SLY Equipment

SLY Equipment, usually styled SLY, is an American paintball equipment brand whose products have included carbon fibre barrels, goggles, tournament clothing, protective equipment, harnesses and luggage. The business originally operated through the California company SLY LLC.[1][2]

Valken announced its acquisition of SLY Equipment on 6 April 2012. SLY's president, Ken Anderson, and his team were to continue as consultants heading a SLY division within Valken.[2]

History

Early business

SLY LLC filed a United States trademark application for the SLY name on 27 December 2004, giving a Newport Beach, California address.[1]

A barrel patent naming Kenneth K. Anderson as inventor was filed in May 2005 and granted in August 2010. It described a system combining a metal barrel back with a composite front and a tapered bore. The patent was subsequently assigned to SLY LLC.[3]

Tyson Evenson was among the company's early owners and executives. He died in November 2008.[4]

Distribution and acquisition by Valken

SLY had a distribution relationship with Valken before the acquisition. A July 2010 company announcement listed Sly among the brands distributed by Valken. MAXS's 2011 dealer catalogue also recorded that it had added SLY to its distribution range in July 2010.[5][6]

On 6 April 2012, Valken announced that it had acquired SLY Equipment and would manufacture, sell and distribute its product range. The acquisition included Profit and Annex goggles, Pro-Merc S-12 clothing, protective equipment and luggage, and Pro-Merc carbon fibre barrels.[2]

The announcement identified Ken Anderson as president of SLY LLC and named him as Valken's new product specialist. Anderson and his team were to remain involved in the SLY division. Financial terms were not disclosed.[2]

Later products under Valken

Elements of SLY's goggle range continued within Valken's product line. Annex goggles were marketed under the Valken name after the acquisition. By July 2016, the Valken Identity was being marketed as the successor to the SLY Profit, with compatible replacement lenses.[7][8]

Products

Carbon fibre barrels

SLY's Dual-Carbon barrel systems combined carbon fibre fronts with aluminium backpieces. Contemporary coverage of the 2008 PSP World Cup described a construction using parallel carbon fibres around the bore and a woven outer layer. SLY exhibited Diesel barrel kits and 2009 barrels with a larger 12K outer weave pattern at the event.[9]

In July 2009, SLY announced Team Diesel editions associated with professional teams. The Infamous edition was available at the time of the announcement through dealers in North America and Europe, with further team editions planned.[10]

SLY FLY

In 2009, SLY announced the SLY FLY, a customised version of the Angel FLY marker. The announced specification combined a Tadao Yakuza USB electronic board with SLY barrel, trigger, grip and bolt components.[11]

Goggles

SLY announced the Profit goggle system in February 2010. Its features included a thermal lens, an integrated double strap, a nylon frame with a flexible lower section and a quick lens replacement system. The launch materials also described a gradient lens, with darker shading above and a clearer lower viewing area.[12][13]

Annex was a separate goggle range included in SLY's product business and in the 2012 sale to Valken.[2]

Clothing, protection and carrying equipment

By 2011, SLY offered a broader equipment range alongside barrels and goggles. MAXS's dealer catalogue listed Pro-Merc jerseys and trousers, gloves, harnesses, knee and elbow pads, chest protection, bottle covers and luggage.[6]

The Pro-Merc S-12 range of clothing, protection and luggage was specifically included in Valken's 2012 acquisition announcement.[2]

Sponsorship

Asia Refs

In September 2011, PALS announced SLY's sponsorship of Asia Refs for the 2012 season. The announcement stated that the referees would wear their SLY equipment at the 2011 Paintball World Cup Asia in Langkawi, Malaysia.[14]

Russian Legion

A joint SLY and Valken sponsorship for Russian Legion's 2013 season was announced in November 2012, following an agreement reached at the preceding PSP World Cup. The specified equipment included SLY Profit goggles and Pro-Merc clothing, alongside Valken Redemption jerseys and Impact protective gear.[15]

See also

• Valken
• Infamous
• Russian Legion
• Asia Refs

References

1. SLY trademark application, serial 76625818. United States trademark record reproduced by USPTO.report; application filed 27 December 2004.
2. Valken, Inc. Acquires SLY Equipment. Israel L., Social Paintball, 6 April 2012.
3. Barrel system for a paintball marker. United States patent 7,775,200, inventor Kenneth K. Anderson; application filed 23 May 2005, patent granted 17 August 2010.
4. Goodbye Tyson. You Will Be Missed. Paintball Sports, February 2009, volume 20, issue 232, p. 58.
5. Valken and G.I. Milsim. Company announcement dated 22 July 2010, reproduced by WARPIG, 26 July 2010.
6. International Pricebook 2011. MAXS, SLY brand introduction and equipment listings.
7. Face Protection from Valken. Paintball Online, historical description of the Annex range and its transition to Valken branding. Accessed 27 October 2026.
8. Valken Identity paintball thermal mask. Paintball Sports, 15 July 2016.
9. 2008 PSP World Cup: Trade Show. WARPIG, October 2008.
10. SLY Team Diesel Barrels Now Available. SLY announcement dated 21 July 2009, reproduced by JR Dominguez 32 Paintball, 29 July 2009.
11. Sly Fly. SLY product announcement reproduced on pbhub, 1 February 2009.
12. SLY PROFIT Goggle System to be debuted at Paintball Extravaganza. SLY product announcement reproduced on pbhub, 7 February 2010.
13. Sly Profit. Jody, Paintball Headlines, 9 February 2010.
14. The Paintball World Cup Asia 2011, Langkawi. Allan Phang, official PALS event promotion on Lowyat.NET, September 2011, post 6 announcing SLY sponsorship of Asia Refs.
15. Russian Legion to be a SLY/Valken Team for 2013. Israel L., Social Paintball, 2 November 2012.