Grenadier Guards 1970

Notes:

The Action Man Grenadier Guard enjoyed many years of production - his popularity helped him span the whole of the 1970s. The SLR rifle of 1970/71 had a straight barrel shaft right up to the stock, and should be the same as in the inset photo below for the earliest year(s). Later SLR rifles had a slight conical shape widening to stop the barrel from breaking off from the body of the rifle so easily, progressing to a plastic strap after the mid-seventies. The bayonet hanger is tiny and is missing from the majority of vintage battle-scarred rifles. Tommy Gunn, Action Man's 'rival' also produced this uniform and differences can be noted. Later uniforms adopted thinner material and different collar - the three threads radiating from the ball are omitted and the detailed stitching was replaced by printed-on cuffs and back panels. The plastic belt should have very slight surface texture to it. The boots are the lace up type first seen on the British Infantryman, the earlier type are narrower, the later are larger. The trousers are similar colouring to the Action Man Royal Marines Dress uniform, however the stripe is a lot narrower. Pictured is an earlier Action Man 'painted head' figure dating from 1966 for display. The 'current' Action Man in 1970 would have just received flock hair (introduced in that year).