The Samurai Edge AWM01 Archives is the supplemental background story released in conjunction with the Albert.W.Model 01 airsoft replica by Tokyo Marui. Though first released with the gun, it was later released in pieces on Tokyo Marui's website. We present it here in the order seen in the gun's manual, but with images and formatting from the website.
Source: Tokyo Marui
Project Umbrella Translation
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• SAVING THE DAY, A HERO'S IDENTITY!
"Ethan! Use it!!" A voice could be heard clearly even amid the roaring rotors of the helicopter soaring in the sky. The voice belonged to Chris Redfield, the man himself. A man who embodies an invincible hero having overcome many crises, unflinching no matter the enemy, and upholding "justice" under any circumstances. He's a savior who always saves the day in a pinch. The "it" he referred to is his steel buddy, the <Samurai Edge>, which has been with Chris through a great number of ordeals, always overcoming the verge of death by serving as its wielder's fangs. With a <light adapter module> and <hexagonal silencer> attached to its configuration, it's more than a handgun. The base has a familiar form... But something's definitely different... Since Ethan was in a critical condition desperately clinging to life with all his strength, he had no room to think about it. In his desire to hang on, the chunky handgun showed its extraordinary potential and rewarded an outmatched Ethan with the prize of "living". From the helicopter above, its fuselage glistening with a "blue Umbrella logo", Chris Redfield had been leaning over and quietly watching. He gazed at Ethan, who successfully "lived", as if he were a younger version of himself. June 1998. If that damned "Mansion Incident" hadn't occurred, what sort of life would I be leading now? Would I still be with Alpha Team in the Raccoon Police Department's special S.T.A.R.S. division, working day and night to safeguard Raccoon City's peace and security? 
Maybe there could've been a future where I never came back that time I was gravely wounded in the Republic of Edonia...
Or worse, would I have lived the life of an amnesiac alcoholic if I hadn't met our fallen Piers? For a few tenths of a second he was quietly gripped by sentiment. Only someone who was involved could understand the pain and sorrow. He cut off such sentimentality and accomplished his mission again. With his steel buddy, the Samurai Edge, in hand... |
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• UMBRELLA CO. OUTLINE
A giant conglomerate with a pharmaceutical corporation as its parent organization. Although the corporation was better known as a pharma-company with a proven track record in genome analysis, anti-viral drugs, etc., it also conducted biological weapons (B.O.W.) research and development for combat applications. The company's name is derived from its motto, "Protecting the health of the people." Following the Raccoon City Incident caused by the t-Virus, developed for the purpose of manufacturing immortal soldiers, the company's true face became common knowledge through many news reports. Afterwards, it was held accountable for the Raccoon City Incident and its stock prices plummeted, sinking into a chronic financial shortfall. Furthermore its illegal bioweapons development was exposed to the world through testimonies from survivors and numerous pieces of physical evidence. As a result, all executive officers were held criminally liable for the incident and the company effectively went bankrupt in 2003. Following that, it was restructured under Chapter 11 reorganization, however the new executive team has been charged with the responsibility of redeeming its dark legacy. The company's trademark was changed after it was rehabilitated, so "red Umbrella" commonly referrs to pre-rehab and "blue Umbrella" refers to post-rehab. 
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• WHAT IS THE "SAMURAI EDGE"?
Raccoon City Special Tactics and Rescue Service = S.T.A.R.S.
It refers to all the custom handguns maximizing each officer's combat ability that were produced by Joe Kendo, the older brother of Robert Kendo who ran the custom gun shop "KENDO."
The base gun's the M92F adopted as standard by the U.S. military.
The name "Samurai Edge" comes from the characteristic shape of its slide.
A design was adopted called the "Brigadier style" that makes the slide lock part wider so it can withstand powerful overpressure ammunition, which "gives the gun's body a remarkable weight" and can only be used with this slide. It's made of stainless steel which, combined with a wrought high-precision barrel, creates a vivid dual tone.
The matte black slide has an acute silhouette, and "the blade of a Japanese sword", the origin of the Samurai Edge's name, is reminiscent of the dual-barrel, giving it a dull metallic luster.
