Carter Termite

The Carter Termite, also known as the Termite Gun, was a custom Nelson-pattern pump paintball marker associated with Rob “Termite” Smith and Earon Carter. Smith assembled early examples in the late 1980s, and Carter machined later versions. Jessica Sparks appeared with an early Termite on the June 1989 cover of Action Pursuit Games.[1][2]

Design and development

Termites varied because they were custom-built. Daniel Bacci's examination of surviving examples documents early markers with Nel-Spot grip frames and Nelson-pattern valves, and later examples with more Carter-made parts. An example documented by Paint had a feed neck that could be fitted on either side and a barrel, bolt and hammer that could be withdrawn together.[1][2]

The Termite and Buzzard shared features during their development. Bacci records examples of overlapping construction and reports that the name used for some later markers depended on whether Smith or Carter sold them.[1]

References

1. Daniel Bacci, A Chronology of Rob Smith's Termite Gun and the Carter Machine Buzzard, Paintball History, including the June 1989 Action Pursuit Games cover
2. Paint, Termite Custom, first-hand examination of a surviving marker