Paintball

[matteekay]

So I picked up this guy after I sold off the Kit Carson:



Seems silly, but it's pretty much exactly what I'd have WALZ build me (though I'm still on the books just in case, lol). Anyhow, the only thing I didn't love was the pump handle. It's really well done, I just like heftier pumps (strictly a preference thing). I took the lower tube apart to find that this guy had the same pump configuration as Kit - not much valve tube with a rod that slides into it and the rear of the pump and pushes a return spring:



That meant the nice Titus pump I already had would be very wobbly since it only had about 1" of valve tube to guide it.



What to do? Well... this! I first sleeved the inside of the pump with 3/4" copper piping - same OD as the valve tube, slightly tighter ID:



Next, I used a die to add some threads to the pump arm and shortened it slightly, then cut some delrin rod:





I drilled through the pump and rod and tapped the latter:



Added a leading hole for the set screw to a Sheridan CA tube plug (thanks Bacci!):



Routed out the holes in the pump and, after some careful aligning, got this!







The pump's about as (possibly more) stable than a standard pump with a valve tube under it. Slides very well so long as I don't clamp down the bottom screws as that pinches the valve tube between the pump body and the rod; I've found it's better to let the rod "float" a little. And, best of all, it's totally reversible in case I want to use Wally's pump. The only downside I've found is that I naturally want to wrap my index finger around the front of the pump... which puts it dangerously close to the business end of things.

[Donut SD]

Snap Mattee, I about gasped too! Looking good by the way on that pump.

[matteekay]

Thanks - pretty pleased with it. It's nice to be able to grab the marker from literally anywhere beyond the trigger frame and pump it. Gives it kind of a blunderbuss look, too!

[ScreamingCricket]

It looks good with the Titus pump handle. It has the proper amount of length and thickness, and I do like you can grip it anywhere. (That's what she said?)

[D3adpool]

Looks better with the bigger pump handle too!

Good job!

[mailmanmike]

I like the blunderbuss look. It looks like it would be real comfortable to shoot

[matteekay]

Just about the only downside is the grip angle around the trigger. Obviously you still hold this like a rifle, with your fingers turned downward, so you can't offer as much resistance to the pump as you could with a traditional pistol grip. It's the problem inherent to all pirates. Frankly, in the heat of passion, with gloves on, I doubt grip will really be much of an issue.

And THAT'S what she said.

[laxpro69]

Looking good! Man I miss that pistol...

[matteekay]

No! MINE! {growls}

[No Mercy Ever]

Only thing that I would change would be the screws. Swap them for some black ones, when you find them.