Nelspot 007, The Marker that started it all!!

The Nelspot 007: The Marker That Started Paintball

The Nelspot 007 holds a special place in the history of paintball. As the first commercially used paintball marker, it wasn't originally designed for sport but became the accidental icon that launched an entirely new recreational activity. Its legacy is not just in its design but in the pivotal role it played in the creation of the game of paintball.

Origins: A Tool for Marking Trees and Cattle

The Nelspot 007 was originally developed by Nelson Paint Company, a business known for producing tree-marking paint and tools for the forestry industry. In the 1960s and 70s, forest rangers and cattle ranchers needed a way to mark trees or livestock from a distance. Nelson Paint partnered with Daisy Manufacturing (known for air guns) to produce a CO₂-powered marking pistol that could fire gelatin capsules filled with oil-based paint.

This tool became the Nelspot 007, a .68 caliber, bolt-action, single-shot marker. It was constructed largely from metal and used disposable 12-gram CO₂ cartridges to power each shot. The capsules were loaded one at a time into a breech, making the device slow but effective for marking purposes.

The Birth of Paintball: From Utility to Sport

In 1981, the Nelspot 007 was repurposed in a completely new context. A group of friends — including Bob Gurnsey, Charles Gaines, and Hayes Noel — came up with the idea of using the markers to play a survival-style game in the woods. On June 27, 1981, they held the first official paintball game in New Hampshire using Nelspot 007 markers.

Twelve players participated in that first match, playing a variation of “capture the flag.” The event proved so exhilarating and unique that it sparked immediate interest, and paintball as a sport was born.

Technical Features

The Nelspot 007 had a few defining characteristics:

• Bolt-action mechanism: Operated by manually cocking the bolt after each shot.

• Single-shot feed: Some versions included a 10-round magazine or feed tube.

• Metal construction: Durable but heavy, compared to later models.

• 12g CO₂ power: Allowed for portability, but limited in shot capacity (typically 15–20 shots per cartridge).

Its simple, rugged design made it reliable in outdoor conditions, a key factor in the success of those early paintball games.

Impact and Legacy

The Nelspot 007 is not just a relic; it’s a cornerstone of paintball history. Without it, the sport might never have existed. Though it was quickly outpaced by more advanced markers designed specifically for gameplay (such as the PMI Piranha, Tippmann SMG-60, and others), the Nelspot 007 remains a symbol of the sport’s humble beginnings.

Collectors and early paintball enthusiasts still seek original Nelspot 007s, and many are displayed in paintball museums and collections as tributes to the game's origin.

Conclusion

What began as a forestry tool became the catalyst for a global sport. The Nelspot 007 may have been rudimentary and slow by modern standards, but it proved that sometimes, the simplest tools can create the most lasting impact. Its story is a reminder of how innovation often comes not from invention, but from reinvention.