Before S.T.A.R.S. adopted this Samurai Edge, it was applied in experiments by S.T.A.R.S. acting Captain Albert Wesker, Barry Burton the former S.W.A.T. member with innumerable experience and extensive firearms knowledge, Jill Valentine with her superior bomb disposal skills in addition to combat abilities, and the team's top marksman Chris Redfield. In the tests it cleared various checks with high scores and was adopted and provided to the S.T.A.R.S. officers. Called the "Samurai Edge Standard Model", on the left side of the slide is a carved seal of "S.T.A.R.S." and on the right is a carved seal of "Mod.SAMURAI EDGE LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY."
The unique specifications of the "Samurai Edge Standard Model" come with performance far surpassing the M92F, but of the four who tested it, the harsh opinion of "basic = average" also popped up when assuming spec ops use, and following adoption, they asked Joe to add customizations individually. These special customs that factored in gender, physique, habits and technical prowess later appeared in the news media and became a big talking point.
Raccoon City Special Tactics and Rescue Service = S.T.A.R.S.
It refers to all the custom handguns maximizing each officer's combat ability that were produced by Joe Kendo, the older brother of Robert Kendo who ran the custom gun shop "KENDO."
The base gun's the M92F adopted as standard by the U.S. military.
The name "Samurai Edge" comes from the characteristic shape of its slide.
A design was adopted called the "Brigadier style" that makes the slide lock part wider so it can withstand powerful overpressure ammunition, which "gives the gun's body a remarkable weight" and can only be used with this slide. It's made of stainless steel which, combined with a wrought high-precision barrel, creates a vivid dual tone.
The matte black slide has an acute silhouette, and "the blade of a Japanese sword", the origin of the Samurai Edge's name, is reminiscent of the dual-barrel, giving it a dull metallic luster.
Before S.T.A.R.S. adopted this Samurai Edge, it was applied in experiments by S.T.A.R.S. acting Captain Albert Wesker, Barry Burton the former S.W.A.T. member with innumerable experience and extensive firearms knowledge, Jill Valentine with her superior bomb disposal skills in addition to combat abilities, and the team's top marksman Chris Redfield. In the tests it cleared various checks with high scores and was adopted and provided to the S.T.A.R.S. officers. Called the "Samurai Edge Standard Model", on the left side of the slide is a carved seal of "S.T.A.R.S." and on the right is a carved seal of "Mod.SAMURAI EDGE LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY."
The unique specifications of the "Samurai Edge Standard Model" come with performance far surpassing the M92F, but of the four who tested it, the harsh opinion of "basic = average" also popped up when assuming spec ops use, and following adoption, they asked Joe to add customizations individually. These special customs that factored in gender, physique, habits and technical prowess later appeared in the news media and became a big talking point.
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• FURTHER CUSTOMIZED "SAMURAI EDGES"
The Samurai Edge Standard Model was a basic model (still wonderfully custom-made) and based on it Joe Kendo adjusted four of them together for individuals, producing the "Chris Redfield Model", "Jill Valentine Model", "Barry Burton Model" and "Albert Wesker Model." The letters "Custom Kendo Shop" are engraved on the slide's right side as certification. Each gun's great success is as everyone remembers, displaying their performance in many historic cases. Among these customs, it's said Joe and Barry Burton's relationship as old friends greatly influenced them. |
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• DIFFERENT "SAMURAI EDGES" THAN JOE KENDO'S
"Samurai Edge A1 Jill Valentine Model" Former S.T.A.R.S. officer Jill Valentine later became a B.S.A.A. agent. On this occasion she received the "Samurai Edge A1" developed by agent and technician Quint Cetcham, who could be called the longest-serving from the old B.S.A.A. It's the Samurai Edge A1 Jill Valentine Model. "Samurai Edge Barry Burton Model Ver.II" Barry Burton heard the story of the Samurai Edge A1 developed by Quint Cetcham and asked him "Now make me a new Samurai Edge!" The "Barry Burton Model Ver.II" was perfected to be able to draw out the maximum capabilities of Barry's present figure and physical strength. |
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• WHO IS ALBERT WESKER?
