Bruce Roberts
Bruce Roberts was an Australian paintball marker designer and machinist associated with Perentie Paintball. He developed the Perentie Badger and built custom markers, including the double-barrel Perentie Viper. He died on 26 March 1996.[1][2][3][4]
Paintball equipment development
[edit]Roberts worked with Darren Hayes at Perentie Paintball in Seville, Victoria. A contemporary review described him as a qualified fitter and turner who also held the Australian Army trade qualification of armament fitter.[1]
The company's Badger marker used a blow-forward mechanism and was developed primarily for the rental market. Reviewer Mike Wallis examined a prototype at Cockatoo and subsequently photographed and tested it at ML Skirmish in Coldstream.[1]
Roberts continued refining the Badger and produced customised versions for individual players. His work included the Perentie Viper, a double-barrel marker commissioned following discussions with Wallis. It used two Badger actions operated through a shared trigger mechanism.[3]
Other custom projects included a helmet-mounted double marker with cable-operated triggers and a red-dot sight.[2]
Death
[edit]Roberts died on 26 March 1996. Wallis subsequently published an obituary describing his equipment development and assistance to local paintball players.[2][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Badger Blaster. Mike Wallis, originally published in Australian Paintballer, December 1993; republished in Paint, archived 9 February 1999.
- Bruce Roberts. Mike Wallis, Paint, issue 2, May 1996, archived 6 December 1998.
- Double Trouble. Mike Wallis, Paint, issue 1, January 1996, archived 5 December 1998.
- Perentie Badger — The Australian Marker. Mike Wallis, Paint, May 2003, archived 29 July 2003.