The very first paintballs were actually created by a company called Nelson Paint Company in the 1950’s. They were first used to mark cows by cattlemen from a safe distance. Then in 1976, Josef Venable, Bob Gurnsey and Charles Gaines inspired by a trip to Africa and the movie The Most Dangerous Game, the three friends started thinking of a way to get an adrenaline rush while being hunted and stalked like the movie. The friends began outlining the strategies of the game but still did not know how to utilize the hunt. Until another friend George Butler showed them a paintball marker in a catalog. The gun was a Nelspot 007 made by Nelson Paint Company.
In June of 1981, there were twelve players who competed against each other with the Nelspot 007 pistols from the catalog and the first paintball game ever played was on June 27, 1981. Among the players were a staff writer for Sports Illustrated, an experienced hunter, a film producer, former Golden Gloves Champion, a trauma surgeon and a writer for Sports Afield among others.
The game was capture the flag and the rules of the game were devised by Venable, Gurnsey and Gaines and it was played on an 80 acre wooded area. Initially they called their game Survival and an article was written about the game in 1980 which was what drew attention to the first game ever played in 1981. They friends formed a company called National Survival Game and struck a deal with the Nelson Paint Company and since they were the only ones to sell this type of equipment they, easily turned a profit in 6 months time.
At the beginning of the game only the Nelspot pistols were available. They used a 12 gram CO2 cartridge but it only held about 10 rounds so the players were very conservative with their shots. Masks that were made for paintball had not yet been created so the players would wear goggles of wood or metal shop glasses. At the time the paintballs were oil based so the guys would get together after for what they called a turpentine party.
By 1981 and 1983, more and more companies were emerging with better guns, more equipment and water based paintballs. The rules though have stayed the same but the materials that were used in game where evolving, now the game as a variety of rules and games, air powered guns and electric guns. The pistols that were once used were replaced by rifles and the pistols are still in use but rifles are more common.
These days paintball is more common and one of the fastest growing sports all over the world. Today there are tournaments and leagues, the game has evolved and is only becoming more popular. Venable, Gurney and Gaines should be very proud of their accomplishments. They took an idea of Most Dangerous Game and turned it into a game that is enjoyed by all ages.
