Why 86 frame?

[coyote]

Frame preference is purely subjective. The sizes, shapes , and ergonomics of our bodies are unique and endless. My wingspan measures 6'7. My hands aren't particularly big. My fingers aren't particularly long. My biological and geometry will dictate which frame offers the most comfort and function. My choice may be wildly different than the norm.

The "fad" of the 86 degree frame has outlasted low rise women's jeans, dubstep, and flat brimmed ball caps. I'm not the gatekeeper of what is or isn't a fad but...

After 20 years I think "fad" might be the wrong word to describe the situation.

[SignOfZeta]

What year are you living in where people aren’t still wearing flat brimmed ball caps? I want to be there. Did they stop wearing the stickers too? Please say yes.

That small hands excuse is pretty clever. It’s a humble contrivance. I’m pretty sure hand size is unrelated completely but it would be an easy thing to measure.

I don’t think anyone is claiming that 86 degree frames are a new invention, just that there seems to be a recent trend in their value indicating that there are more than just small handed people interested at the moment. Kind of like when dubstep was huge. Now it’s small like it should be because it su…is a small niche of live music, just as 86 degree frames are a small niche of paintball. There can be a new craze for old things…there’s a lot of it right now. All my 80s crap is worth tons of money. Thats for sure a fad because it was worthless for decades. People weren’t buying CCMs just to flip them 20 years ago.

[coyote]

Still wearing stickers.no accounting for taste there.

FYI, I prefer a .45 frame. My physical description was included as an illustration of what might influence any one players decision. The whole " we are all unique snowflakes" situation .

In my neck of the woods 86 and .45 seemed to have a pretty even split. That is of course influenced by availability. I also play in the Sacramento area, which is as close to CCMs back yard as you are liable to be.

20 years ago you could get a made to order CCM marker in roughly 6 weeks. Melissa, "CCM Chick" on the older version of MCB would take your order and offer customer support on the phone. Rod did assembly and tuning of finished markers. Bill , as far as I know, kept to machining parts. You could purchase markers directly thru CCM, and through some other big retailers of the time; ANS gear, and I&I sports come to mind. The secondary market wasn't like today because CCM produced 400 markers annually (Rod's numbers, shared when I visited the facility in Redding)

The current CCM business model is different. The lack of supply (by design) pushes the demand.

[Frmrspec]

86 with houge grips are about the most comfortable thing I’ve held in paintball. I used to run the aluminum textured grips from CCM but once I ditched gloves those became too slick. What’s funny is alot of electro markers have slowly evolved to using more vertical grips. If you look at all of PE’s stuff, you’re really close to the grip angle of an 86.. Luxe, dye, empire, etc… when manufacturers used to market “ergonomic grip” we all rolled our eyes and scoffed but they were extremely comfortable but looked too dramatically different. Now we see we got most of the way there in baby steps.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Wonder if the rise in air through grips plays into this. A lot easier to get an air passage through grip closer to 90 degrees.

[Frmrspec]

Absolutely makes it easier but it’s hard to deny that the frames aren’t significantly more comfortable as well

[Bow]

They feel nice to me with a 77. I don't like how 45s feel.

[BLachance75]

I don’t think anyone is claiming that 86 degree frames are a new invention, just that there seems to be a recent trend in their value indicating that there are more than just small handed people interested at the moment. Kind of like when dubstep was huge. Now it’s small like it should be because it su…is a small niche of live music, just as 86 degree frames are a small niche of paintball. There can be a new craze for old things…there’s a lot of it right now. All my 80s crap is worth tons of money. Thats for sure a fad because it was worthless for decades. People weren’t buying CCMs just to flip them 20 years ago.

The increase in price is related to not being able to buy them new. People weren’t flipping CCMs years ago because you could call them and get whatever you wanted new. Unfortunately now that isn’t the case so if you want something you need to go to the used market. The demand stayed but the supply is gone.

[Frmrspec]

Demand is still being filled but CCM adjusted their pricing to market rate :/