ACTION MAN

Cowboy (and Scout) 1977

Period: Eagle Eyes

Dates: c.1977-79

Scout Cat No: 34404

Action Man 7th Cavalry 1977 Contents:

Shirt
Riding Breeches with braces
Boots with spurs
Cap

Pistol belt

Sword

Yellow Scarf

Lebel pistol

Rope ('lasso')

7th Cavalry Description:

The 1977 Palitoy Equipment Manual heralded the range thus: "New Wild West Adventure with Action Man. Indians, scouts, cavalrymen - they are all part of the new Wild West range. All just like the real thing". The outfit was sold separately on an Locker Box outfit card. This figure could be paired with the Horse (or 'Cavalry Charger' as an over-sticker on the box described it). Other Figures in the Wild West Range were the Scout outfit, Cowboy boxed figure, Indian Brave outfit, Indian Brave boxed figure, Indian Chief outfit, and a Horse (Cavalry Charger or Indian Pony).

Notes:

The 7th Cavalryman sergeant had single holster and sword belt (the cowboy belt had two holsters) armed with lebel revolver (of 1967 French Resistance type) and a sword of the type first seen with the Life Guards and Blues & Royals outfits of 1971, black riding boots and light blue riding breeches with yellow braces. The unique cap has a metal cross swords badge. The shirt had hidden popper closures, and the sergeant strips often are missing as the adhesive dries out and parts company. Replacements are available here. The Lebel pistol was actually a French Service revolver and we can assume that Palitoy opted to use in favour of casting a new weapon more familiar to the Wild West. The 40th edition of this set (released in c.2008) has a longer barreled revolver, shown in one of the images, that perhaps suits the figure more. The 1977 7th Cavalry outfit card was of the 'Locker Box' type of the time, where the left hand box section could be removed from rest of card and used to place (force!) items of kit into as a storage option.

1977 Action Man 7th Cavalry Figure - Action Man now with 'moving eyes'