Paintball

[Guapo]

Does anyone know if Tom Kaye will return to AGD (or to the sport in general) and start innovating again? I'd love to see some new stuff.

[tymcneer]

His latest project is/was the Shoebox compressor. Beyond that I suspect that he is basically out of the game.

Ty

[alpha434]

The guy is a paintball philanthropist. The FS rounds were his. He contributed to both the Tiberius guns and the Phenom. He built the shoebox compressor, and I just can't see that he's making much money off of them.

I think if he has something to contribute, he will. I just don't think he's been trying to compete in paintball for a long time. There are positives and negatives to that, but we've seen plenty of positives.

[SeeK]

You haven't gone back far enough to appreciate his contributions, especially to air systems:

HotSeat Guest, Tom Kaye, of Airgun Designs

[Guapo]

Originally Posted by SeeK

You haven't gone back far enough to appreciate his contributions, especially to air systems:

HotSeat Guest, Tom Kaye, of Airgun Designs

Cool link. Despite being circa 1997 or so, I enjoyed reading it all. I wonder if Smart Parts just killed the poor guy's love of the sport. I'd really like to see him back at AGD making improvements and designing new things. Lighter, faster, badder. Perhaps the industry has reached a plateau speed wise. I really can't see a need for anything faster than what's readily available. Personally, I'd like to see more stuff relating to woods ball & scenario games.

In any event, I've got three mags. Two work great. One is a level 5 or 6 I believe from 1991 with a broken trigger rod. I have no doubt it would work just great with some lube, an o-ring or two & a new trigger rod. That's why I've always loved AGD - products that last!

[tymcneer]

My level 5 (CF00230) fired right up after 15 years of storage. The conditions were so bad, the aluminium Bushmaster barrel that was stored with it had a hole corroded all the way through one side.

Ty

[mostpeople]

Originally Posted by Guapo

Cool link. Despite being circa 1997 or so, I enjoyed reading it all. I wonder if Smart Parts just killed the poor guy's love of the sport. I'd really like to see him back at AGD making improvements and designing new things. Lighter, faster, badder. Perhaps the industry has reached a plateau speed wise. I really can't see a need for anything faster than what's readily available. Personally, I'd like to see more stuff relating to woods ball & scenario games.

In any event, I've got three mags. Two work great. One is a level 5 or 6 I believe from 1991 with a broken trigger rod. I have no doubt it would work just great with some lube, an o-ring or two & a new trigger rod. That's why I've always loved AGD - products that last!

I think this has everything to do with why he left. You can thank the gardner bro's for doing everything they could to kill paintball.

[Millar156]

From: Bilbo12 (Bilbo12)

Tom, I have been playing paintball for about a year now, and I am
only 14. I would like to know what the differences, not differences
but a comparison of the 'mags to the 'cockers. What do you have to say?


The cocker a great gun and so is the mag, Bud and I have the same answer, buy both!!!!

This quote sums up the attitude that is sorely missing in the industry today IMO. Given the chance to promote his product over a competitors, Tom took the high road. How many others would do the same today?

[brycelarson]

I've talked to Tom recently - he has no intention of getting back into the industry. He's got a million other projects going and it's a really tough industry.

He denies up and down that Smart Parts had anything to do with his exit and AGD's decline. He instead blames the fact that he used high quality materials and expensive manufacture processes. He simply couldn't compete with mass produced guns racing for the bottom of the price wars and wasn't willing to adapt his designs to that market.

[TOTShadow]

AGD = American made, quality designs, top notch materials, and no excuse product. Worth every penny new or used. Proud mag owner for life.