Marker Platform Architectures

Marker platform architectures categorize paintball markers based on the spatial arrangement of core mechanical and pneumatic components. In a typical design, the bolt, valve, gas passages, and regulator are organized to balance ergonomic handling, manufacturing constraints, and performance targets.

Stacked tube architectures place the bolt and hammer or ram in separate, vertically aligned tubes, with one tube containing the bolt and breech while the other houses the hammer or pneumatic ram. In line spool architectures position the moving valve element and bolt in a single linear axis behind the breech, often integrating air passages into the main body. Single tube blowback platforms group the bolt and striker in one tube, using mechanical linkage and spring forces to complete the firing cycle.

Architectures influence how gas flows from the tank through the regulator and into the firing chamber, as well as how easily components can be accessed for inspection. They also shape mass distribution and overall marker profile. Despite these differences, all architectures apply the same basic mechanical and pneumatic principles described in broader discussions of marker mechanics.