Gramps and Grizzly

Gramps and Grizzly (also styled Gramps & Grizzly) was an American paintball equipment business founded by Louis "Gramps" Grubb (1939–2015) and his son Mike "Grizzly" Grubb. Based in Riverside, California, the business became known for developing early constant-air CO₂ systems, customising paintball markers and providing technical services to the paintball industry.[1][2]

The business operated a retail and technical workshop known as Gramps and Grizzly's Outpost. Its products and services included air-system conversions, marker modifications, replacement parts and equipment distribution. The company was also associated with the KBS Eliminator paintball marker and the Combat Connection Enforcer series.[1][3][4]

History

Early involvement in paintball

Louis Grubb became involved in paintball through his son Mike, who played with a team known as The Fighting 69th.

Louis had previously worked as a high-school industrial arts teacher. His mechanical experience led him to modify early paintball equipment, particularly Nel-Spot 007 and Sheridan markers.[1]

During the early development of paintball, many markers were powered by disposable 12-gram CO₂ cartridges. These cartridges required replacement after a comparatively small number of shots.

The Grubbs developed conversions allowing markers to operate from larger, refillable CO₂ cylinders.

This arrangement became known as constant air and enabled players to fire substantially more paintballs before replacing or refilling their gas supply.[1][5]

Development of constant air

Gramps and Grizzly became closely associated with the early introduction of refillable CO₂ systems to paintball.

Their work involved adapting existing markers to use external gas cylinders rather than disposable cartridges.

Early configurations incorporated a refillable cylinder connected to the marker through a suitable adaptor or shoulder-stock assembly.

The change was important to recreational and tournament paintball because it reduced the frequency of interruptions required to change CO₂ cartridges.

Contemporary industry accounts credit the Grubbs with pioneering constant-air systems during the mid-1980s.[5][6]

The exact date of their first working conversion is not established consistently across surviving sources. Some retrospective accounts identify 1986, while WARPIG describes their work more broadly as beginning in the early 1980s.

The company's historical claim to have originated constant-air technology should therefore be understood in the context of paintball equipment development, rather than as evidence that it invented refillable compressed-gas systems generally.

Retail and technical business

The Grubbs established a specialist retail and equipment-service business known as Gramps and Grizzly's Outpost.

The shop supplied paintball markers, safety equipment, replacement components and accessories.

It also provided technical servicing and modifications for equipment manufactured by other companies.

A contemporary December 1991 industry directory listed the business at:

7203 Arlington Avenue, Unit F

Riverside, California 92503

United States

The listed telephone number was (714) 359-4859.

The address establishes the business's presence in Riverside by 1991, although it does not confirm the date the shop originally opened.[7]

In June 1992, The Paintball Trader identified Gramps as co-owner of Gramps and Grizzly in Riverside.

The publication reported that the shop was increasing its inventory of protective equipment, stock-class markers and accessories in response to renewed interest in stock-class paintball.[8]

Technical services

The business developed a reputation for servicing a wide variety of paintball markers.

Louis Grubb worked on equipment from multiple manufacturers and supplied replacement components for older marker designs.

John Amodea's 2015 obituary in Paintball Media described Grubb's work modifying Nel-Spot and Sheridan pistols into configurations with increased ammunition capacity and more convenient gas supplies.[1]

A technical directory reproduced in The Airsmith Survival Guide listed Gramps & Grizzly among established paintball equipment technicians.[9]

The business was also associated with servicing early Brass Eagle products, including the Nightmare, Ninja and Poison marker families.[6]

Paintball equipment

Constant-air systems

Constant-air systems were the business's most widely documented contribution to paintball technology.

The principle involved replacing a disposable CO₂ cartridge with a larger refillable cylinder connected to the marker.

This enabled a marker to operate for a longer period between gas refills and helped support the growing use of larger ammunition feeds.

Gramps and Grizzly's early conversions were designed for markers originally developed around 12-gram CO₂ cartridges.

Their work contributed to the adoption of constant-air arrangements by recreational and competitive players.[1][5]

The company also supplied gas-system components and accessories during the subsequent development of paintball air systems.

Marker conversions

The Grubbs modified existing pump-action markers, including equipment manufactured by Nelson and Sheridan.

Their work included conversions to accommodate larger gas supplies and alternative marker configurations.

Gramps and Grizzly also contributed components and expertise associated with the Enforcer paintball marker.

The original Enforcer conversion incorporated a Gramps and Grizzly side-tap air system.

Subsequent Enforcer models, including the Enforcer II and Enforcer III, were associated with Gramps and Grizzly components and manufacturing work.[4]

The historical record establishes a technical relationship between the businesses but does not demonstrate common corporate ownership.

KBS Eliminator

The KBS Eliminator is the principal paintball marker listed under Gramps and Grizzly in the VintageRex historical equipment database.

