release. iSoaker.com confirms this can happen and that they only come with 2000 as that date. Virtually every other water gun bears a copyright date 1 year before release (some 2000s bear a combo shifted up a year after release). The thing I am confused about is that the CPS 2100 is dated 2001. So was this the result of the Hasbro transition? If so, how did 2100s get produced with the Larami name and have proper copyright date, while 4100s of the same year had a 2 year gap?

I am also wondering if 4100s and 2100s were linked, as in MK2 versions produced in the same factory(ies). They are very similar...yet the reservoir backs of 4100 MK2's match with 2100 MK3s, while the backs of 4100 MK1s match with the 2100 MK2's. And what's up with the 2100 MK1? If all of this stuff was produced around the same time, why is that thing, which is a very distinct mark in its own right, being actually larger than other 2100s and bearing a larger rubber bladder, so rare and does it have a 4100 equivalent? Is there some super rare version of 4100 out there with a stronger/longer bladder than other 4100s?

I would think one way to tell would be to try and match the production numbers. However, the 2100s are really variable. They can have a standard 4 digit number. They can have a 5 digit number. They can have no number at all. Likewise, if you try to match the screws and stickers, the 2100s can have them on either side in MK2 and MK3. Do the 4100s have this variability? The only 4100 I have access to is painted and the number can't be read.

And lastly, something that iSoaker can probably answer: When/why did Larami go from corp to limited? My older guns say corp., my newer ones say ltd. Why did it change from a US form of business to a commonwealth one? Oh, and one of my 1500s has a typo where it says "Limiled". I would assume that the casing mold put that error into a batch of 1500s, maybe even a version worth. It is definitely a different mark than the 1500 it is stored next to. The casing is noticeably different all over the place.

And while I'm on this subject of semi random, obscure questions, what is up with the real XPs and SS XPs? As in the reservoir labels on the 75, 95, 150, 175, 275, etc. The sticker says "XP 75", but the reservoir sticker says "SS 75 XP". An XXP 275 says SS 275 XP. Are there any of these models that don't follow this rule, and only have an XP sticker, like the XP 310? These are also all the original versions, with the 150 that means the blue/gray/purple/red colors.

[isoaker]

I noticed that my broken 4100 MK2 shell says it was copyrighted in 2000, despite being a 2002 release. iSoaker.com confirms this can happen and that they only come with 2000 as that date. Virtually every other water gun bears a copyright date 1 year before release (some 2000s bear a combo shifted up a year after release). The thing I am confused about is that the CPS 2100 is dated 2001. So was this the result of the Hasbro transition? If so, how did 2100s get produced with the Larami name and have proper copyright date, while 4100s of the same year had a 2 year gap?

You're over analyzing. The CPS4100 is based on the Monster (2001) frame, thus for design purposes, the design was copyright in 2000 for the Monster (2001) and then re-coloured and re-branded (with its fast-fill capability removed) in 2002 as the CPS4200. The original copyright date remains.

I am also wondering if 4100s and 2100s were linked, as in MK2 versions produced in the same factory(ies). They are very similar...yet the reservoir backs of 4100 MK2's match with 2100 MK3s, while the backs of 4100 MK1s match with the 2100 MK2's. And what's up with the 2100 MK1? If all of this stuff was produced around the same time, why is that thing, which is a very distinct mark in its own right, being actually larger than other 2100s and bearing a larger rubber bladder, so rare and does it have a 4100 equivalent? Is there some super rare version of 4100 out there with a stronger/longer bladder than other 4100s?

If the plastic molds are different, chances are those parts were made in a different factory. To confuse things further, the blasters may be made in the same factory (with mold changes), but with parts from different suppliers resulting in the performance variations.

And lastly, something that iSoaker can probably answer: When/why did Larami go from corp to limited? My older guns say corp., my newer ones say ltd. Why did it change from a US form of business to a commonwealth one? Oh, and one of my 1500s has a typo where it says "Limiled". I would assume that the casing mold put that error into a batch of 1500s, maybe even a version worth. It is definitely a different mark than the 1500 it is stored next to. The casing is noticeably different all over the place.

Name change has to do with the acquisition by Hasbro Inc. The change occurred after the deal was made to sell the company to Hasbro, but Larami Corp was given 5 years to operate more-or-less independently as Larami Ltd.

And while I'm on this subject of semi random, obscure questions, what is up with the real XPs and SS XPs? As in the reservoir labels on the 75, 95, 150, 175, 275, etc. The sticker says "XP 75", but the reservoir sticker says "SS 75 XP". An XXP 275 says SS 275 XP. Are there any of these models that don't follow this rule, and only have an XP sticker, like the XP 310? These are also all the original versions, with the 150 that means the blue/gray/purple/red colors.

That's a branding issue with older style stickers, the ones with SS ### XP appearing first before they opted to push the XP-line name more.

[marauder]

I am also wondering if 4100s and 2100s were linked, as in MK2 versions produced in the same factory(ies). They are very similar...yet the reservoir backs of 4100 MK2's match with 2100 MK3s, while the backs of 4100 MK1s match with the 2100 MK2's. And what's up with the 2100 MK1? If all of this stuff was produced around the same time, why is that thing, which is a very distinct mark in its own right, being actually larger than other 2100s and bearing a larger rubber bladder, so rare and does it have a 4100 equivalent? Is there some super rare version of 4100 out there with a stronger/longer bladder than other 4100s?

If the plastic molds are different, chances are those parts were made in a different factory. To confuse things further, the blasters may be made in the same factory (with mold changes), but with parts from different suppliers resulting in the performance variations.

This makes a lot of sense. This is why, although it's good to go for a particular MK that is known for great performance, it all comes down to individual variation. Some guns don't seem to vary as much as others though, with the 2100 definitely being one with a lot of variance. While we're on the subject, I actually liked the 4100. A lot of friends and I got ours for $12. They broke after 2 Vermin Wars. We were dumb and just threw them out or were clumsy about storing them (lost parts) so I no longer have any 4100s. Anyway, point is, I never got around to doing an official range testing, but I definitely remember ours keeping up with 1200s/2100s/1000s/2700. I would guess they all shot around 40 feet.

[atvan]

DX uses his 4100s for sticking short shot time "water launchers" in, remember? :p

[DX]

4100s definitely outdo the 1000/1200/2100s, though not sure about 2700s. 2700s are beastly. Lol Atvan, that was so long ago, had to be 2005 or 2006. Currently, the shell of my 4100 is sitting bare and unused, I sold away anything that was remotely useful on it to GJIV. I enjoyed it when it was new, but it broke quickly. A few skirmishes and it was done for. It had a nice riot blast from the fully open nozzle where the fan blast once was.

The other thing confusing with 2100 marks is that the reservoir of an MK1 looks like an MK2 with the ridge sanded down. In all odds, it probably was, meaning they could have been made with the same parts in the same factories (and why would they bother to sand down all those ridges?). However, they have distinctly different parts all over. I've been working on a comprehensive guide to 2100s and the variability really is off the charts. The decorations on the casing can be higher or lower, thicker or thinner, longer or shorter, and the angle of the reservoir seat can be sharper or more gradual. Even the pump handles can be of different weight and texture, within the same version of the gun.