The Angel is one of the first electropneumatic paintball markers. It was manufactured by Angel Paintball Sports (originally WDP) starting in 1997 and was introduced alongside Smart Parts' original Shocker.
The Angel was initially distributed in the United States by Brass Eagle as the 1455 Angel Semi-auto, advertised with a rate of 15 balls per second. This deal was short-lived, so WDP then distributed the Angel independently; refining the marker and releasing new models.
History
The Angel paintball marker was designed by engineer John Rice, as an HPA-only marker. Despite its ubiquitous use in the sport at the time, Rice considered CO<sub>2</sub> a dirty gas, so the Angel used miniaturized components that could not withstand impurities in the air or the cooling effects of CO<sub>2</sub>. To cater to the sudden need for a high-flow HPA regulator, WDP released the Gov'nair high pressure air system. The marker featured an electronic firing sequence and light trigger for effective shooting, and low learning curve.