Another new Mechanical Contender - Based on the Alien "Morph" valve

[zinger565]

According to the posts I've seen, Alien is technically no longer around, Jack is involved to the point that it's using "his" Morph valve, and Griffan of Parabolic is supposedly just acting as distributor and as a machining connection. The actual marker will apparently be sold under a "New Company, New Name endeavor."

More details I've pulled out of comment threads on Facebook:

This thing gets about a case on a tank fill and doesn't require any maintenance at all. (On it not being a poppet, but the Morph acting more like a spool) Cup seals have a sealing face that requires the opening mechanism to push against the entire firing pressure, which makes them loud and hard on paint. This has a hammer that pushes an oring over a slit in the valve to let air travel through, pushing only against a light spring that holds the valve shut at rest. Way lower pressure all around, much softer on paint and WAY quieter than a cup seal.

Interesting. A lot of claims here, but a unique balanced valve placed where a poppet valve would traditionally be would be interesting.

From Griffan on what is Jack's involvement:

that's more or less the whole reason I'm involved. He drew this up years ago but found a local opportunity to make it happen and ride off into the sunset 😉 His wife is way less than thrilled about him back in paintball so I'm handling everything but the design haha"

The below description is better worded than the one I posted previously:

It's a stack tube (we are calling it a Tri tube because the firing mechanism is in a third, smaller body bore) spool valve marker.
Pull the trigger and it shuts off the air that holds the hammer back. The hammer is sprung forward an inch and then inertia from the bolt/ram nudge open the balanced spool valve to fire.
It's the same valve from the Alien Deception but we removed the electronics for a two way rod that's attached directly to the trigger.

Lastly, Griffan posted last week that they're fully funded for the initial run of 20, and buried in various comments are suggestions that this first run is to fund further manufacturing. I'd assume that any larger production and retail would also include Parabolic barrels. Wishing them (and their customers) the best.

I (or someone) can grab photos from the Parabolic Facebook page of the body samples.

[zinger565]

Personal thoughts:

Sounds a bit like the Torque (at least from what I know). The trigger will be a slider and sounds like the actual activation spool will be above the trigger, in the body (similar to the new Nova N1). My suspicion of the ram/hammer acting like an unbalanced spool seems to be right, or as irony on PBN said, "an air-sear with a mechanical spring". IF done right, I could see it being pretty awesome. Personally, I'm really curious on air routing and regulation. Will it be in the grip frame a-la Dye and MacDev? Or maybe the foregrip like the LV's? Hoses or body transfer? Anyways, I'm starting to ramble and make assumptions without much backing...

Hopefully it works out, if only for the health of market competition (and to maybe get J4 off their butts and back on the Torque project). Hopefully marketing and information is more available than the FlowTech RMac (still waiting on those "in-depth technical guidance videos" and actual spare parts availability).

[iamthelazerviking]

I'm glad someone copied this info over to MCB. I was too lazy. Seems interesting for sure. Griffin said it would be single trigger with hopes of a double trigger variation later.

[ford]

This project sounds very avoidable. Best of luck to the 20 souls that throw money at this project.

[maggot]

Right. Talk to me when there's a prototype.

[Jonnydread]

This project sounds very avoidable. Best of luck to the 20 souls that throw money at this project.

As much as I love to see innovation I’m with you. I hope it ends up being super awesome, but I’ve drank enough Koolaid in my life

[BrickHaus]

I reached out to Griffan for a bit more info, and asked if there was a place not on the book to collect data.

He said for now, its just the book, a group called project Mercury.

The initial 20 are already in manufacturing, and once they have those 20 done they are going to open up to youtube and start a v2 run. 17 of the 20 spots have been claimed, so there are still 2 more avialable to be claimed on this current run.

Asking price is $800. If I could sell a couple guns, Id buy one just to do the mcb review.


As cynical as Id like to be with anything new, I like Griffan. I believe he puts enough effort into his projects that this has a good opportunity to be something successful as long as he has the capacity to support the customer base as the distributor.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Following interested how this turns out.

Do they have a working prototype or they just going to prototype on the first 20 people willing to drop cash?

[BrickHaus]

My buddy sent me these. I kinda like the looks.

[Jonnydread]

MURICA mmmmm

[bellicose]

The bottom one looks like it's made from wood.

[Brokeass_baller]

It's it just me, or does it look Angel-esque? I'm getting A1 vibes.

[Myrkul]

I'm waiting to see the bolt design before I pass judgement on these. Pictures look VERY promising. If I can ramp the bolt, they'll actually be able to handle the dog shit field paint I have access too. If the bolt is too wonky or different it's just flat out not going to be able to handle my field paint and it'll be a hard pass.

[Cyrus-the-virus]

I want one. I'll most likely have to wait till the third run though in order to get one.

[zinger565]

It certainly is interesting. All in all, I'll probably wait until the 3rd run as well, just to let them get any machining and parts hiccups worked out.

[zinger565]

As a side note, I love the return of mechanical popularity. It does allow smaller companies to do runs like this and complete it relatively quickly. No worries about solenoid supply and cost at small quantities, same with designing and getting pcb boards made. Hopefully it continues to bring in (or back) smaller companies and competition.

Edit to add: There's also just a lot less to "go wrong" that won't be user servicable. Fewer concerns about batteries, buggy code, or faulty boards.

[Cyrus-the-virus]

Any updates on this marker?

[zinger565]

Any updates on this marker?

Haven't really seen much on Facebook/PBN from Griffan or Jack directly. Did see this photo through another rumor outlet:



Last I heard all the "pre-order" slots were filled, but no other updates.

[Cyrus-the-virus]

Hopefully the first run goes according to plan. I'd like to get in on the second run.