Editing Perentie Paintball (section)

== History ==

=== Establishment and prototypes ===

Bruce Roberts and Darren Hayes established Perentie Paintball in early 1993. Development and assembly initially took place in a workshop in the back of Roberts's home in Seville, east of Melbourne.[1]

Their first prototype used a blowback action but did not progress beyond its initial development. A second prototype used a blow-forward system and became the basis of the Badger.[1]

Although the Badger operated on the same general blow-forward principle as the [[Automag]], the design was developed independently. According to a retrospective account by paintball writer Mike Wallis, Roberts had not examined an Automag when the Badger prototype was developed.[1]

The early Badger mechanism had three principal moving parts: the bolt, trigger and the pin in the on/off valve assembly. The earliest versions operated at full bottle pressure and did not incorporate a separate regulator. Production markers used a hydraulic cup seal around the bolt pin rather than an O-ring.[1]

=== Initial production ===

The first large commercial order was for 100 Badgers supplied to Skirmish Adventures at Helensburgh, New South Wales, in 1994. These field markers received a distinctive red powder-coated finish. Contemporary photographs show relatives and friends assisting with the assembly of the order at Roberts's home before the markers were transported to New South Wales.[1]

Other early Badgers were generally finished in matt black. Both rental and customised player versions were produced, with custom markers receiving alternative feed arrangements, stocks, grips, barrels and external regulators.[1]

Approximately 300 Badgers were reportedly manufactured in Australia during Perentie's period of operation.[1]

=== Low-pressure Badger ===

The first '''[[LP Badger]]''' models appeared in late 1994. The low-pressure version used an enlarged bolt pin and power chamber, allowing a greater volume of gas to operate the marker at a lower pressure.[1]

The grip frame was also changed from a sand-cast component to a stronger die-cast design. The change followed breakages of some early frames during rental-field use.[1]

=== 1995 revisions ===

Perentie introduced further revisions during 1995. These included a larger and stronger grip frame, a venturi-drilled bolt and a gunmetal-grey powder-coated finish in place of the earlier matt black.[2][3]

The 1995 range included the '''Rental Badger''' and '''RB Badger'''. Stocks were available, and Perentie offered custom work for individual players. Advertised standard features for the 1995 models included the revised handle, venturi bolt and charcoal-grey finish.[3]

Hayes left Perentie during 1995 to pursue a different career direction. He subsequently worked for the engineering company which manufactured Perentie's components, while Roberts continued the development and marketing of the Badger.[1][2]