| Modern Paint Ball guns were a natural progression | | | | "washable marking fluid formulation for soft gelatin |
| from a 'Ping Pong Gun' that was used by many | | | | capsules" - a Paintball bullet recipe (U.S. patent |
| young 'Warriors' in the 1950's. This 'Toy' would fire | | | | 4,634,606 granted January 6, 1987.) The fluid |
| Ping Pong balls under air pressure. A hit wasn't as | | | | when packaged in a soft gelatin capsule produced |
| painful as a modern unprotected 'Paintball' hit, | | | | projectiles that were more accurate and stable |
| because of the deceleration of the very light | | | | and made bright, highly visible marks that could be |
| projectile. | | | | easily washed out with water and/or detergent |
| Then the Daisy Manufacturing Company of 'BB | | | | and were ideally suitable for use in the sports and |
| Gun' fame came up with the first Paint Ball Gun. | | | | games exercises. Skogg worked for the Nelson |
| The first Paint Ball gun was invented (1970) and | | | | Paint Company and this patent became the |
| patented by a Daisy Employee, James Hale (U.S. | | | | Nelson recipe for Paintballs. |
| patent 3,788, 298 issued on January 29, 1974.) | | | | LET'S GET ORGANIZED |
| with the original intent of use by the Forest | | | | In 1988 The IPPA (International Paintball Players |
| Service and ranchers marking trees for harvest | | | | Association) was founded. This is a non-profit |
| and cattle for selection. The first gun actually | | | | association dedicated to the education, growth |
| designed for playing Paintball was the Splatmaster | | | | and safety of the sport of paintball. During the |
| invented by Robert G Shepherd. This U.S. patent | | | | period 1992-1993 NPPL (National Professional |
| number 4,531,503 was issued to Shepherd on July | | | | Paintball League ) was founded and the NPPL |
| 30, 1985. | | | | Pro-Am Series began with paint ball gear site |
| The Forestry version (Nel-spot 007 pistols) was | | | | tournaments set up in Reno, New York, Boston, |
| used in a game of 'Capture the Flag' in 1981, boys | | | | and other cities around the U.S.. |
| will be boys. By 1982 some of the entrepreneurial | | | | It was inevitable that television would become |
| players from that 'Capture the Flag' game, started | | | | involved. How could it 'NOT' be included. In 1993 |
| National Survival Games (NSG) and opening paint | | | | ESPN aired it's filming of the NPPL 'DC Cup' from |
| ball fields. Charles Gaines, founded NSG. PMI | | | | Bowie, Maryland, organized by the PCRI (Paintball |
| (Pursuit Marketing Inc.) was founded for the | | | | Ratings and Competitions International). As |
| distribution and marketing of Paint Ball products | | | | interest expanded in 1996 ESPN aired the ESPN |
| and paint ball gear sites. Caleb Strong opened the | | | | World Championships of Paintball from Orlando, |
| first outdoor paintball gear site in 1982 in upstate | | | | Florida. |
| New York. Being in upstate New York, Caleb also | | | | And of course the Internet would become a |
| opened the first indoor paintball gear site in Buffalo | | | | venue. In 1994 Warpig introduced the first |
| in 1984. | | | | internet paintball gear site. |
| The early marketing of the new sport included | | | | The game has exploded into a multimillion-dollar |
| articles written by quite a few of those early | | | | sport with amateur and professional tournaments |
| players and published in Sports Illustrated and | | | | across the United States and Europe. Paintball |
| other sports genre. | | | | Gear Sites are opening every day now, all over |
| Once established it was only natural to set up a | | | | the world. Cash purses and prizes in the hundreds |
| Championship Contest. This was done in 1983 at a | | | | of thousands of dollars are involved. Daisy |
| paint ball gear site with a purse of $14,000 cash. | | | | (manufacturer of pellets, B.B.s and air guns), |
| The sport also went international in 1983 with the | | | | Crossman (manufacturer of airguns), Scott USA |
| opening of an outdoor paintball gear site in | | | | (manufacturer of ski poles and goggles) and JT |
| Toronto. | | | | USA (manufacturer of motocross safety |
| More International Venues were added beginning | | | | equipment) are just a few of the companies that |
| with Australia in 1984, France and Denmark in | | | | have expanded into paintball paraphernalia and |
| 1991 with the rest of Europe soon to follow. An | | | | equipment. Sponsors of modern tournaments |
| indoor paintball gear site was erected in England | | | | include companies such as Budweiser and |
| by 1985. | | | | Pepsi-Cola and who know's what's next. (Toy's r |
| I'm sure quite a few Wives, Mothers and anyone | | | | Us, Ruger). |
| who does their own laundry are grateful to | | | | Copyright © 2006 C. R. |
| George A. Skogg who in 1987 patented a | | | | |