Editing CCI Phantom (section)

=== Development ===

Component Concepts Inc. was established in 1979 by Mike Casady as a design and manufacturing business.

In 1986, Casady began developing a pump-action paintball marker based on the [[Nelspot 007]] operating system.

Following approximately six months of development, the Phantom entered commercial production in 1987.[1][2]

The original Phantom featured a combined breech and barrel assembly, commonly referred to as a '''unibody''', attached to a modified Crosman air-pistol trigger frame.

The marker used a horizontal feed tube and a 12-gram CO2 cartridge, reflecting the stock-class equipment commonly used during the sport's early development.

According to Casady's original company history, the trigger frame was changed to an M16-style configuration in 1988.[1]

During 1989 and 1990, the Phantom was further developed to accommodate larger external CO2 and compressed-air systems.

The original fixed-barrel construction was also replaced by a design incorporating a removable barrel, allowing players to change barrels without replacing the main marker body.[2]

Although CCI identifies 1987 as the year of introduction, historical equipment database [[VintageRex]] lists 1988 for the Phantom.[1][4]