Paintball History - How it all started !!

1970
James Hale of Daisy Manufacturing, invented and patented what would become the first paintball gun.
This original paintball gun was manufactured and used by farmers and ranchers for marking trees and livestock.

May 1981
Paintball began in New Hampshire, U.S.A. the principal creators were
Bob Gurnsey, a sporting goods retailer
Hayes Noel, a stockbroker
Charles Gaines, a writer

June 27, 1981
The first game played:
12 players competing against each other
Using Nel-spot 007s pistols
The game was capture the flag
The winner captured all flags without firing a shot!

1982
The first outdoor playing field was opened in Rochester, N.Y., by Caleb Strong

Charles Gaines marketed paintball as the National Survival Game (NSG)

PMI (Pursuit Marketing Inc.), was founded to market and distribute paintball products

1983
The first NSG National Championship was held with a $14,000 cash purse

The first outdoor paintball fields opened in Toronto, Canada

1984
Paintball started in Australia under the name of Skirmish Games
November 1984
The first indoor playing field opened in Buffalo, N.Y., by Caleb Strong

1985
The first outdoor playing field was opened in England

1988
IPPA (International Painball Players Association) was founded as a non-profit association dedicated to the education, growth and safety of paintball

1991
Paintball begins in France, Denmark and other countries in Europe

1992-1993
NPPL (National Professional Paintball League) was founded and the NPPL Pro-Am Series started with sites around the U.S.

1996
Paintball playing fields, stores and tournaments can now be found in these and other countries:
U.S.A.
Canada
Mexico
Australia
England
Scotland
Denmark
France
Holland
Italy
Norway
Sweden
Africa
Russia
New Zealand
Brazil
Venezuela
Philippines
Germany
Austria
Ireland
Belgium
Greece
Israel
Korea
Thailand