Delta Archery

Delta Archery was an American sporting equipment business operated by professional paintball player and equipment designer Bob Long in California's East Bay region. Originally associated with archery, the business became involved in paintball during the late 1980s and served as an outlet for Long's paintball markers, customised equipment and aftermarket components.[1]

The Delta Archery name is associated with early Autococker customisation, the Bob Long Millennium, the experimental Delta Defiant and the later production Bob Long Defiant. These products preceded or accompanied the development of Long's Bob Long Intimidator marker range.[2][3]

History

Early paintball involvement

Bob Long operated Delta Archery when he became involved in paintball during the mid-to-late 1980s.

According to historical research published by Daniel Bacci, Long sold paintball equipment through the shop in California's East Bay region.[1]

Long subsequently became associated with the professional tournament team Ironmen and the development of customised paintball markers.

During the early 1990s, Delta Archery was among the California businesses involved in modifying the Autococker platform manufactured by Worr Game Products.

Contemporary and historical accounts document the use of customised Autocockers by Long and the Ironmen.

These included equipment modified by independent specialists such as Skip Swift of SwiftLine Industries.[4]

Millennium

During the 1990s, Long developed the Millennium, a customised mechanical semi-automatic marker based on the Kingman Spyder operating system.

The Millennium used a stacked-tube blowback mechanism and was available as a complete marker or as replacement components for existing Spyder markers.

Its principal differences from the standard Spyder platform included custom receiver machining and alternative mechanical components.

Surviving examples have been documented with single and double trigger frames, different cocking arrangements and aftermarket regulators.[5][6]

The exact introduction date of the Millennium has not been established.

Delta Defiant prototype

In 1997, Bob Long began publicly demonstrating a new mechanical semi-automatic marker known as the Delta Defiant.

The design was intended as an alternative development of the pneumatic recocking system used by the Autococker.

Unlike a conventional Autococker, which used a pneumatic ram mounted outside the receiver, the Delta Defiant incorporated an internal ram and bolt assembly.[7]

VintageRex describes the prototype as using two separate two-way valves mounted near the trigger frame instead of a conventional four-way control valve.

Its pneumatic ram and bolt were connected to the hammer through a vertical linkage.

The design also incorporated a low-pressure regulator positioned beneath the front of the receiver.[7]

Contemporary coverage of the 1997 Pittsburgh NPPL tournament included footage of Bob Long demonstrating the original Delta Defiant.[3]

Development during 1998

At the June 1998 NPPL tournament in Chicago, WARPIG reported that Long was testing what was described as the final prototype of the Delta Defiant.

The revised design incorporated an internal pneumatic ram and a vertical connecting pin between the bolt and hammer.

WARPIG documented an operating pressure of approximately 160 psi and described the internal valve system as using a spiral gas-flow arrangement intended to reduce turbulence.[8]

Long expected production markers to become available later that year.

However, the original mechanical Defiant design did not enter commercial production.

VintageRex records that the project was abandoned in favour of a modified Indian Creek Designs Bushmaster 2000 platform.[7]

Production Defiant

By February 1999, Bob Long was using an electronic Delta Defiant based on the Bushmaster 2000.

WARPIG's contemporary coverage of Skyball 1999 described the Defiant as a higher-end version of the Bushmaster, incorporating different receiver machining and decorative anodising.[9]

The production Defiant used electronic control and an electropneumatic operating system rather than the mechanical pneumatic arrangement of the earlier prototype.

It was manufactured in association with Indian Creek Designs and included modifications such as Autococker-compatible barrel threading.

The production Defiant was used by Long during professional tournament competition in 1999.[9][10]

Intimidator

Long subsequently developed the Intimidator electronic marker platform.

The original Intimidator used a stacked-tube electropneumatic operating system and became the foundation of several later Bob Long marker families.

Although VintageRex lists the Intimidator under the Delta Archery manufacturer heading, the Intimidator is primarily associated with Long's later paintball equipment business.

