Christian Van Horn brought this John Gross Autococker out to Spew earlier this year. Likely built in the mid 1990s (94-96), the Minicocker has some of the wildest cut through I’ve seen on Gross’ cocker.
This Minicocker had been bouncing around through previous owners over the years and I’ve seen pictures of it in various states. When Chris received it he pulled it apart and rebuilt it and then had Craig Palmer at Palmer’s Pursuit Shop machine a new bolt (since the original bolt wasn’t clearing the PTP detent).
Chris snapped a few photos which show the typical FPC engraving that most of John Gross’ markers came with. Florida Paintball Center was the name of the shop that Gross worked out of. Gross’ cocker are usually engraved on several small parts with either his initials (JG) or FPC.
Gross engraved these parts prior to anodizing, probably as a way to keep his pieces together when they were sent off for anodizing.
Features on this Minicocker include several Gross’ signature cuts and accessories.
•PTP powerfeed and detent which Gross used on many of his Autocockers.
• Shaved down front block.
•Reversed 1994 style back block. I’ve seen this exact setup on one other cocker by gross.
•Cut throughs on the upper tube.
•Gross’ gas through grip.
•Armson barrel.
As Christian mentions, the Kapp Groovy Frame would not be original. This likely came with either a matched slider, or a chrome slider. The Kapp frame looks great though.
Find more history on John Gross and Florida Paintball Center here.
And more articles and videos with Christian Van Horn here.
I worked at fps in the mid to late 90’s when many of these were made. Been looking for one for awhile. Any chance this marker is for sale?