Valken

Valken is an American paintball and airsoft equipment brand established in 2008 by Gino Postorivo. The original company, Valken Incorporated, traded as Valken Sports and operated as a manufacturer and distributor. Based in Swedesboro, New Jersey, it supplied paintballs, playing equipment, clothing and accessories to players, retailers and paintball fields.[1][2][3]

Valken expanded through wholesale distribution, the acquisition of SLY Equipment, product development and sponsorship of tournament teams and scenario events. The original company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2025. In October 2026, HK Army announced that it had acquired the Valken brand.[4][2][5]

History

Foundation and distribution

Postorivo had previously founded National Paintball Supply. In a transaction completed in November 2006, substantially all of that company's assets were sold to AJ Intermediate Holdings and combined with assets from Pursuit Marketing Inc. within KEE Action Sports. Valken was established in 2008 as Postorivo's subsequent business venture.[6][1]

Valken developed both its own product ranges and a distribution business handling equipment from other manufacturers. On 22 July 2010, G.I. Milsim announced an agreement for Valken to distribute its products in the United States. The agreement covered markers, loaders and Dark Sports paintballs in .50 and .68 calibre. The announcement also identified V-Tac, Redemption, Crusade, Fate, Exile, Worthington and Sly among the brands distributed by Valken.[7]

In November 2011, Valken announced a distribution facility in San Diego to serve the western United States, complementing its Swedesboro operation in the east. The company also used regional paint distribution hubs. Professional players David "Davie" Williamson and John "JR" Richardson were named as staff at the San Diego facility.[3]

Acquisition of SLY Equipment

Valken's acquisition of SLY Equipment was announced on 6 April 2012. The purchase brought the Profit and Annex goggle systems, Pro-Merc clothing, protective equipment, luggage and carbon fibre barrels into Valken's product business.[4]

SLY's Ken Anderson and his team were to remain as consultants and lead a SLY division within Valken. The announcement also described arrangements to combine shipments of paintballs and equipment through Valken's Hong Kong facility. Financial terms were not disclosed.[4]

Markers and loaders

Valken's equipment range included the V-Max electronic loader, which was available in 2011. Its Proton electronic marker was based on the Mokal Aura, with changes including a redesigned grip frame and body styling.[8][9]

In November 2016, Valken introduced the Code, an electronic marker aimed at the tournament market. The company also announced the Valken Switch Loader, usually abbreviated to VSL, designed to convert between .68 and .50 calibre paintballs.[10][11]

Intellectual property disputes

Valken became involved in litigation over the appearance of paintball shells. KEE Action Sports brought a trade dress claim in 2012, and the parties settled their dispute in March 2014. In October 2016, GI Sportz brought a further action alleging infringement of its Marballizer trade dress and breach of the earlier settlement. In December 2016, the court granted a preliminary injunction restricting Valken from manufacturing, importing, advertising, distributing and selling paintballs with the specified marbled shell design in the United States.[12]

Bankruptcy proceedings

On 25 June 2025, Valken Incorporated, trading as Valken Sports, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The case was registered as 25-16742-JNP.[2][13]

The proceeding was converted from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 on 10 October 2025.[13]

Acquisition of the brand by HK Army

In October 2026, HK Army announced the acquisition of the Valken brand and identified itself as its exclusive worldwide manufacturer and distributor. The announcement described plans for renewed activity in paintball and airsoft, with further information to follow during the week of the announcement and at the NXL World Cup.[5]

Products

Valken's catalogue covered equipment for recreational, scenario and tournament paintball, alongside airsoft and defence products.[1]

Its paintball ranges included:

Paintballs: Redemption, Redemption Pro, Graffiti, Graffiti Platinum, Fate and Infinity, among other lines.[14]
Markers: SW-1, Blackhawk, Proton, Code, M17 and Gotcha.[15]
Loaders: V-Max and the later VSL, alongside other loader products and accessories.[8][11]
Goggles and protective equipment: SLY Profit and Annex systems, the MI series, padding and other protective gear.[4][15]
Clothing and carrying equipment: jerseys, trousers, harnesses, vests and bags, including the V-Tac range used in its scenario activity.[1][16]
Air systems and field supplies: tanks, accessories, netting and bunkers.[1]

