Editing CMI International (section)

== History ==

=== Origins and Bill Harvey ===

The Thunder Pig marker range originated with paintball player and equipment designer '''Bill "Thunder Pig" Harvey'''.

According to a historical account originally published on CMI's website and preserved by [[VintageRex]], Harvey began developing an inexpensive pump-action paintball marker in 1988.

His objective was to produce a durable marker that would be affordable to recreational players at a time when specialised paintball equipment could be expensive.[1]

The resulting design became the '''PI-1 Pig Gun''', also marketed as the Thunder Pig.

CMI's account states that manufacturing of the first 1,000 markers began in late 1989.

In June 1990, Harvey attended an international paintball trade show in New York to introduce the product. He died suddenly during the event.[1]

CMI continued manufacturing and marketing paintball equipment following his death.

Harvey's involvement in the early paintball community was also documented in the October 1990 issue of ''Paintcheck'' magazine.[4]

=== Thunder Pig marker range ===

The Thunder Pig series consisted primarily of .68-calibre pump-action markers based on the Nelson operating system.

The company's early models included the PI-1 Pig Gun and PI-2 Tusker.

CMI advertised these markers as affordable, durable equipment suitable for recreational play and commercial paintball fields.

A surviving advertisement identifies the manufacturer as CMI International, located at 101 Copperwood Way, Suite K, Oceanside, California.[2]

Another manufacturer advertisement listed the PI-1 Pig Gun at US$109.95 and the PI-2 Tusker at US$129.95.

The company promoted their stainless-steel and aluminium construction, ease of maintenance and removable barrel arrangements.[5]

The Thunder Pig range was also documented in WARPIG's early technical guide to paintball markers, which identified the P.I. 90 and Tusker among Nelson-derived pump designs.[6]

=== Expansion into semi-automatic markers ===

During the early 1990s, CMI expanded beyond pump-action equipment.

The company introduced the [[CMI Auto Hog|Auto Hog]], which VintageRex dates to 1993.

The Auto Hog was a .68-calibre mechanical semi-automatic marker featuring a direct-feed arrangement, removable barrel and constant-air operation.[7]

The company subsequently offered the [[CMI Mini Hog|Mini Hog]], a more compact semi-automatic marker incorporating a vertical air-source adaptor.

VintageRex dates the Mini Hog to 1994 and describes it as a limited-production model, with fewer than 100 examples reportedly manufactured.[8]

=== LS 2000 ===

In 1997, CMI marketed the '''Lightning Strike LS 2000''', a semi-automatic marker using a blow-forward operating system.

The marker was offered in two configurations, identified as the LS 2000 PT and LS 2000 FM.

Its advertised features included an integrated regulator, pneumatic trigger, removable barrel and adjustable firing mechanism.[9]

VintageRex reports that the product encountered an intellectual property dispute and that only a limited number of markers reached customers.

The archive also lists a production figure of 1,250, which conflicts with its description of limited availability. Neither the figure nor the circumstances of the reported dispute have been independently established.[9]

The company's subsequent operating history and final date of marker production have not been confirmed.