Period: Eagle Eyes
Dates: c.1981 until c.1983
Cat No: 34405
The Action Man was based on a US corporal uniform style of of World War Two. Part of the 'Soldiers' Range It was very accurate in terms of colour and featured detailed plastic webbing and a black 30 calibre Browning Machine Gun. The uniform was ultra detailed and lightweight. Originally it came on the short lived (and sometimes poorly illustrated) 'book' type of packaging, and progressed to the 'Locker Box' style of pack (shown below).
ACTION MAN MACHINE GUNNER OUTFIT: Jacket, trousers, plastic webbing, 30 calibre machine gun and tripod (two piece type), canteen, boots, helmet, bayonet, scabbard, 4 x grenades, Equipment Manual.
(2 piece)
The current Action Man figure at the time of launch in 1981 was an Eagle Eye dynamic body as shown in the images. The webbing can go dry and brittle, and a common break point is in the buckle area. It is same style as the 1979 Paratrooper, but the example shown seems to have a more caramel coloured plastic (as opposed to buff). The carbine rifle with plastic strap is a separately available addition. The bayonet holder is dark green with a point and the bayonet should have an all-black end on the handle (not silver tip). The badges (two sets of 'upside down' corporal strips and square box with diagonal lines) are printed on a silk type material are not held on very well and can easily become detached. The water bottle should be the all silver hollow type.