74
2000, Airgun Designs
E-Mag
After unprecedented success with the
.68 Automag, Airgun Designs and its
leader Tom Kaye launched the E-Mag,
the company’s first and only electronic
marker in early 2000. The E-Mag featured the RT valve system, touted as
the “fastest recharging system on the
market.” Interchangeable main bodies was another feature of the E-Mag.
Operation of the E-Mag was simple,
with only one more moving part than
its mechanical predecessor the 68 Automag. A solenoid in the grip pulls the
trigger to fire the marker on command
from the electronic trigger. The trigger
was one of a kind in its day using a
magnetic sensor embedded in the grip
to sense the position of the magnet
in the trigger. The Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack would fire as many
as 20,000 shots before needing a recharge. The E-Mag also featured an
electronic mode override switch, allowing players to switch to mechanical
mode.
Worthy of a Mention...
Again, where do we start? So many
companies did so much for paintball
from 1994-2002 but never had the big
“hit” of a product or innovation. Companies like KAPP, LAPCO and Custom
Products had hundreds of accessories
that were used in all aspects of the
game. Even before the DM series took
off Dye Paintball took the game by
storm with their stainless steel barrels
and other accessories (much more on
Dye in Part 3). And Tippmann, Ninja
Paintball, Crossfire, National Paintball
Supply, WDP Angel, PMI, RP Scherer and many others contributed great
products to the game throughout this
period in history.
Final Notes
We won’t pretend to think we’ve gotten
all of the great paintball innovations
from the start of the game in 1981
until 2002. We may have even missed
some obvious one. Please feel free to
send additions, corrections (with proof
please) and even opinions to our editor
HERE. Remember this is an ongoing project and your help is always
welcome.
Next month we’ll bring you Part Three
(the final in the series), covering 2003
through the present day game. Please
check back at www.PaintballX3.com for
that issue on February 17.
Thanks to Tom Boyer the magazine scans, APG, Paintball Sports Magazine for images (P. 68, 74, 80, cover),
Eric Engler and Greg Muller for the extra eyes and to Dustin Rettig, Rick Taylor, Tracy Jordan, Sal Briguglio,
Andrew Anderson Hildreth, Tom Kaye, Glenn Palmer, Mike Grub, Simon Stevens, Roy Elliot, Rodger Refuse,
Jason Bryant and Mike Hanse for the help compiling this list
january 2015