Museum

[paintballer187]

I just looked through the vintagerex site to help identify a flea market find from this past weekend. It looks like I definitely have a BE Nightmare but the features aren't 100% as the ones listed on the site.

Mine has the crosman stock with tank holder (rear C/A) but it does not have a direct feed port. Was the stock an option? Without the DF, does that hurt the value? It also looks like someone took another pump handle and welded it to the factory handle to extend it to cover the majority of the bottom tube.

I'll post pics soon. It looks like it's been sitting awhile so it may need some work but it's cooler looking than any of the PMI brass that I've ever owned.

[paintballer187]

Here are the pics.

[Long Beard]

To my knowledge (and I might get corrected here) but the DF versions were for the Comps. You have the Nightmare LB. VintageRex.com | Brass Eagle Nightmare LB I don't believe the air line was original, looks like someone might've tapped that themselves. I have one that is home brew tap as well. I think the market on this is still pretty good. I know there are guys on here that would love to have this in their collection.

[Mayvik]

There are a few different styles of Nightmare. You have a Nightmare LB modified for constant air (don't use that tank..it's missing a thermos-style on-off knob and is probably waaaaaaaay too beat to be safe).

The direct feed were the "Comp" models, which also had a top side dropout (drop up?) slot for the 12 gram. You may find a dummy 12 gram inside the top tube where the airline goes in.

If you can air it up (from another tank!) and it doesn't leak, it'll probably sell quick here. Nightmares are great guns but prone to a virtually irreparable leak.

[b-cuzz]

If my eyes are serving me well, I'd say that the pump handle is comprised of 2 early-style short-barrel pump handles (edit: from the vintagerex pics, they used the same handle, later ones had different length handles). Later ones just had ribs on them. The earlier guns were also made of brass. The constant air setup may very well have been an option when it was new, I don't know enough to say for sure. The feed tube plug is still in there, too. The Crossman stock was originally designed to fit on Crossman's bb/pellet guns. Unless my eyes are deceiving me, they use much the same trigger frame. That's a nice find right there.

[HP_Lovecraft]

Plus, all those parts were availible as aftermarket options.
Back then (late 80s), it was very rare to see a "stock" gun. That is, however, the first time I've seen 2 pumps welded together... thats pretty cool!

Value is pretty good for Nightmare pumps regardless. They are unique enough that they do not look like all those boring Phantom/Bushy/Nelson/Ghost/clones that flooded the market, and all look somewhat alike. The Crosman valve-train was never really used for other pumps. IMO, a well dressed Nightmare is the best looking pump in paintball.

[Pif]

Originally Posted by Mayvik

If you can air it up (from another tank!) and it doesn't leak, it'll probably sell quick here. Nightmares are great guns but prone to a virtually irreparable leak.

The reputation is somewhat undeserved. They don't develop leaks on their own. If you remove the valve, count on replacing the o-rings. O-ring kits are impossible to find (sold out everywhere) but most o-rings can be replicated.

There's two seals that are non standard, one in the valve and the one that seals the 12g face. I think it should be possible to drill and tap the slug in the top tube for a CCI pierce pin assembly. The seal in the valve is almost like a teflon washer IIRC.

I love my Nightmare LB.

[paintballer187]

Just aired it up and IT WORKS!

I had to put a standard oring between the tank and the line (it should have a bulk tank style seal), and use a cresent wrench to open the tank valve but it doesn't leak inside the gun. It has a very faint leak in the outer air line but that shouldn't be a problem.

I love the looks of this gun but need the dough, TO THE BST.

[hmudd13]

That marker definitely looks period correct. Mods and all

Originally Posted by Pif

The reputation is somewhat undeserved. They don't develop leaks on their own. If you remove the valve, count on replacing the o-rings.

The reputation is deserved however.
Although I have a SB comp and a Ninja that have not leaked in years.

Back in the 80's I ran a field that used Nightmares for field guns.
I would spend a couple of hours on the night before game day going through 20 to 30 markers making sure they held air, only to find out in the morning that 5 or 6 decided to leak all by themselves.

Originally it was thought that the name came from the problems that the opposing team would have after being thrashed by Nightmares.

I now know that it was because that's what they were to work on.