Editing Charles Gaines (section)

== Discovery of the Nel-Spot 007 ==

=== George Butler's catalogue ===

In September 1980, photographer and filmmaker [[George Butler]] sent Gaines an agricultural supply catalogue.

Both men kept sheep on their properties.

The catalogue included the [[Nel-Spot 007]], a paint-firing marking pistol intended for agricultural and forestry applications.[1]

=== Equipment ===

The Nel-Spot 007 used compressed carbon dioxide to fire paint-filled projectiles.

It had originally been developed for marking livestock and trees.

The marker was not designed specifically for recreational paintball.

=== Purchase ===

Gaines ordered two Nel-Spot pistols.

He believed the equipment could provide a way to test the survival debate with Noel.

=== Historical importance ===

The discovery of the marking pistols provided the practical equipment needed to transform an informal argument into a competitive activity.

The equipment's existing industrial purpose also demonstrates that the founders did not invent the original paint-firing marking technology.

Their contribution was developing its use as an organised recreational game.