Editing Stock-class paintball (section)

== History ==

=== Origins ===

Stock-class paintball traces its equipment and playing style to the earliest organised paintball games.

The first recorded paintball game, held on 27 June 1981 in Henniker, New Hampshire, used [[Nelspot 007]] marking pistols. These were manually operated, used horizontal ammunition tubes and were powered by 12-gram CO2 cartridges.[1]

During the early 1980s, similar equipment was commonly used at [[National Survival Game]] fields and other recreational paintball venues.

As the sport developed, manufacturers introduced pump markers with larger gas supplies, gravity-fed loaders and improved firing mechanisms. Semi-automatic markers subsequently became increasingly common.

Players who preferred the limitations of earlier equipment began organising games in which these technological advantages were restricted.

=== Development as a separate format ===

By the late 1980s, some paintball fields had begun distinguishing between games using original-style equipment and those allowing more modern markers.

According to an account published by Stock-Class Headquarters, [[Jim Iulo]], operator of Strategy Plus Paintball in Connecticut, organised games using traditional equipment under the name ''stock games'', while permitting more advanced equipment in separate ''competition games''.[2]

The precise origin of the term ''stock-class'' has not been conclusively established.

In 1992, Dr Martin "Marty" Nation established the '''Stock Gun Players Association''' (SGPA), an organisation promoting traditional stock-gun competition.

An interview with Nation published in ''The Paintball Trader'' in June 1992 documented the association's activities and efforts to establish tournaments specifically for stock-class players.[3]

The association developed equipment restrictions intended to maintain competitive balance between players using different manufacturers' markers.

=== Stock-class tournaments ===

During the 1990s, dedicated stock-class tournaments were held alongside the expanding professional paintball circuit.

One established event was the '''Earon Carter Stock Class Invitational''', named after [[Earon Carter]] of [[Carter Machine]].

The 1996 tournament took place on 16–17 March at [[SC Village]] in Corona, California.

Sixteen teams participated, including the Kamikaze Shooters, Dragoon and Combat Crew. Combat Crew, travelling from Hawaii, won the tournament.[4]

The competition required pump-action markers powered by 12-gram CO2 cartridges, with horizontal feed tubes holding no more than 20 paintballs. Some equipment modifications were permitted at the organisers' discretion.

The 1997 competition was held in San Diego.

In 1998, the Earon Carter Stock Gun Championship was organised by [[DYE Precision]] alongside the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) tournament in Las Vegas.[5]

=== Community development ===

Stock-class remained a specialised form of paintball during the 2000s as electronic markers and modern tournament formats became dominant.

The '''Stock-Class Paintball Network''', established in 2001 by Hao Chen of Mafic Productions, provided an online community and archive for stock-class and pump players.[6]

Other websites, particularly [[M.CarterBrown]], became important places for players to exchange equipment, organise games and preserve technical information.

During the 2000s and 2010s, regional stock-class communities continued organising dedicated games in the United States and Canada.

These included SoCal Stock in California and groups in the northeastern United States.

In 2011, organisers in Connecticut and neighbouring states began holding regular events using an updated set of stock-class rules at commercial paintball fields.[2]

The events subsequently developed into recurring gatherings, including '''Slim's Stocktoberfest''' and the '''Spring Stock Classic'''.[7]