HomePaintgunsPumpsA custom Lapco '93 Spirit with Long Snub Body

A custom Lapco ’93 Spirit with Long Snub Body

In November 2022 this neat and brightly colored Purple Lapco Spirit appeared on ebay.

Custom '93 Spirit. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
A custom ’93 Spirit with wood grips and custom engraving. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

With the permission of the seller, Eugene, aka Ice Man, or as they communicated with me on ebay, Tele1311, I am able to repost photos and the description from the auction in order to document some of these features that set this apart from earlier Spirit models.

Tele1311 communicated that they “Ordered [this Spirit] directly from Lapco,” and that it came from Colin directly.

'93 Lapco Spirit with tank mounted. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
’93 Lapco Spirit with tank mounted. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

In an article on Warpig.com, which may have been a Lapco press release, states the following on Lapco Spirits:
“The Grey Spirit is a bore drop version of the Ghost. I made 500 of them from 1990 to 1995. The last 60 were custom guns, made to order, between 1993 and 1995.”

'93 Spirit engraved from Lapco on the left / driver side. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
’93 Spirit engraved from Lapco on the left / driver side. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

Lapco pump markers produced around the end of Colin’s run with Paintball Connection featured many solid anodizing colors other than Grey and Black. After Jon Sivers dissolved Paintball Connection and Colin set off on his own again, he re used many existing inventory parts with brightly colored anodizing patterns as his Force Recon series.

Custom wood grips, possibly from Colin Thompson's associate, Rick West. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
Custom wood grips, possibly from Colin Thompson’s associate, Rick West. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

My guess is that this “93′ Spirit”, as it’s engraved from Colin, was produced after Paintball Connection, but before he began selling Force Recons.

Right side engraved for the original owner, Eugene / Ice Man. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
Right side engraved for the original owner, Eugene / Ice Man. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

A few features stand out on this Spirit, including the removable barrel with later Paintball Connection style porting, the long snub and backbottle asa valve required for it, the wood grips (maybe made by Colin’s associate, Rick West?), custom engraving on both sides and the hi-boy cut out sight rail.

No engraving on the pump handle. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
No engraving on the pump handle. Tank dated 06 – 92 . Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

Tele1311 describes this paintgun in the auction with the following:
“Lapco Spirit Pump Paintball Marker…in custom purple anodizing. I’m The original owner of this lapco Spirit Pump Paintball Marker. It’s has a removable Threaded barrel. The barrel is tight and flawless…The pump has a return Spring on the barrel so pumping & firing is ultra smooth Especially doing rapid fire. Also when the marker is cocked and you point the it in the air the pump handle will not fall back down like on other Nelson based markers like a bushmaster due to the Spring holding it in place. The CO2 tank is a 7oz aluminum bottle that is of course expired. The safety burst disk was removed for legal reasons and can be easily replaced if you want. It was removed so no air can be put into this tank.”

Later Paintball Connection style end of barrel porting detail. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.
Later Paintball Connection style end of barrel porting detail. Photos courtesy Tele1311 / Ice Man / Eugene.

Describing it’s use Tele1311 writes:
“The marker was only used for 1 season & then I purchased an Automag. So she got shelved. It’s in perfect working order and holds air. Unfortunately I lost one of the pump arm screws and was not able to get an exact replacement but the screw that’s in there now fits perfect and functions fine. I apologize for having the marker engraved with my call sign and name….. So please keep the comment to a minimum…. When we’re young we’re stupid what can I say.”

Thanks to Eugene / Tele1311 / Ice Man for letting me document and repost photos of this custom Spirit.

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