Carter Machine

Carter Machine was an American custom paintball equipment manufacturer and machining workshop established by Earon Carter in Hawthorne, California, during the early 1980s. The business specialised in precision-machined pump-action paintball markers, particularly the Carter Comp and Carter Buzzard, as well as customised semi-automatic markers and aftermarket components.[1][2]

Carter Machine was closely associated with the Southern California stock-class paintball community and maintained a manufacturing relationship with DYE Precision during the 1990s.[3]

History

Establishment

Earon Carter established Carter Machine in Hawthorne, California, during the early 1980s, following earlier work machining components for the aerospace industry.[1]

Carter became involved in the developing Southern California paintball community, including players and equipment technicians associated with SC Village, then known as Sat Cong Village.

His early work included modifications to existing Sheridan and Nelson-based markers before developing complete custom pump-action markers.

Carter also worked with Stan Russell through an earlier business known as South Bay Arms.[3]

Development of custom pump markers

During the mid-to-late 1980s, Carter Machine developed several custom markers based on the Nelson-style pump operating system.

The Carter Comp was an under-cocking pump marker that became one of the company's principal products.

VintageRex dates the Comp to 1987. A September 1988 advertisement in Action Pursuit Games promoted the marker with an aluminium body, precision-honed barrel, stainless-steel valve tube and Carter CO₂ cartridge-changing system.

The advertisement listed a retail price of US$379.99.[4]

Another early design was the Termite, developed during the late 1980s by Carter and Rob "Termite" Smith.

The Termite incorporated an interchangeable left- or right-hand feed arrangement and a mechanism allowing the barrel, bolt and hammer to be removed together.

The design subsequently developed into the Carter Buzzard, which became closely associated with competitive stock-class paintball.[5]

The Buzzard was manufactured in multiple configurations, including versions using 12-gram CO₂ cartridges, constant-air systems and alternative feed arrangements.[6]

Desert Duck and Boxgun

Carter Machine also became associated with the Desert Duck, a stock-class marker originally developed through the collaboration of Dave Loo, Earon Carter and members of the Kamikaze Shooters.

The earliest DD-68 markers were produced under the Duck Works name.

Following the original production period, Carter Machine assembled additional markers using remaining Duck Works components together with newly manufactured parts. Later Carter Ducks were produced using Carter Machine components.[7]

Carter also worked on the original Boxgun, a custom stock-class pistol commissioned by tournament player Derrick Obatake.

Obatake supplied a Duck receiver and blank barrel obtained from Dave Loo and asked Carter to machine a marker with characteristics resembling a Colt 1911-style pistol.

The design subsequently influenced a commercially produced Boxgun associated with Glen Chon of Check It Products.[8][9]

Although these designs are related, the original Duck Works markers, Carter-built Ducks and Check It Products Boxguns should not be treated as identical products.

Autococker customisation

During the early 1990s, Carter Machine expanded its work on semi-automatic paintball markers.

The workshop became particularly associated with customised Autococker markers originally manufactured by Worr Game Products.

Modifications included body milling, replacement bolts, barrels, pneumatic components and cosmetic finishes.

Some Carter Machine Autocockers featured diagonal milling patterns commonly described as shark gills, along with distinctive breech ventilation cuts and modified bolt assemblies.[10]

Former employee Marc Pascual recalled that the workshop experimented with breech ventilation holes intended to reduce gas travelling backwards through the feedneck.

Paintball historian Daniel Bacci documented these modifications through surviving equipment and interviews with former employees.[10]

The workshop employed several machinists and technicians over the years. Consequently, not every customised marker produced by Carter Machine was necessarily machined personally by Earon Carter.

Relationship with DYE Precision

Carter Machine maintained a close relationship with Dave Youngblood, who worked at Carter's workshop before establishing DYE Precision.

A contemporary Los Angeles Times article published on 18 October 1990 identified Youngblood, then known as Dave DeHaan, as an employee of Carter Machines.[11]

During the mid-1990s, Carter Machine and DYE shared manufacturing activities in Fullerton, California.

Former employee John Coleman recalled machining barrels for DYE while also producing customised equipment for Carter Machine.

According to Coleman, Carter and Youngblood relocated their manufacturing operations to San Diego in 1998.[12]

The relationship between the businesses involved shared manufacturing activities and personnel. It should not be interpreted as evidence of an acquisition.

