Action Markers

Action Markers was an American paintball marker manufacturer based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Active during the early 2000s, the company produced mechanical semi-automatic, pump-action and electronic paintball markers, including the Sentinel, Illusion, Diadem and AM-4.

Action Markers was documented at the 2002 International Amateur Open and formally announced its withdrawal from the paintball market on 23 May 2005.[1][2]

History

Action Markers developed a range of paintball markers intended for recreational, scenario and tournament players.

At the International Amateur Open in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in August 2002, the company exhibited several products, including the Sentinel semi-automatic marker, a stock-class pump marker, the AM-4 scenario marker and a prototype of the Diadem electronic marker.[1]

The Diadem was developed from the Sentinel platform, replacing its mechanical firing arrangement with a pneumatically operated ram controlled by an electronic solenoid valve. The prototype displayed at the tournament used an LED indicator rather than an LCD screen.[1]

Action Markers also produced the Illusion family of pump-action markers. The original Illusion and Illusion Pro were listed by VintageRex as 2002 models. The Illusion featured dual pump rods, interchangeable feed tubes and a quick-release bolt mechanism.[3]

A review published by the Stock-Class Paintball Network on 31 January 2003 documented the Illusion Pro in recreational play, describing its interchangeable stock-class and hopper-fed configurations.[4]

Closure

In 2005, Action Markers became involved in an intellectual property dispute with Worr Game Products (WGP), then associated with K2 Inc. and Brass Eagle.

In correspondence dated 6 May 2005, lawyers representing WGP alleged that Action Markers had infringed intellectual property rights associated with WGP paintball markers. The letter demanded that Action Markers comply with its requirements and provide an accounting of relevant sales.[5]

Steve Deam of Action Markers responded on 23 May 2005, rejecting the infringement allegations concerning the Illusion marker. In the same correspondence, he announced that Action Markers, Inc. had officially withdrawn from the paintball marketplace effective that day.[2]

The surviving correspondence establishes the dispute and the company's announced departure from the market. It does not, by itself, establish that Action Markers was found liable for infringement by a court.

Paintball markers

VintageRex documents seven entries associated with Action Markers, including variants of the Illusion pump marker.[3]

Marker	Action	Description
Sentinel	Mechanical semi-automatic	A .68-calibre stacked-tube blowback marker with an aluminium receiver. The platform also formed the basis for the AM-4 and Diadem.
Illusion	Pump-action	Introduced in 2002, featuring dual pump rods, interchangeable feed tubes and a removable barrel.
Illusion Pro	Pump-action	A higher-specification Illusion variant featuring a black-to-red anodised finish, intended for competitive pump players.
Illusion Pro Stock Class	Pump-action	A stock-class configuration of the Illusion Pro, compatible with 12-gram CO₂ cartridges.
AM-4	Mechanical semi-automatic	A scenario-oriented derivative of the Sentinel featuring military-style external components and an optional collapsible stock.
Diadem	Electronic	An electronically controlled marker using a pneumatically operated ram and solenoid valve. A prototype was exhibited in August 2002.
William Shatner Illusion	Pump-action	A limited-edition commemorative Illusion produced in connection with the 2002 Shatner's Spplat Attack event.

William Shatner Illusion

In 2002, Action Markers produced a special edition of the Illusion associated with actor William Shatner and the Shatner's Spplat Attack paintball event.

The commemorative marker featured gold plating, chrome accents and Shatner's signature machined into the body. Each marker was supplied with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by Shatner.

According to historical material reproduced by VintageRex, 25 examples were produced. One 24-karat gold-plated example was auctioned for US$3,500 following the event.[6]

Diadem

The Diadem was Action Markers' electronically controlled paintball marker.

Its design incorporated a pneumatic ram, solenoid valve and electronic control system. The manufacturer's operating manual also documented programmable firing modes, an electronic ball-detection system and the Vari-Grip loader attachment system.

The marker was designed to operate using compressed air, with its pneumatic and firing mechanisms supplied through a regulated air system.[7]

References

External links