Qian Wei Paintball Support

Qian Wei Paintball Support (Qian Wei Paintball Support Co., Ltd., also abbreviated QW) is a Chinese paintball equipment manufacturer based in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province. The company has produced paintball markers, protective equipment, magazines, air systems and other paintball accessories.[1][2]

Qian Wei is associated with a range of markers catalogued by VintageRex under the heading China Paintball. These include the S-series pump-action and semi-automatic markers and smaller-calibre training markers.[1]

History

Qian Wei's historical company profile states that the business was established in 1993 and developed paintball markers and related equipment for the Chinese market.[2]

The company described its activities as including the manufacture of paintball equipment, support for domestic playing fields and the development of realistic training markers.

The manufacturer's profile also identified its involvement in the development of .43-calibre paintball equipment and products marketed as Real Action Markers (RAM).[2]

VintageRex documents several Qian Wei markers with catalogue dates of 2000, including the S-1 through S-8 series. Its records describe these products as being manufactured in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province.[1]

The company's historical catalogue included both conventional .68-calibre recreational markers and smaller-calibre equipment designed around realistic firearm-style configurations.

International distribution

VintageRex records that several early Qian Wei markers were not known to have been imported into the United States for commercial sale.

The S-4 was an exception. According to the archive, the marker was imported by Kyle Dobbs of Import Paintball.[3]

The extent of the manufacturer's international distribution and the production quantities of individual models have not been established.

Paintball markers

VintageRex contains 14 entries under its China Paintball manufacturer heading.[1]

The original catalogue identifies Qian Wei as the manufacturer of several S-series models. However, the manufacturer attribution, production status and specifications of some other entries require additional verification.

Marker	Catalogue year	Documented description
S-1	2000	.68-calibre pump-action marker based on the Kingman Hammer design.
S-2	2000	.68-calibre mechanical semi-automatic marker based on the Sheridan VM-68 design.
S-3	2000	.68-calibre mechanical semi-automatic marker based on the Tippmann Pro-Lite design.
S-4	2000	.68-calibre double-barrel semi-automatic marker with wooden stock, derived from the VM-68 style.
S-5	2000	Listed as a .68-calibre semi-automatic marker. Commercial production unconfirmed.
S-6	2000	Listed as a .68-calibre semi-automatic marker. Commercial production unconfirmed.
S-7	2000	.68-calibre semi-automatic marker with spring-fed ammunition and 12-gram CO₂ operation.
S-8	2000	Compact, spring-fed semi-automatic marker. The detailed specification identifies .43 calibre.
S-9E	Unknown	Smaller-calibre semi-automatic marker with direct feed and constant-air operation.
S-9F	Unknown	Smaller-calibre semi-automatic marker with direct feed and constant-air operation.
M1	Unknown	Bolt-action marker catalogued with a removable barrel and constant-air operation.
M4	Unknown	Realistic rifle-style marker. Specifications are marked as unverified by VintageRex.
MP5	Unknown	Realistic submachine-gun-style marker. Specifications are marked as unverified by VintageRex.
SR16	Unknown	Realistic rifle-style marker. Specifications are marked as unverified by VintageRex.

The dates shown are catalogue dates rather than independently confirmed commercial introduction dates.

Early S-series

The S-1, S-2 and S-3 were based on established Western paintball marker designs.

VintageRex identifies the S-1 as a Nelson-style pump marker resembling the Kingman Hammer. The S-2 is described as a semi-automatic design based on the Sheridan VM-68, while the S-3 resembles the Tippmann Pro-Lite.[4][5][6]

These entries demonstrate Qian Wei's use of existing mechanical marker designs as the basis for its early product range.

The precise extent of mechanical interchangeability with the original markers has not been established.

S-4

The S-4 was a .68-calibre, double-barrel mechanical semi-automatic marker featuring a wooden shoulder stock.

VintageRex describes the marker as using a Sheridan-style valve arrangement derived from the VM-68 platform.

Its published specifications include constant-air operation, removable barrels and a direct-feed arrangement.[3]

The catalogue records an original price of US$150.

The S-4 is also the only model in this early group for which VintageRex specifically identifies an American importer.[3]

S-5 and S-6

The S-5 and S-6 are both listed in VintageRex as 2000 models.

Their entries contain limited mechanical specifications but no surviving manufacturer photographs.

VintageRex explicitly notes that it could not establish whether either model progressed beyond research and development.[7]

These records should therefore not be treated as confirmation of commercial production.

S-7 and S-8

The S-7 and S-8 were smaller, semi-automatic markers using spring-fed ammunition arrangements.

The S-7 is catalogued as a .68-calibre marker powered by a 12-gram CO₂ cartridge.

The S-8 is described as a .43-calibre marker resembling the earlier Brass Eagle Eagle-68 in its general configuration.[8]

The S-8 catalogue record contains a discrepancy: its narrative and detailed specifications identify .43 calibre, while a summary field records .40 calibre.

Smaller-calibre and training markers

The M1, M4, MP5, S-9E, S-9F and SR16 are also listed under the China Paintball heading.

These entries include several markers intended to resemble military firearms.

The M4's extended technical description identifies a .43-calibre or .40-calibre system incorporating cartridge-style ammunition and a detachable magazine.[9]

The S-9E and S-9F are described in their extended specifications as .43-calibre markers.[10]

However, the catalogue contains inconsistent calibre fields for these products, while the M4, MP5 and SR16 records explicitly warn that some information requires further investigation.

These details have not been independently verified against original operating manuals or manufacturer catalogues.

Other equipment

Qian Wei's historical manufacturer profile lists several additional product categories, including:

Paintball protective goggles and masks.
Paintball magazines and ammunition containers.
Paintballs and smaller-calibre training projectiles.
Compressed-gas cylinders and valves.
Marker carrying bags and related accessories.

The company also advertised manufacturing and development services for third-party equipment designs.[2]

Historical documentation

Much of the surviving information concerning Qian Wei's early markers comes from VintageRex, which incorporated material from earlier Chinese paintball websites and equipment catalogues.

The database preserves model names, technical descriptions and some photographs, but does not provide evidence of commercial production for every listed model.

A separate supplier directory documents Qian Wei Paintball Support Co., Ltd. under its own corporate name and identifies its broader paintball product range.[2]

References

External links