HomeGearCamouflageFrank and Hayden Figerell, of Navarone

Frank and Hayden Figerell, of Navarone

At the Old School Big Game on November 8th, 2015, I talked a little with Frank and Hayden Figerell. From the mid 1980s to the mid 1990’s Frank played on Navarone and competed all over the country, seeing field time during some of Navarone’s biggest wins.

At the Old School Paintball Big Game, Frank and Hayden were both shooting Navarone Autocockers. Frank was shooting a Black Navarone Minicocker and Hayden was shooting the polished gun metal grey Full Bodies Navarone Autococker.

Field Games advertisement scanned from the July 1987 issue of Front Line Magazine.
Field Games advertisement scanned from the July 1987 issue of Front Line Magazine.

Frank Figerell began paintballing in the early 1980s at Field Games, where he met and joined the Bushwackers. When Field Games lost their lease (or was flooded out?) players moved to Sat Cong Village, which was only minutes away. Eventually Frank joined Navarone around the mid 80s and played with them for the next decade.

Navarone Team Roster courtesy of Tim Schloss, of Tiger Stripe Products. c. 1989/90?
Navarone Team Roster courtesy of Tim Schloss, of Tiger Stripe Products. c. 1989/90?

Frank is listed on the team roster that Tim Schloss, of Tiger Stripe Products sent me, which I believe dates to 1989/90 and in the video both Frank and Hayden are wearing what appear to be Tiger Stripe / Pursuit Products Pullovers.

During this video Frank Figerell remembers some of his journeys with the team, including playing in Tennessee in 1990, for the Manufacturer Series Masters (Lively Series), where Navarone took 3rd in the 10 man, and were also awarded as the Grand Circuit Winners. 

Navarone cocker Right side
Reverse side of Rick Rector’s Navarone cocker with K-C Bottomline Reg.

Navarone’s original Autocockers likely date to 1990, when Buddy Farkas, of Fontana Paintball, arranged a deal with Bud Orr. Navarone’s Minicockers likely date to a couple years later (c. 1993/1994?).
Pictured above is an another full bodies Navarone Autococker, similar to Hayden’s, that was originally owned by Navarone player, Rick Rector.

What suprised me the most about Frank and Hayden’s setups, were that both were very close to their stock configuration.  The Minicocker even had the original green Minicocker bolt, which now that I think about it, might not have been the original bolt when Navarone received them?

Cover of the January 1990 Action Pursuit Games.
Cover of the January 1991 Action Pursuit Games.
“ON THE COVER: Navarone captain Bob Schryver, Kristin Knittle, and Patty Schryver with the 1990 Manufacturers Series Cup. Cover photo by Ed Ikuta. Cover design by Danilo J. Silverio.” As described on the credit page of APG.

Looking at the cover of the January 1991 Action Pursuit Games, we can see Navarone’s captain, Bob Schryver along with Kristin Knittle, and Patty Schryver (not sure who is who).

Manufacturer Series Circuit Winner Trophy on the cover of the January 1991 APG.
Navarone Grand Circuit Winner for the 1990 Manufacturer Series trophy. Scanned from the cover of the January 1990 Action Pursuit Games.

In the cover photo, Bob is holding Navarone’s giant trophy for winning the circuit and Kristin and Patty are holding 1990 long snub body Line SI Bushmasters in the Diamond Dust finish. These two Bushmaster are engraved for Team Navarone on the sight rail.

1990 Navarone Line SI Bushmaster with OAB Loader on the cover of the January 1991 Action Pursuit Games.
1990 Navarone Bushmaster with One Armed Bandit Loader. Sight rail engraved with “Team Navarone.” Scanned from the cover of the January 1991 Action Pursuit Games.

Both have the square receiver front rails, and B cubed Loaders. One is pictured with the Line SI asa 12 gram Lever Stock, and the other is equipped with a valve body Lever changer.

1990 Navarone Line SI Bushmaster on the cover of the January 1991 Action Pursuit Games.
1990 Navarone Line SI Bushmaster, with sight rail engraved for “Team Navarone.” The front of the receiver is drilled for the sliding stock attachment (notice large hole in rail).
OAB One Armed Bandit Loader on top of Bushmaster. Scanned from the cover of the January 1991 Action Pursuit Games.

One unique feature on the Bushmaster being held by the woman pictured lower right on the cover, is the hole through the grip frame rail. This was likely because this particular Bushmaster originally came with the sliding stock setup.

Find more details on the upcoming Old School Paintball Big Games at http://oldschoolpb.com/

Find more paintball history on Navarone at https://paintballhistory.com/tag/navarone

And other videos from the Old School Paintball Big Game at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJC7papTosfWueq8epPWWD0HYFJiin5XH

And vintage paintball magazines at http://www.baccipaintball.com/memorabilia/magazines.html

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