The man called Albert Wesker was, as we all now know, a cunning tactician to a fault.
He was extremely calm, observant and perceptive, prioritizing logical thoughts over emotional feelings with no qualms using, deceiving or betraying anyone for the sake of his own ends or profit.
As a result, he considered even his own body a tool and didn't hestitate to transform it. His experience with the t-Virus led him to believe he could realize his own ideals, which in turn led to his ambition of "surpassing humanity and becoming the apex."
While he was fascinated by the t-Virus' outstanding capabilities for bioenhancement, he also envisioned the eventuality of "facing t-Virus equipped enemies" and explored countermeasures, epitomizing the nature of a strategist. As many research findings were confiscated from his personal effects after his death, among them a lot of research on "handheld weapons", his "strategizing" nature was made apparent once more.
The man called Albert Wesker was, as we all now know, a cunning tactician to a fault.
He was extremely calm, observant and perceptive, prioritizing logical thoughts over emotional feelings with no qualms using, deceiving or betraying anyone for the sake of his own ends or profit.
As a result, he considered even his own body a tool and didn't hestitate to transform it. His experience with the t-Virus led him to believe he could realize his own ideals, which in turn led to his ambition of "surpassing humanity and becoming the apex."
While he was fascinated by the t-Virus' outstanding capabilities for bioenhancement, he also envisioned the eventuality of "facing t-Virus equipped enemies" and explored countermeasures, epitomizing the nature of a strategist. As many research findings were confiscated from his personal effects after his death, among them a lot of research on "handheld weapons", his "strategizing" nature was made apparent once more.
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So what sort of anti t-Virus ideas did he have in mind?
One can imagine developing powerful weapons and armaments, or viruses surpassing the t-Virus, but our guess is these ideas would be nothing more than a cyclical "arms race" that wouldn't have been an option to a man dissatisfied with the current state of society itself. This is because within his research results, he defines "absolute neutralization" as being a necessary means of combating countermeasures to various viral weapons. He also probably would've envisioned not only neutralizing the other side's viral weapons, but also scenarios in which both sides' viral weapons were neutralized. If we consider that his goal was to prepare counter-weapons that'd be effective under any circumstances, or mastering the "trade-off" in other words, we can see the very essence of his seemingly conflicting research on absolute neutralization and handheld weapons. For the reasons above we can vaguely imagine Albert Wesker having focused his efforts on developing handheld weapons and armaments. Although on the surface he was concerned about anti-B.O.W. weapons, he was always thinking about weapons that'd benefit "himself" rather than the profits of companies he affiliated with. In a sense he may have been the ultimate egoist, believing only he should possess superior models (weapons and armaments) and only he should have the countermeasures. |
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• SAMURAI EDGE <ALBERT WESKER MODEL>
Here we want you to think about the previous anti-biohazard firearm "Samurai Edge." Why? Does the Albert model alone have the <beaver tail> spec? Why? Is a 20mm undermount rail frame body installed? Why? Does the frame of only Albert's <Samurai Edge> differ from the other members? 
Even Barry Burton's Samurai Edge was a different color, though it was the common frame, we think you can imagine the reason this model attaches a lot more exceedingly excessive special devices is a result of that person's experiences.
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• THE PROJECT DEVISED BY JOE KENDO
Although we've written about the special customs incorporating the strong passions of each of the four individuals tested prior to the standard issue adoption of the Samurai Edge in S.T.A.R.S., only Albert Wesker produced a concrete plan and sent it to Joe Kendo. In those days he had another identity while he was positioned as acting Captain, and he was also well-acquainted with the members' commitment to their guns. When he found out they'd each requested a custom from Joe, forever under the assumption he'd either be the attacker or the attacked, he shallowly and superficially thought he was obligated to possess superior countermeasures.
It wouldn't be out of place to say he mentally envisioned everything, including arms, tactics and all sorts of other things that would've given him an advantage and allowed him to do as he pleased.
