Renegade
Renegade was an American paintball clothing and equipment brand associated with Renegade Action Sports, Inc. and Smart Parts. Based in Pennsylvania, the brand became known during the 1990s for camouflage jerseys, trousers, headwear and paintball harnesses.[1][2]
Renegade clothing was particularly associated with heavy-duty fabrics, camouflage patterns and distinctive elasticated collars and cuffs. Original products remain of interest to collectors of historical paintball apparel.[3]
History
[edit]Early development
[edit]Renegade Action Sports was operating by the mid-1990s.
On 17 October 1995, inventor Ivan P. Peacock filed a patent application for a paintball harness assigned to Renegade Action Sports, Inc. The patent was granted on 30 December 1997 as US Patent 5,702,042.[4]
At the 1996 Paintball World Cup in Florida, contemporary reporting by WARPIG identified Renegade Action Equipment among the companies exhibiting at the tournament.[1]
The company's precise founding date and original ownership have not been established from available public records.
Association with Smart Parts
[edit]Renegade developed a commercial relationship with Smart Parts, the Pennsylvania manufacturer founded by Bill Gardner and Adam Gardner.
At the 1998 National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) Las Vegas Open, Smart Parts exhibited a product range consisting primarily of Renegade clothing.[2]
At the 1999 Paintball World Cup, WARPIG again documented Smart Parts displaying Renegade clothing alongside Shocker markers and other equipment.[5]
Renegade clothing subsequently formed part of Smart Parts' manufacturing and distribution activities.
A retrospective company history published by the founders of Smart Parts through DLX Technologies identifies Renegade Clothing among the product lines that contributed to the company's expansion into larger manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania.[6]
RASE
[edit]Renegade Action Sports also used the name RASE, an abbreviation of Renegade Action Sports Equipment.
A United States trademark application for RASE was filed on 18 December 1999 by Renegade Action Sports, Inc., based at the Loyalhanna Business Complex in Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania.[7]
The application covered clothing intended specifically for paintball, including sweatshirts, jerseys, shirts, trousers, shorts, jackets and hats.
The filing recorded 18 October 1999 as the first commercial use of the RASE name.
The trademark application was abandoned in September 2001 following failure to respond to an official examination notice.[7]
The abandonment of the trademark application does not establish that Renegade ceased trading at that time.
Products
[edit]Paintball clothing
[edit]Renegade produced clothing intended for recreational and tournament paintball.
Its products included:
- Camouflage jerseys and pullovers.
- Paintball trousers.
- Headwear and other accessories.
- Protective clothing and padding.
- Paintball harnesses.
The jerseys were particularly associated with heavyweight cotton twill and distinctive elasticated collars and cuffs.
Several camouflage patterns were produced, including tigerstripe and woodland-inspired designs.
Different production examples incorporated variations in fabric weight, camouflage colours, external labels and garment construction.[3]
Harnesses
[edit]Renegade Action Sports developed equipment for carrying paintball ammunition.
Its 1997 patent, Harness Carrier, described a harness incorporating a back support and attachment straps.
The design included elastic components intended to retain paintball ammunition containers while allowing movement during play.[4]
The patent identifies Ivan P. Peacock as the inventor and Renegade Action Sports, Inc. as the assignee.
Manufacturing
[edit]Renegade clothing was manufactured in Pennsylvania.
Historical examples examined by paintball collector and researcher Daniel Bacci include garments bearing labels identifying Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania, as their place of manufacture.
In March 2017, Bacci documented an original Renegade tigerstripe pullover made from heavyweight twill fabric.
The garment differed from more commonly encountered Renegade jerseys because it lacked the usual external brand label, although an internal manufacturer's label identified Renegade.[3]
The surviving example demonstrates that Renegade produced variations in garment construction and branding during its original manufacturing period.
Collecting and later reproductions
[edit]Original Renegade clothing developed a following among collectors interested in paintball equipment and apparel from the 1990s.
Collectors have documented different camouflage patterns, labels, fabrics and production variations through online communities including M.CarterBrown.[8]
Later apparel manufacturers have also incorporated original Renegade fabrics and designs into new products.
Social Paintball introduced its Grit O.G. range of jerseys using original-style Renegade fabrics and camouflage patterns, including Urban Tigerstripe.
The modern jerseys combine the historical fabrics with updated construction, including ventilation panels and contemporary jersey features.[9]
These products are modern interpretations rather than evidence that the original Renegade manufacturing business remains operational.
The precise date when original Renegade production ceased has not been established.
Historical significance
[edit]Renegade was among the specialist clothing brands associated with the expansion of tournament paintball during the 1990s.
Its garments reflected the development of paintball-specific clothing at a time when players were moving beyond conventional military surplus equipment.
The company's relationship with Smart Parts connected its apparel products with one of the major American equipment manufacturers of the period.
Surviving Renegade clothing and harnesses are documented through contemporary tournament reports, manufacturer records and historical equipment collections.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- NPPL 1996 World Cup. WARPIG, October 1996. Contemporary reporting identifying Renegade Action Equipment among tournament exhibitors.
- 1998 Las Vegas NPPL Tournament. WARPIG, 1998. Documents the Renegade clothing range displayed by Smart Parts.
- Renegade Tiger Stripe Pullover with No Embroidery or Tags. Bacci Paintball, Daniel Bacci, 31 March 2017. Historical examination of original Renegade clothing and manufacturer labels, preserved through the Paintball History feed archive.
- Harness Carrier, US Patent 5,702,042. United States Patent and Trademark Office, 30 December 1997. Patent assigned to Renegade Action Sports, Inc., identifying Ivan P. Peacock as inventor.
- 1999 Paintball World Cup. WARPIG, October 1999. Contemporary coverage of Smart Parts exhibiting Renegade clothing.
- Our Story. DLX Technologies. Historical account by the founders of Smart Parts identifying Renegade Clothing among the company's manufacturing activities.
- RASE Trademark Application, Serial Number 75874224. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Application filed 18 December 1999 by Renegade Action Sports, Inc.; abandoned September 2001.
- Renegade and Similar Jerseys. M.CarterBrown, March 2026. Collector discussion documenting historical jerseys, fabrics and patterns.
- Grit O.G. Renegade Jersey: Urban Tigerstripe. Social Paintball. Modern jersey incorporating historical Renegade fabrics.