Paintball History page

TheDude · 08-31-2006, 12:56 PM

Very well maintained, concise, up to date PB history page:

http://www.ody.ca/~cwells/history.htm

paintjunque · 08-31-2006, 01:21 PM

That was neat, thanks. I always wanted a Brass Eagle Nightmare Ninja.

Drum · 08-31-2006, 01:34 PM

Nice effort, but some faulty info in there, to be sure.

For example, it has "Bud Orr introducing his Autococker" in 1989. Not only is that about three years early, it is hardly worthy of mention in so brief a history. Bud was one of the last to offer a semi-automatic paintball gun, following behind Tippmann, Palmer, Sheridan and AGD who all offered semi-autos in the early 90's.

Sure, I am a Bud basher, but if not, then kids might get a hold of this info and come to the conclusion that Bud Orr was some kind of a innovator or trendsetter, rather than a businessman who figured a better way to make money from his position on the shoulders of the giants who came before him.

D.

Painthappy · 08-31-2006, 02:05 PM

Well... Tippmann was out first with their SMG, and then came the 68 special, autococker, and automag all around the same time.

I would like to say the 68 special came out first, then the autococker, and then the automag... but that is only by recollection.

Robertsr · 08-31-2006, 04:25 PM

What about the PMI 3? I thought that it, the cocker and the mag were all released the same year.

HP_Lovecraft · 08-31-2006, 06:02 PM

Both the 68-Special, PMI3, and Golden eagle were all introduced mid 1990. The Cocker, Mag, F1, and Promaster all came out a few months later.

Initially, the 68-Special was BY FAR the most popular. By mid 1991, probobly 70% of the local fied was using 68-Specials, followed by PMI3s, and other blowbacks.

Mags and Cockers were initially NOT popular.

It was around 1992-93 when mags because popular. But that popularity died out when the mags problems with chopping, and spikes were making teams loose tournaments.

Around that time, 93-94, most teams switched from mags to cockers. That switch coincided with a series of PAINT CHECK articles about how cockers work.

But, the issue of "dates" is always tricky. WHen sometimes was introduced as a prototype, and production gun can be years apart. And with the cocker, sometimes they are not popular until YEARS later.

But then consider the 68-Special. Easily the #1 semi from 90-92, but NOBODY knows what they are today.

nick

Lenny · 09-01-2006, 03:43 AM

I believe the 68Automag went into production in 1989 and the Autococker in 1992. Don't quote me though. Either way, there were a couple of blowbacks available before them, along with the double-action guns.

Drum · 09-01-2006, 07:02 AM

There are a lot of misconceptions about the order of semi-automation, primarily based on the efforts of some (maybe I am included) to spin it a new way.

Hands down, Tippmann has the first semi-auto. Even if you want to split hairs and say that the SMG was not a semi (it was full-auto), either way, the SMG68/68 Special was out by late 1988 or 89 at the latest.

There were some experimental semis that came earlier that did not work well, or did not get the marketing saavy behind the designs. For example, the Elite Rifle, a Palmer-aided semi-auto design for the K-series Sheridan gun. It may well have been one of the earliest direct feed semis, if not THE oldest, but the thing did not work. It was not until the end of 1989 that the Hurricane was perfected by PPS.

By that time, I am nearly positive that both the Tippmann 68 Special and also the PMI3/VM had hit the markets.

The AGD 68Automag was the next in line, by about summer of 1990. For all those who think that Bud Orr had an Autococker on the market (i.e. for sale to the public) before 1992, I challenge you to prove it. The ads in APG were out months before the thing was available. I found an APG picture of the 1992 Music City Open in which Bud is showing off the prototype of his Autococking Sniper. The ads were out in December 1991 and earlier, but no gun was available until the summer of 1992 or later.

That is my spin. Bud was late off the pot and the only thing semi-automatic that he introduced in 1989 was the barrel plug.

Thanks,
D.

HP_Lovecraft · 09-02-2006, 11:50 PM

Drum, I remember shooting a prototype Autococker at an event in mid 1991, but it hit the shelves around Christmas of 1991. At least I remember "adding" it to my xmas list, though I didnt get one.

Actually, want to hear how sad I am? I remember back in Feb of 1992, MTV ran some paintball segments with Paully Shore introducing music videos, while playing paintball games at SC-Village.

Yes, I know how absurd that sounds. ANyway, some of the clips featured him firing an Autococker, along with some chrome-plated 68-Specials.

Even MORe absurb is the fact that I know I have that on a VHS tape somewhere in the house, along with a paintball computer animation I made for a business class. LOL, I should get it on the computer so everyone could make fun of my pre-flash animations...

Anyway...

nick

splattttttt · 09-03-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drum

Bud was late off the pot and the only thing semi-automatic that he introduced in 1989 was the barrel plug.
D.

T/Y, and to all the rest for providing this all too importyant fact. But then why is it that G. Palmer usually considered as the first to have done it?

