My First Gun

I recently pulled out my first paintball gun. It's a basic, blowback Spyder with a 45 degree elbow and a beat-up beaver tail. It's not the first gun I played with, but it is the first gun I ever owned. Looking at it brought back memories of falling in love with the sport. In a reminiscent kind of way, I gassed it up and I was surprised to hear it leaking form several places. As much as I love the gun, I realized that it's been close to a year since I've even used it as a loaner - it now just sits in my basement gathering dust. It's sad that the key to my start to paintball has turned into a ill-cared-for and nearly forgotten relic.

As much fun as it is to play with the dozens of other guns I own, I realize that there's a soft spot in my heart for my first gun that will never go away. That's why I'll never sell it or let it go. Someday I'll pass it on to my son to introduce him to my favorite sport.

When I get a minute, I'm going to take it apart, give it a good cleaning, some new o-rings, a new spring and a good coating of oil. The next time I go to the field, it's coming with me. It might not be as "good" as some other guns I have, but that won't really matter when it comes to simply having fun.
_{(Photo © 2008 David Muhlestein licensed to About.com, Inc.)}