Editing Tom Kaye (section)

== Automag ==

=== Development ===

Kaye developed the [[Automag]] during the late 1980s.

The marker used a blow-forward operating mechanism rather than the blowback arrangement of the earlier Panther.

=== Commercial introduction ===

The Automag appeared in tournament competition in 1990.

Paintball History documents a Level 5 Automag appearing at the International Masters tournament in October 1990, with commercial sales beginning around late 1990 or early 1991.[3]

=== Operating system ===

The Automag incorporated a pressure regulator into its valve assembly.

This differed from many earlier paintball markers that relied on separate external regulators or simpler gas-delivery systems.

=== Blow-forward mechanism ===

The Automag used compressed gas to move its bolt forward and fire a paintball.

The design allowed rapid semiautomatic operation.

=== Stainless-steel construction ===

The original Automag featured a stainless-steel valve assembly.

The construction contributed to its reputation for durability.

=== Tool-free maintenance ===

The Automag incorporated a removable valve system.

Players could access major components without extensive disassembly.

=== Velocity adjustment ===

The marker's integrated regulator allowed velocity to be adjusted through changes to regulated pressure.

This was a distinctive feature of the Automag's design.

=== Power Feed ===

The Automag became associated with the '''Power Feed''' system.

The angled feed arrangement was designed to reduce paintballs being forced back toward the hopper during firing.

The Power Feed became one of Airgun Designs' recognised innovations.

=== Early tournament success ===

The Automag achieved an important competitive result at the 1990 International Masters.

Team [[Swarm]] won the event using Automags.[7]

Paint Magazine identifies the result as the first tournament victory by a semiautomatic paintball marker.[7]

The claim concerns a tournament victory, not the invention of the first semiautomatic marker.

=== Competitive adoption ===

During the early 1990s, the Automag was adopted by numerous competitive teams.

Historical accounts identify users including:

* [[Swarm]]
* [[Bad Company]]
* [[Jacksonville Warriors]]
* [[Rage]]
* [[Palm Beach Predators]]
* [[Phantom Force]]
* Players associated with [[Aftershock]]

The Automag became one of the prominent marker platforms of early semiautomatic tournament paintball.