Editing TASO Paintball (section)

== History ==

=== Origins ===

TASO was associated with the earlier Southern California paintball business [[Adventure Game Supplies]] (AGS).

In a historical account of his early semi-automatic paintball marker development, [[Glenn Palmer]] identified David Craig and Mat Brown as partners in Adventure Game Supplies, which he described as the business that later became TASO.[1]

Palmer recalled encountering Craig's experimental pneumatically operated Sheridan marker during the late 1980s. The prototype was among the early attempts to develop a gravity-fed semi-automatic paintball marker.[1]

The precise date of TASO's establishment has not been independently confirmed.

=== Expansion during the 1990s ===

By June 1992, TASO was operating from Paramount, California. A contemporary article in ''The Paintball Trader'' identified Paul Price as the company's marketing director.

At that time, the company's product range included pod harnesses, knee protectors, an eight-tube holster, barrel plugs and accessories for stock-class paintball markers. TASO also advertised customisation services for stock-class equipment.[2]

During the early 1990s, TASO expanded its range of aftermarket components for popular semi-automatic markers, particularly the [[WGP Autococker]].

=== Signature Series Autococker ===

TASO marketed its own customised Autococker under the '''TASO Signature Series''' name.

A full-page advertisement in the January 1995 issue of ''Paintball Sports International'' featured the Signature Series Autococker alongside aftermarket barrels, bolts, regulators and other components.[3]

The pictured marker incorporated decorative body milling similar to the contemporary custom Autocockers produced by [[Carter Machine]]. Historical collector research has suggested that Carter Machine may have performed the machining, although the original manufacturing arrangement has not been conclusively established.[3]

The same advertisement documented several TASO-branded accessories, including its Power Barrel, Streamline bottom-line air adapter and components for the [[Palmer's Pursuit Shop]] Rock regulator.[3]

=== Later products ===

TASO continued marketing aftermarket equipment during the later 1990s.

The Stone Cold II barrel appeared during this period. [[Sanchez Machine]], whose founder Luis Sanchez manufactured components for TASO and other paintball companies, records developing the Stone Cold II design in 1998.[4]

TASO also supported organised tournament paintball. Contemporary [[WARPIG]] reporting lists TASO/Powerball among the sponsors of the 1998 [[Rocky Mountain Championship Series]].[5]

The exact date when TASO ceased manufacturing paintball equipment has not been established. Original products and unused replacement components remain documented in specialist paintball retailer inventories.[6]