Editing Component Concepts (section)

== History ==

=== Establishment ===

Component Concepts was established in 1979 to provide industrial product design and manufacturing services.

In 1986, founder Mike Casady began developing a pump-action paintball marker based on the Nelson operating system.

The resulting Phantom entered commercial production in 1987, following approximately six months of development.[1][2]

The original design used a fixed barrel and breech assembly, commonly described as a unibody, together with a modified Crosman air pistol trigger frame and a quick-change system for 12-gram CO₂ cartridges.

In 1988, CCI replaced the original trigger frame with an M16-style grip arrangement.

Further changes during 1989 and 1990 included a removable barrel system and adaptors for larger CO₂ and compressed-air tanks.[1]

=== Development of the Phantom ===

The Phantom became CCI's principal commercial product.

Its design retained the Nelson-style valve and mechanical pump operation while offering interchangeable components and feeding arrangements.

Players could configure the marker for stock-class operation using a horizontal feed tube and 12-gram CO₂ cartridge, or for open-class operation using a gravity-fed hopper and larger gas tank.

The marker was also available with different barrel lengths, grips, pump handles, air-source arrangements and anodised finishes.[1][6]

CCI continued manufacturing the Phantom throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with the original design remaining compatible with numerous replacement and upgrade components.

=== Phantom Revolution prototype ===

During the early 1990s, CCI developed an experimental semi-automatic marker known as the '''Phantom Revolution'''.

The marker used an electrically driven rotating breech rather than a conventional reciprocating bolt.

In October 1996, Mike Casady demonstrated working prototypes at the [[NPPL World Cup]] in Orlando, Florida.

Contemporary reporting by [[WARPIG]] described an onboard electronic system that used a microphone to detect the sound of the marker firing. The system then activated a motor to rotate the breech and chamber another paintball.

The firing valve itself was mechanically operated.[3]

The design was intended to prevent paintballs from being damaged during loading by eliminating the conventional bolt movement.

VintageRex records that components for approximately 50 markers were manufactured, of which 12 were assembled.

The design did not enter normal commercial production.[4]

=== Production Phantom Revolution ===

CCI later introduced a separate pump-action marker using the '''Phantom Revolution''' name.

Unlike the experimental semi-automatic prototype, this version used a manually operated pump mechanism and a power-piston firing system.

The manufacturer's operating manual, copyrighted in 2011, documents the production Revolution as a .68-calibre pump marker compatible with CO₂ or compressed air.[7]

A 2013 CCI product catalogue offered the Revolution in both stock-class and open-class configurations.[8]

The two Revolution designs were mechanically distinct and should not be treated as successive versions of the same operating system.

=== Transfer of the Phantom product line ===

In May 2019, Mike Casady announced the transfer of the Phantom product line to Extreme Velocity Inc., an Oregon paintball retailer and equipment business.

The new owner acquired the Phantom manufacturing operation and continued using the Phantom Online name.

Extreme Velocity identified Brian Bradley and Jesse as the individuals involved in taking over the product line.

According to the company's published history, the manufacturing operation was moved into its workshop, where Phantom markers continued to be assembled by hand.[5]

The transfer marked the end of Casady's direct operation of the original Phantom manufacturing business.

The Phantom brand and product line continued under Extreme Velocity ownership.[5]