Editing Carter Machine (section)

== History ==

=== Establishment ===

Earon Carter established Carter Machine in Hawthorne, California, during the early 1980s, following earlier work machining components for the aerospace industry.[1]

Carter became involved in the developing Southern California paintball community, including players and equipment technicians associated with [[SC Village]], then known as Sat Cong Village.

His early work included modifications to existing Sheridan and Nelson-based markers before developing complete custom pump-action markers.

Carter also worked with [[Stan Russell]] through an earlier business known as South Bay Arms.[3]

=== Development of custom pump markers ===

During the mid-to-late 1980s, Carter Machine developed several custom markers based on the Nelson-style pump operating system.

The '''Carter Comp''' was an under-cocking pump marker that became one of the company's principal products.

VintageRex dates the Comp to 1987. A September 1988 advertisement in ''[[Action Pursuit Games]]'' promoted the marker with an aluminium body, precision-honed barrel, stainless-steel valve tube and Carter CO₂ cartridge-changing system.

The advertisement listed a retail price of US$379.99.[4]

Another early design was the '''Termite''', developed during the late 1980s by Carter and Rob "Termite" Smith.

The Termite incorporated an interchangeable left- or right-hand feed arrangement and a mechanism allowing the barrel, bolt and hammer to be removed together.

The design subsequently developed into the '''Carter Buzzard''', which became closely associated with competitive stock-class paintball.[5]

The Buzzard was manufactured in multiple configurations, including versions using 12-gram CO₂ cartridges, constant-air systems and alternative feed arrangements.[6]

=== Desert Duck and Boxgun ===

Carter Machine also became associated with the [[Desert Duck]], a stock-class marker originally developed through the collaboration of [[Dave Loo]], Earon Carter and members of the [[Kamikaze Shooters]].

The earliest DD-68 markers were produced under the [[The Duck Works|Duck Works]] name.

Following the original production period, Carter Machine assembled additional markers using remaining Duck Works components together with newly manufactured parts. Later Carter Ducks were produced using Carter Machine components.[7]

Carter also worked on the original '''Boxgun''', a custom stock-class pistol commissioned by tournament player Derrick Obatake.

Obatake supplied a Duck receiver and blank barrel obtained from Dave Loo and asked Carter to machine a marker with characteristics resembling a Colt 1911-style pistol.

The design subsequently influenced a commercially produced Boxgun associated with Glen Chon of [[Check It Products]].[8][9]

Although these designs are related, the original Duck Works markers, Carter-built Ducks and Check It Products Boxguns should not be treated as identical products.

=== Autococker customisation ===

During the early 1990s, Carter Machine expanded its work on semi-automatic paintball markers.

The workshop became particularly associated with customised [[Autococker]] markers originally manufactured by [[Worr Game Products]].

Modifications included body milling, replacement bolts, barrels, pneumatic components and cosmetic finishes.

Some Carter Machine Autocockers featured diagonal milling patterns commonly described as shark gills, along with distinctive breech ventilation cuts and modified bolt assemblies.[10]

Former employee Marc Pascual recalled that the workshop experimented with breech ventilation holes intended to reduce gas travelling backwards through the feedneck.

Paintball historian [[Daniel Bacci]] documented these modifications through surviving equipment and interviews with former employees.[10]

The workshop employed several machinists and technicians over the years. Consequently, not every customised marker produced by Carter Machine was necessarily machined personally by Earon Carter.

=== Relationship with DYE Precision ===

Carter Machine maintained a close relationship with [[Dave Youngblood]], who worked at Carter's workshop before establishing DYE Precision.

A contemporary ''Los Angeles Times'' article published on 18 October 1990 identified Youngblood, then known as Dave DeHaan, as an employee of Carter Machines.[11]

During the mid-1990s, Carter Machine and DYE shared manufacturing activities in Fullerton, California.

Former employee John Coleman recalled machining barrels for DYE while also producing customised equipment for Carter Machine.

According to Coleman, Carter and Youngblood relocated their manufacturing operations to San Diego in 1998.[12]

The relationship between the businesses involved shared manufacturing activities and personnel. It should not be interpreted as evidence of an acquisition.