The VintageRex Blue Book identifies the model with a catalogue year of 1986.[3]

Specification	Detail
Model	KBS Eliminator
Associated manufacturer	Gramps and Grizzly
VintageRex catalogue year	1986
Equipment category	Paintball marker

The available catalogue record establishes the model's historical association with Gramps and Grizzly but does not provide sufficient independently verified information to establish its original selling price, technical specifications or production quantity.

Other equipment

Gramps and Grizzly sold and serviced paintball equipment from other manufacturers.

Their documented business activities included:

• Refillable CO₂ systems and gas-system components.
• Marker air-source conversions.
• Replacement and aftermarket marker parts.
• Marker servicing and technical repairs.
• Stock-class paintball markers and accessories.
• Protective goggles and masks.
• Equipment distribution.

These activities continued beyond the original period of constant-air development.[1][8][9]

Distribution of Max Attack

During the late 1990s, Gramps and Grizzly expanded their involvement in paintball gas systems through the distribution of compressed-air equipment.

At the 1999 NPPL Las Vegas Open, WARPIG reported that Gramps and Grizzly had become the United States distributor for Max Attack, an Australian compressed-air system.

The contemporary report identified Max Attack as a sponsor of Bob Long's Ironmen team.

Bob Long was quoted discussing the efficiency of the system when used with his Delta Defiant marker.[10]

This distribution arrangement demonstrates that the business remained active in high-pressure air equipment during the transition away from CO₂-powered tournament markers.

Safety and industry involvement

Louis Grubb was an advocate for equipment safety and technical standards in paintball.

According to John Amodea's 2015 account, Grubb tested protective goggles and face masks before offering them for sale.

He also supported the development of more consistent safety standards within the paintball equipment industry.[1]

His work as a technician included advising players, retailers and other manufacturers on equipment operation and maintenance.

These activities formed part of the business's contribution beyond the manufacture and sale of individual products.

Trademark history

Gramps and Grizzly filed a United States trademark application on 12 June 1989 for the name:

Gramps & Grizzly Paintball Guns Originators of Constant Air

The application recorded first commercial use in April 1988.

The trademark was registered on 30 April 1991 under registration number 1,643,080.

Its registered services concerned the retail sale of paintball markers and accessories.

The registration was cancelled on 3 November 1997 under Section 8 of the United States trademark legislation.[2]

Cancellation of this registration does not establish that the business ceased operating at that date. Contemporary reporting confirms its continued activity in 1999.[10]

Louis Grubb

Louis "Gramps" Grubb (1939–2015) was an American paintball equipment technician, retailer and early developer of constant-air systems.

His involvement in the industry began through his son Mike's participation in paintball.

Grubb became known for modifying early pump markers, developing equipment conversions and supporting players with technical advice.

He also contributed to discussions surrounding marker maintenance and protective equipment safety.[1]

Louis Grubb died in June 2015.

His death was reported by John Amodea in Paintball Media on 27 June 2015.[1]

Legacy

Gramps and Grizzly is remembered principally for its early work adapting paintball markers to use refillable CO₂ cylinders.

Constant-air systems became an important part of paintball equipment development, particularly as players adopted larger ammunition capacities and more demanding forms of competition.

The business also contributed through its technical workshop, equipment modifications, retail activities and later compressed-air distribution.

Louis and Mike Grubb's work was recognised in a February 2021 Paintball Media retrospective on figures associated with the early development of paintball equipment.[6]

The precise date and circumstances of the business's closure have not been established.

See also

• Constant air
• Compressed air in paintball
• Nel-Spot 007
• Sheridan
• Brass Eagle
• Combat Connection
• Combat Connection Enforcer
• KBS Eliminator
• Stock-class paintball
• History of paintball equipment

References

1. John Amodea, "Louis (Gramps) Grubb 1939–2015", Paintball Media, 27 June 2015.
2. United States trademark registration 1,643,080, "Gramps & Grizzly Paintball Guns Originators of Constant Air", filed 12 June 1989, registered 30 April 1991.
3. VintageRex, "MCB Paintball Blue Book", listing the Gramps and Grizzly KBS Eliminator.
4. VintageRex, "Combat Connection", historical manufacturer catalogue and Enforcer equipment records.
5. Bill Mills, "Siphons and Anti-Siphons: Dealing With Liquid CO₂", WARPIG, March 2006.
6. Paintball Media, February 2021, p. 24, retrospective on early paintball equipment innovators.
7. Paintball Planet, December 1991, paintball industry directory listing Gramps & Grizzly in Riverside, California.
8. The Paintball Trader, June 1992, p. 18, interview with Gramps as co-owner of Gramps and Grizzly.
9. The Airsmith Survival Guide, technical resource and directory listing Gramps & Grizzly.
10. WARPIG, "Las Vegas NPPL 1999", contemporary reporting on Gramps and Grizzly's distribution of Max Attack compressed-air systems.

External links

• Louis Grubb obituary at Paintball Media
• VintageRex historical equipment catalogue
• WARPIG technical history of CO₂ air systems
• Historical Gramps and Grizzly trademark registration