Paintball markers

The VintageRex historical paintball database documents eight marker entries under Carter Machine.[2]

Marker	Documented year	Description
Carter Comp	1987	Custom Nelson-based pump marker using an under-cocking mechanism.
Carter Buzzard	1989	Custom pump-action marker developed from the earlier Termite design, with different feeding and air-source configurations.
Carter Duck	1989	Stock-class pistol derived from the Desert Duck developed by Dave Loo and associates.
Carter Tricar	1990	Pump-action marker developed as a joint project between Carter Machine and Tri-J Machine.
Carter Boxgun	1992	Compact stock-class pump marker developed through custom work associated with Derrick Obatake and Dave Loo.
Carter Auto Hog	1994	Bolt-action stock-class marker using a Nelson-style valve system.
Carter Gecko Blaster	Late 1980s	Limited-production custom stock-class pump marker.
Carter Termite	Late 1980s	Early custom pump marker developed with Rob Smith and subsequently associated with the Buzzard design.

The years follow VintageRex records or historical accounts and should not necessarily be interpreted as confirmed commercial introduction dates.

Carter Comp

The Carter Comp was a .68-calibre Nelson-style pump-action marker using an under-cocking mechanism.

The 1988 manufacturer's advertisement documented an aluminium competition body, 10½-inch precision-honed barrel, stainless-steel valve tube, gravity-feed arrangement and quick-change CO₂ system.[4]

Carter Machine produced the Comp in different configurations, including direct-feed and stock-class versions.

Carter Buzzard

The Carter Buzzard was a .68-calibre pump-action marker featuring a breech-drop feeding arrangement and dual-arm pump mechanism.

The design evolved from the earlier Termite and was manufactured with a variety of feed systems, trigger frames, barrels and gas-source arrangements.

VintageRex documents several generations, including early straight-back CO₂ configurations and later vertical stock-class versions.

The Buzzard was also offered with constant-air and direct-feed equipment.[6]

Carter Duck

The Carter Duck was a custom stock-class pistol derived from the Desert Duck design.

VintageRex distinguishes three broad groups:

Original Dave Loo DD-68 markers manufactured under the Duck Works name.
Hybrid markers assembled by Carter Machine using remaining Duck Works components.
Later Carter-built Ducks manufactured using Carter Machine components.

The available historical accounts establish the involvement of both Dave Loo and Earon Carter. They do not support attributing every Desert Duck exclusively to Carter Machine.[7][9]

Carter Tricar

The Tricar was a .68-calibre pump-action marker developed jointly by Carter Machine and Tri-J Machine.

VintageRex dates the model to 1990 and records a direct-feed arrangement, fixed barrel, Nelson-style valve and compatibility with 12-gram CO₂ cartridges or constant-air operation.

The catalogue records an original price of US$200.[13]

Carter Boxgun

The Boxgun was a compact stock-class marker designed to resemble a conventional pistol.

According to Derrick Obatake's historical account preserved by VintageRex, the original design used components supplied by Dave Loo and machining undertaken by Earon Carter.

The marker subsequently influenced a production Boxgun associated with Check It Products.[8]

Other models

VintageRex also documents the Auto Hog, Gecko Blaster and Termite.

The Auto Hog is catalogued as a 1994 bolt-action stock-class marker using a Nelson-style valve.[14]

The Gecko Blaster was a custom stock-class pump marker made during the late 1980s. VintageRex records three examples and states that one was subsequently destroyed, although those production details have not been independently confirmed.[15]

The Termite was an early custom pump marker developed by Earon Carter and Rob Smith. A surviving example documented by Paint Magazine establishes its distinctive removable barrel assembly and interchangeable feed arrangement.[5]

Stock-class competition

Carter Machine was closely involved in organised stock-class paintball in Southern California.

The Earon Carter Stock Class Invitational became an established tournament during the 1990s.

The 1996 event took place at SC Village in Corona, California, on 16 and 17 March.

Sixteen teams competed, with the Hawaiian team Combat Crew winning the tournament.

Carter Machine supplied custom blue Buzzard markers as prizes for the winning team.[16]

The tournament continued in 1997 at San Diego.

In 1998, the Earon Carter Stock Gun Championship was held alongside the National Professional Paintball League tournament in Las Vegas.

That event was organised by DYE Precision, with Carter Machine supporting the competition.[17]

Legacy

Carter Machine became associated with specialist pump-action paintball equipment during the development of competitive paintball in the 1980s and 1990s.

Its Comp and Buzzard markers were used in stock-class competition, while its customised Autocockers formed part of the wider aftermarket equipment industry.

The workshop also contributed to the development of other equipment manufacturers through its relationships with machinists and designers.

Original Carter Machine products remain documented in historical collections and specialist equipment archives, including VintageRex, Bacci Paintball and M. Carter Brown.

Earon Carter died on 18 January 2024, aged 79.[1]

References

External links