The VintageRex entry is dated 2005, but contemporary WARPIG coverage confirms that Intimidator models were commercially available before that year.

At the October 2002 Paintball World Cup, National Paintball Supply exhibited Bob Long Intimidators, including the Ironmen and Ground Zero editions of the 2003 product range.[11]

The Intimidator's development and subsequent generations are covered separately under Bob Long Intimidator.

Paintball markers

VintageRex lists four entries under Delta Archery - Bob Long.[2]

Marker	Documented period	Type	Description
Millennium	1990s	Mechanical semi-automatic	Custom stacked-tube blowback marker based on the Kingman Spyder operating system.
Delta Defiant Prototype	1997–1998	Mechanical semi-automatic prototype	Experimental internally recocking pneumatic marker. Did not enter commercial production.
Defiant	Documented 1999	Electronic	Production marker based on the Indian Creek Designs Bushmaster 2000.
Intimidator	Documented by 2002	Electronic	Electropneumatic marker platform subsequently developed through multiple generations.

VintageRex dates the Defiant and Intimidator entries to 2005. These dates conflict with contemporary reports establishing their existence earlier.

The dates in the table reflect documented appearances rather than the catalogue's inconsistent dates.[8][9][11]

Marker development

Millennium operating system

The Millennium retained the basic mechanical system of the Kingman Spyder.

Its stacked-tube arrangement used a reciprocating bolt and hammer, with gas pressure returning the mechanism to its cocked position after firing.

The marker could use components compatible with earlier large-striker Spyder designs.

Historical collector research identifies multiple Millennium body configurations, including versions with top, side and rear cocking arrangements.[5]

Both complete markers and receiver assemblies intended for custom Spyder builds have been documented.

Original Defiant design

The original Delta Defiant was mechanically distinct from the production Defiant.

Its experimental operating system used pneumatic pressure to recock the marker after firing, while retaining mechanical trigger control.

The ram assembly was incorporated inside the receiver instead of being positioned externally.

The prototype also employed a low-pressure pneumatic system and a valve arrangement intended to improve gas flow.[7][8]

Although the design reached advanced prototype testing, the available historical records do not establish commercial production.

Production Defiant

The production Defiant adopted the electropneumatic system developed for the Indian Creek Designs Bushmaster 2000.

It featured a vertically stacked receiver, electronic trigger control and pneumatic cycling.

The Defiant differed from the standard Bushmaster in its external milling, anodising and selected components.

VintageRex describes the production marker as using Autococker-compatible barrel threading and a pressed-in feedneck.[12]

The relationship between the two designs is documented in contemporary tournament reports from 1999.[9]

Tournament use

The development of Delta Archery's paintball equipment was closely associated with Bob Long's involvement in professional tournament competition.

The original Delta Defiant was demonstrated during the 1997 tournament season and tested during the 1998 NPPL Chicago event.[3][8]

The production electronic Defiant was used at Skyball in February 1999.

Later that year, WARPIG reported Long using the Defiant during the Las Vegas NPPL tournament.

Long discussed the efficiency of the Max Attack compressed-air system fitted to his marker during the event.[10]

The Defiant's competitive use formed part of Long's transition from customised mechanical markers to electronic tournament equipment.

Historical significance

Delta Archery is associated with an important transitional period in Bob Long's paintball equipment development.

The business participated in the early market for customised Autocockers, followed by the Spyder-based Millennium and the experimental Delta Defiant.

The replacement of the original Defiant prototype with a Bushmaster-derived electronic marker reflects the rapid adoption of electronic firing systems in tournament paintball during the late 1990s.

The company's later products became associated with the Bob Long name rather than the Delta Archery retail business.

The exact date on which Delta Archery ceased operating under its original name has not been established.

References

External links

History

Early paintball involvement

Millennium

Delta Defiant prototype

Development during 1998

Production Defiant

Intimidator

Paintball markers

Marker development

Millennium operating system

Original Defiant design

Production Defiant

Tournament use

Historical significance

See also

References

External links