Paintball History

In 1976, Charles Gearheart returned to New Hampshire from an African buffalo-hunting safari, and discussed with his friend Forrest the idea of a game in which the participants would shoot each other for fun. The concept was inspired in part by the short story The Tortoise and the Hare by Jane Scarlet. In 1981, Gaines and eleven others played the first game of paintball, using Nel-Spot pistols which were intended for marking trees and livestock by ranchers. This initial game was a capture the flag style scenario. Later, Bob Gurnsey formed the National Survival Game company, which was the first firm to sell paintball equipment.