08-31-2006, 12:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheDude Aficionado Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles is not Anaheim Angels of Anaheim Posts: 602	Paintball History page Very well maintained, concise, up to date PB history page: http://www.ody.ca/~cwells/history.htm

08-31-2006, 04:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Robertsr Ultimate Battle Monkey Z Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Waynesboro, VA Posts: 3,117	What about the PMI 3? I thought that it, the cocker and the mag were all released the same year. __________________ Geriatrically Assured Destruction

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08-31-2006, 01:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
paintjunque Back from the depths! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PACNORWEST Posts: 970	That was neat, thanks. I always wanted a Brass Eagle Nightmare Ninja.

08-31-2006, 01:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Drum The Mods' Mod! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Trenchtown Posts: 5,502	Nice effort, but some faulty info in there, to be sure. For example, it has "Bud Orr introducing his Autococker" in 1989. Not only is that about three years early, it is hardly worthy of mention in so brief a history. Bud was one of the last to offer a semi-automatic paintball gun, following behind Tippmann, Palmer, Sheridan and AGD who all offered semi-autos in the early 90's. Sure, I am a Bud basher, but if not, then kids might get a hold of this info and come to the conclusion that Bud Orr was some kind of a innovator or trendsetter, rather than a businessman who figured a better way to make money from his position on the shoulders of the giants who came before him. D.

08-31-2006, 02:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Painthappy I Am The Admin Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Boston, NH Posts: 5,286	Well... Tippmann was out first with their SMG, and then came the 68 special, autococker, and automag all around the same time. I would like to say the 68 special came out first, then the autococker, and then the automag... but that is only by recollection.

08-31-2006, 06:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
HP_Lovecraft Post Whore Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 2,702	Both the 68-Special, PMI3, and Golden eagle were all introduced mid 1990. The Cocker, Mag, F1, and Promaster all came out a few months later. Initially, the 68-Special was BY FAR the most popular. By mid 1991, probobly 70% of the local fied was using 68-Specials, followed by PMI3s, and other blowbacks. Mags and Cockers were initially NOT popular. It was around 1992-93 when mags because popular. But that popularity died out when the mags problems with chopping, and spikes were making teams loose tournaments. Around that time, 93-94, most teams switched from mags to cockers. That switch coincided with a series of PAINT CHECK articles about how cockers work. But, the issue of "dates" is always tricky. WHen sometimes was introduced as a prototype, and production gun can be years apart. And with the cocker, sometimes they are not popular until YEARS later. But then consider the 68-Special. Easily the #1 semi from 90-92, but NOBODY knows what they are today. nick

09-01-2006, 03:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lenny Seasoned Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Akron area, Ohio Posts: 509	I believe the 68Automag went into production in 1989 and the Autococker in 1992. Don't quote me though. Either way, there were a couple of blowbacks available before them, along with the double-action guns.

09-01-2006, 07:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Drum The Mods' Mod! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Trenchtown Posts: 5,502	There are a lot of misconceptions about the order of semi-automation, primarily based on the efforts of some (maybe I am included) to spin it a new way. Hands down, Tippmann has the first semi-auto. Even if you want to split hairs and say that the SMG was not a semi (it was full-auto), either way, the SMG68/68 Special was out by late 1988 or 89 at the latest. There were some experimental semis that came earlier that did not work well, or did not get the marketing saavy behind the designs. For example, the Elite Rifle, a Palmer-aided semi-auto design for the K-series Sheridan gun. It may well have been one of the earliest direct feed semis, if not THE oldest, but the thing did not work. It was not until the end of 1989 that the Hurricane was perfected by PPS. By that time, I am nearly positive that both the Tippmann 68 Special and also the PMI3/VM had hit the markets. The AGD 68Automag was the next in line, by about summer of 1990. For all those who think that Bud Orr had an Autococker on the market (i.e. for sale to the public) before 1992, I challenge you to prove it. The ads in APG were out months before the thing was available. I found an APG picture of the 1992 Music City Open in which Bud is showing off the prototype of his Autococking Sniper. The ads were out in December 1991 and earlier, but no gun was available until the summer of 1992 or later. That is my spin. Bud was late off the pot and the only thing semi-automatic that he introduced in 1989 was the barrel plug. Thanks, D.

09-02-2006, 11:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
HP_Lovecraft Post Whore Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 2,702	Drum, I remember shooting a prototype Autococker at an event in mid 1991, but it hit the shelves around Christmas of 1991. At least I remember "adding" it to my xmas list, though I didnt get one. Actually, want to hear how sad I am? I remember back in Feb of 1992, MTV ran some paintball segments with Paully Shore introducing music videos, while playing paintball games at SC-Village. Yes, I know how absurd that sounds. ANyway, some of the clips featured him firing an Autococker, along with some chrome-plated 68-Specials. Even MORe absurb is the fact that I know I have that on a VHS tape somewhere in the house, along with a paintball computer animation I made for a business class. LOL, I should get it on the computer so everyone could make fun of my pre-flash animations... Anyway... nick