SUMMARY:
The Taiwan Man-at-Arms is characterized by mid-green skin tones, a bright blue helmet (soft head), bright red (or dark red) boots, and light orange, semi-translucent accessories. The figures can come with or without waist stoppers, and the accessories vary slightly between releases.
The initial 8-back release was the first Man-at-Arms ever produced. Its main differentiator is the red dots in the helmet, as well as the short straps on the harness and arm armor. None of these accessories have batch numbers. The belt is bright blue and the boots are bright red. This figure came with a waist stopper and has a pronounced belly button mold. Both the harness and the arm armor have short straps. This first issue armor is also destinctly yellow, as opposed to the peach-like orange of the later release accessories.
The following release was moved to 12-back cards. This release still maintains the bright blue belt, but no longer has the red dots in the helmet. The figure is still marked 1981, but the accessories now all have batch numbers (mace 5, armor 6, harness 7, leg armor 8). The harness and the arm armor now have longer straps. The leg armor stays about the same size throughout all versions. It's possible this figure was also released on a gray belt, but this is unconfirmed. The figure doesn’t have a waist stopper, but it does have a similar pronounced, irregular belly button.
The next release is still marked 1981 but now has an oversized TAIWAN on the body. The accessories would be the same as the standard 12-back release, except that the harness could also be a modified 8-back harness. The straps elongated, but the serials were a version of the 8-back ..41-2269A (erased characters). This figure has a dark gray belt, no waist stopper, and a symmetrical, subtle belly button.
The final release was the 1982 marked figure. The accessories are 12-back accessories and have those same characteristics. The belt is mid-gray (not as dark as the oversized TAIWAN variant), it has no belly button, and it can come with or without a waist stopper.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Mid-green skin tones.
2. Bright blue helmet (soft head)
3. Bright to dark red boots.
4. Light orange, semi-translucent accessories.
8-BACK RED DOT:
MARKED: © Mattel Inc. 1981 TAIWAN in the back, and also under the neck.
HARNESS (SHORT STRAP): © MATTEL. INC. 1981 TAIWAN & 5041-2269A
ARM ARMOR (SHORT STRAP): 5041-2249A TAIWAN
LEG ARMOR: 5041-2279A TAIWAN
MACE: TAIWAN
Light blue belt. Waist stopper. Pronounced, irregular belly button.
12-BACK 1981:
MARKED: © Mattel Inc. 1981 TAIWAN in the back, and also under the neck.
HARNESS (LONG STRAP): © MATTEL. INC. 1981 TAIWAN & 5041-2269 -7
ARM ARMOR (LONG STRAP): 5041-2249 -6 TAIWAN
LEG ARMOR: 5041-2279 -8 TAIWAN
MACE: TAIWAN 5
BELT: Light color like 8-Back
Light blue belt. No waist stopper. Pronounced, irregular belly button.
12-BACK 1981 LARGE TAIWAN:
MARKED: © Mattel Inc. 1981 TAIWAN in the back, and also under the neck.
HARNESS (LONG STRAP): © MATTEL. INC. 1981 TAIWAN & ..41-2269A (erased characters)
ARM ARMOR (LONG STRAP): 5041-2249 -6 TAIWAN
LEG ARMOR: 5041-2269 -8 TAIWAN
MACE: TAIWAN 5
Dark gray belt. No waist stopper. Symmetrical, subtle belly button.
12-BACK 1982:
MARKED: © Mattel Inc. 1982 TAIWAN in the back, and also under the neck.
HARNESS (LONG STRAP): © MATTEL. INC. 1981 TAIWAN & ..41-2269A (erased characters) or 5041-2269 -7
ARM ARMOR (LONG STRAP): 5041-2249 -6 TAIWAN
LEG ARMOR: 5041-2269 -8 TAIWAN
MACE: TAIWAN 5
Mid-gray belt. Can come with or without a waist stopper. No belly button.
