the search for the space mag

[Maghog]

Alright, I've made some progress, but I haven't gotten far enough. Some one out there has to know where the Space Mags are. I'm not talking about pictures, I mean the actual guns themselves.
I'm taking it upon myself to bring these guns back to the here and now. Hell, I'd even make an offer to buy the lot of them if I knew who to ask.
So, ask any old schooler you know who has knowledge of paintball's history and help me locate these things. I will not rest until I find them.
Thanks,
Dan@Triggernomics

[Maghog]

come on guys, you can't all be just 16, some one's old enough to know something!!!
What about you Tom? Did you ever see them in person?

[tyrion2323]

Hey - I'll keep an eye out.

Lot of the newer guys might not know whatcher talking about.

Jacob

[Muzikman]

I only think there was one and no idea who owns it. There was someone here on AO that had something very similar to a "space" mag that he built, but I can not remember who it was.

[Kevmaster]

i remember, like muz, a single space mag...but thats all...

no idea where they are now though

[FSU_Paintball]

For as long as I can remember there being spacemags, nobody has ever known where they are or who has them.

[bunker17]

i think i saw a picture of one once the memory is far away

[Doc Nickel]

The information I know is that the fellow who made the "Space" 'Mags was French machinist, living in, of course, France, and the 'newest' version he'd made was shortly after the RTs first came out, which would have been about '96. There were three, total, near as I can tell- one off custom-built pieces, the fellow made them for himself, not as "production".

I have not seen a new photo since spotting the RT-based one probably in '98, so I strongly suspect the machinist either quit playing, or doesn't speak English and so doesn't visit our same circles online, or perhaps he got hired on to some place like WDP or Eclipse and hasn't even thought about milling a 'Mag in eight years. Don't know, can only guess.

I made a SpaceMag copy about three or four years ago. The "original" style- it was slightly changed over the French fellow's design (among others I flattened the base of the grip to allow a tank or stock to be mounted like usual, and I didn't use the internal air connections) but I tried to recreate it as closely as I could. It was based off a standard 'Mag upper, rail and valve at the time- this was pre-L10.

What pisses me off is that I managed to not get a single photo of it completed, and I haven't seen nor heard of or about it since. I was typically late in finishing it, as can only guess the customer was unhappy with the wait.

However, I have two more rough grip blanks of the correct shape- I had a water-jet shop cut the blanks from plate, which saved me probably eight hours of just rough milling. The bar I had on hand was big enough for three, so I figured what the heck, and thought about making more than one.

However, not having a CNC, the body profiling was largely handwork, using air-tool burrs and body sanders. I thought it came out well, but took a LOT of time and materials. Doing one was a pain, doing three would have been a major undertaking.

Now that you got me thinking about it, I have a boxful of old 'Mag parts, including an L10 kit I've never used, a partially-milled Sluggo body, an old Benchmark frame, a rail and a sear... Want me to build you an updated SpaceMag?

Doc.

[SummaryJudgement]

.....but wait, when will you have time to update the whiteboard ......

[Tunaman]

The information I know is that the fellow who made the "Space" 'Mags was French machinist, living in, of course, France, and the 'newest' version he'd made was shortly after the RTs first came out, which would have been about '96. There were three, total, near as I can tell- one off custom-built pieces, the fellow made them for himself, not as "production".

I have not seen a new photo since spotting the RT-based one probably in '98, so I strongly suspect the machinist either quit playing, or doesn't speak English and so doesn't visit our same circles online, or perhaps he got hired on to some place like WDP or Eclipse and hasn't even thought about milling a 'Mag in eight years. Don't know, can only guess.

I made a SpaceMag copy about three or four years ago. The "original" style- it was slightly changed over the French fellow's design (among others I flattened the base of the grip to allow a tank or stock to be mounted like usual, and I didn't use the internal air connections) but I tried to recreate it as closely as I could. It was based off a standard 'Mag upper, rail and valve at the time- this was pre-L10.

What pisses me off is that I managed to not get a single photo of it completed, and I haven't seen nor heard of or about it since. I was typically late in finishing it, as can only guess the customer was unhappy with the wait.

However, I have two more rough grip blanks of the correct shape- I had a water-jet shop cut the blanks from plate, which saved me probably eight hours of just rough milling. The bar I had on hand was big enough for three, so I figured what the heck, and thought about making more than one.

However, not having a CNC, the body profiling was largely handwork, using air-tool burrs and body sanders. I thought it came out well, but took a LOT of time and materials. Doing one was a pain, doing three would have been a major undertaking.

Now that you got me thinking about it, I have a boxful of old 'Mag parts, including an L10 kit I've never used, a partially-milled Sluggo body, an old Benchmark frame, a rail and a sear... Want me to build you an updated SpaceMag?

Doc.

Wow MagHog! Doc is offering to build you one! I'd take that offer in a minute! Doc...if you need any parts to hook him up just let me know. I have it all here...

[MarkM]

Though not a space mag I saw an unusual frame on a mag back around 96'ish the guy had handmade a frame that was sort of totally ergonomic like those fancy target handguns you see, it even had a timer built into it. I have no idea who the guy was or where that mag is now, there is a slight possibilty that this guy was indeed french as the series of tournaments did have the Ton Tons taking part, well Ton Ton Flinguers as they were known then. I asked to look at it and it was indeed very comfortable to hold.

[WenULiVeUdiE]

Wow MagHog! Doc is offering to build you one! I'd take that offer in a minute!

Oh God! Dan + Doc = Amazing works of art we can all marvel at

[Arstron]

Here are the 3 space mags:

http://www.vm68.com/stuff/spacemag.html

I would love to see a modern spacemag and with doc and tuna behind it I can only imagine how nice it would look! Maghog, dont let that offer pass you by!

[Maghog]

I have to admit, it's a great offer. It just so happens I'm working on a spacey looking mag myself, and it sounds like the piece you made could fit on there. How 'bout you sell me one of those blanks (or trade for one of my triggers )and I'll do the rest? If you could post a picture of it here, that would be great.

On another note Doc, you might want to contribute to the article about unusual guns and artwork that I'm doing research on. Any guns showing off your talent in high resolution photos on clean backgrounds could get you a little free advertising. Think about it.

Now, all the contributions to my search are very much appreciated, but most of the info is stuff I already know. I've got the search going in France as well as over here. It's just hard posting on French forums when you don't speak French.
What I'm really after is a name, an address, or a number that I can land contact with.
The search goes on...
Dan

[Doc Nickel]

Well, other than mentioning the same Spacemag was shown in the September '96 PGI being held by some fellow in Advantage or Renegade-style camo (with goggs, so no face to recognize) that's pretty much the sum total of my knowledge. I have or at least had that issue, but I can't find it.

You might try bugging Robbo over at P8nt/PGI. He was both an early-PB Brit and a 'Mag nut back in the day, so maybe he can push you in the right direction.

I have two blanks left, but only enough spare parts to build one complete gun, so if you want the other one, make me an offer. As I recall, it cost me over $100 in material and pump time to get these three waterjetted.

They're rough-profiled, taken directly from the original Spacemag pic. As you can see, I flattened the base of the grip- the original gun had an air nipple there for the remote hose, I drilled and tapped for a standard tank/drop/rail mount. They're 6061 flatbar, 3/4" thick like the usual 45 style grip frames.

Doc.