Man-at-Arms

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 armor and mace. Figures can be found with or without waist stoppers, and minor variations exist between releases.

The initial 8-back Test Market release was the very first Man-at-Arms produced. Its defining traits include the red dots painted on the helmet, short armor and harness straps, and a pronounced belly button mold. The belt is bright blue, the boots bright red, and all accessories are unnumbered. The armor is distinctly yellow compared to the peach-orange tone seen on later versions.

The second release, still on 8-back (G2) cards, removed the red helmet dots and lengthened the armor straps—likely to make them easier for children to fasten. The figure retained the light blue belt and the irregular belly button but no longer included a waist stopper.

The subsequent 12-back release remained largely similar to the G2 version but featured a dark gray belt instead of blue. Batch numbers were introduced on this version's accessories (mace 5, armor 6, harness 7, leg armor 8).

Next came the oversized “TAIWAN” body variant, still marked 1981. This release retained standard 12-back accessories, though the harness could also appear in a transitional form—a modified 8-back harness with extended straps and faint, partially erased serials (..41-2269A). This version has a dark gray belt, no waist stopper, and a more symmetrical, subtle belly button.

The final Taiwan issue, marked 1982, included standard 12-back accessories. It features a mid-gray belt (lighter than the oversized TAIWAN variant), no belly button, and may or may not include a waist stopper.