The business also distributed products made by other paintball companies. Its distribution agreements and sponsorship packages therefore included equipment sold under brands that Valken did not own.[7][17]

Sponsorship and player programmes

Tournament paintball

In January 2012, San Antonio X-Factor announced an agreement to use Valken paintballs, harnesses and bottle covers during the season. The announcement identified Valken's Plano, Texas distribution facility as the source of the team's Redemption paintballs.[18]

In November 2012, a SLY and Valken equipment sponsorship for Russian Legion's 2013 season was announced. The specified equipment included Profit goggles, Pro-Merc clothing, custom Redemption jerseys and Impact protective gear.[19]

Valken became the exclusive paint vendor for NPPL events in 2013. Contemporary reporting also confirmed that Valken paint would not be distributed at PSP events that season.[20]

The company announced its Player's Choice sponsorship programme in October 2016. It allowed teams and individual players to combine products from participating brands, including Valken, Virtue, DYE, DLX, SP and Planet Eclipse.[17]

In January 2017, Infamous announced a Valken sponsorship agreement for its National Xball League season. The deal covered Redemption Pro paintballs, Phantom Agility trousers and custom jerseys.[21]

Scenario paintball

Valken supported scenario paintball through event sponsorship and its Valken Corps player community. A January 2012 announcement naming Redemption and Graffiti as the official paintballs of Oklahoma D-Day also referred to existing Valken Corps members.[22]

That month, Viper Paintball announced Valken as a major sponsor of its 2012 scenario series. The agreement included equipment support and prizes, while Valken's announcement specifically named Living Legends 5 among the events it planned to attend.[16]

References

The Valken Story. Valken, official company history. Accessed 27 October 2026.
Valken Sports: Filing Alert. Bondoro, 25 June 2025.
Valken Launches San Diego Facility. Valken company announcement dated 28 November 2011, reproduced by WARPIG.
Valken, Inc. Acquires SLY Equipment. Israel L., Social Paintball, 6 April 2012.
HK Army acquires Valken. HK Army, official Instagram announcement, October 2026.
Eugenio Postorivo v. AG Paintball Holdings, Inc.. Delaware Court of Chancery, 29 February 2008, factual background concerning the 2006 asset sale.
Valken and G.I. Milsim. Company announcement dated 22 July 2010, reproduced by WARPIG, 26 July 2010.
Paintball Super Loaders: Empire Prophecy Z2, Dye Rotor, Pinokio Hopper vs. Valken V-MAX. Social Paintball, 6 December 2011.
Valken Proton Paintball Gun, Black. ANSgear, historical product description. Accessed 27 October 2026.
Valken Code Paintball Gun. Brad Johnson, Paintball Ruined My Life, 4 November 2016.
Valken VSL (Valken Switch Loader) Hopper. Brad Johnson, Paintball Ruined My Life, 4 November 2016.
G.I. Sportz, Inc. and GI Sportz Direct, LLC v. Valken, Inc., opinion. United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, case 1:16-cv-07170, document 89, 25 June 2018, pp. 2-3.
Valken Incorporated, case 25-16742-JNP. United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, docket information reproduced by BKAlerts. Accessed 27 October 2026.
Valken .68 calibre paintballs. Valken dealer catalogue. Accessed 27 October 2026.
Product Manuals. Valken, official equipment support index. Accessed 27 October 2026.
Valken and Viper. Viper Paintball and Valken announcement dated 11 January 2012, reproduced by WARPIG.
Valken Player's Choice Sponsorship Program. Brad Johnson, Paintball Ruined My Life, 26 October 2016.
X-Factor Signs Valken. Valken announcement dated 18 January 2012, reproduced by WARPIG, 4 February 2012.
Russian Legion to be a SLY/Valken Team for 2013. Israel L., Social Paintball, 2 November 2012.
Confirmed: Valken Paint Will Not Be Distributed at PSP Events. Israel L., Social Paintball, 19 January 2013; confirms Valken's exclusive NPPL paint agreement.
Infamous Signs with Valken. Infamous Paintball, 12 January 2017, reproducing an announcement dated 4 January 2017.
Valken Is Official Paintball for Oklahoma D-Day. Valken and D-Day Adventure Park announcement dated 6 January 2012, reproduced by WARPIG.

External links