Although we've written about the special customs incorporating the strong passions of each of the four individuals tested prior to the standard issue adoption of the Samurai Edge in S.T.A.R.S., only Albert Wesker produced a concrete plan and sent it to Joe Kendo. In those days he had another identity while he was positioned as acting Captain, and he was also well-acquainted with the members' commitment to their guns. When he found out they'd each requested a custom from Joe, forever under the assumption he'd either be the attacker or the attacked, he shallowly and superficially thought he was obligated to possess superior countermeasures.
It wouldn't be out of place to say he mentally envisioned everything, including arms, tactics and all sorts of other things that would've given him an advantage and allowed him to do as he pleased.
The fact he requested a silencer which would allow him to kill covertly does give us a glimpse into his thought process. It seems he told Joe the silencer was essential in principle as he had many covert ops.
It's true he ordered a frame with an integrated 20mm rail and envisioned attaching a light module in order to kill opponents he could never beat in a fight, by containing their martial arts within confined spaces or darkness, or by luring them to an area he was proficient in. What comes as a surprise is that he foresaw the arrival of the Picatinny standard at the time.
It's true he ordered a frame with an integrated 20mm rail and envisioned attaching a light module in order to kill opponents he could never beat in a fight, by containing their martial arts within confined spaces or darkness, or by luring them to an area he was proficient in. What comes as a surprise is that he foresaw the arrival of the Picatinny standard at the time.
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As a side-note, the cunning man must've thought he had the safest hiding place by placing himself inside the police organization. The lion's den, it seems, was his elaborate way of concealing his ambitions. It appears to have only been an elaborate provision for him to conceal his ambition, like a malignant tumor.
For him, even his own subordinates weren't people he felt comfortable with, and his overly detailed research on each member of the team speaks for itself. Despite his careful scrutiny, his squadsman Chris, with his absolute righteousness, ended up being a big miscalculation. |
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The vast amount of test data and results Albert Wesker left behind were once again inspected in-house by the restructured Umbrella Co. and found to be extremely effective in redeeming much of the old Umbrella Corp.'s dark legacy.
The anti-B.O.W. research results particularly astounded the researchers. You could call the fruits of this research the ultimate handheld weapons. Included therein are the results of basic research that rejects biodiversity, but we've omitted those parts in this artcle. Some of the research was based on the premise that combat would be conducted in an uninfected state by skilled combatants who don't rely on weapons of mass-destruction like viruses. Among his personal effects, he makes the point that weapons of mass-destruction don't necessarily turn things around. The "Blue" researchers who have no ties to the old regime compiled the research results and are conducting development on the assumption they'll be mass-produced, and they're supplied on a trial basis to the B.S.A.A. and other anti-biohazard units. The <Samurai Edge Albert.W.Model 01> in this article is the smallest unit in the Anti-B.O.W. Arms Albert System Weapon Series, developed based on the <Samurai Edge Albert Wesker Model>, and is the base model for maximum expandability. In itself, it's merely a glimpse of the Albert System Weapons, commonly called the "Albert Series"... But the full story will be explained later. |
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• HE SLOWLY PICKS UP A SINGLE GUN...
He loads a magazine into the open-slided main body, pushing down the long slide stop lever and feeding the anti-IPS warheads into the chamber. He inserts several used spare magazines into his mag pouches, breathing lightly as he feels their weight... That's his routine. Under any circumstances, the handling of firearms is the most crucial task. If you don't shoot "accurately" under "rapid" circumstances, it means immediate "death." He's an expert marksman and this is something that's ingrained in his daily life. He requested a gun fitted perfectly to his body and shooting habits, pursuing "0.1mm accuracy, 0.1 second speed and 0.1% probability." Chris Redfield. The model he holds in his hand is the "Samurai Edge Albert.W.Model 01", humanity's penultimate anti-biohazard armament. |
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• <SAMURAI EDGE ALBERT.W.MODEL 01> VARIATIONS
<ALBERT .W. MODEL 01R> The model Ethan used. A precursor mass-production examination model of the special anti-B.O.W. handgun. After twice completing the game the all-black body becomes available. <ALBERT .W. MODEL 01P> A prototype that existed prior to Ethan using it. Similarly the whole body was black. It was created according to Wesker's design and said to have unique specs and materials, but the details are unknown. |
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