Western/Karl May

This category could be split up in to three separate categories.  These figures appeared in at least three different packaging from Mattel including:  the Big Jim line in Europe, Karl May in Germany, and Wild West in Canada.

Notice that the Karl May and Wild West boxes are nearly identical, and the illustration from the Big Jim box is the same on the Karl May and Wild West but reduced.  The figures and accessories are nearly identical.  Karl May was a German author that wrote fictional stories of the American West.  The figures are named for characters from his novels in both the Karl May and the Wild West lines.  Below is a list of Western figures with the Big Jim figure name first followed by the Karl May name.

Dakota Joe/Old Shatterhand	Old Kentuck/Old Firehand	Buffalo Bill/Old Surehand
Geronimo/Winnetou	Bisonte Nero/Bloody Fox	Fresca Rugiada/Nscho Tschi
Promotional Dakota Joe/ Old Shatterhand	Promotional Geronimo/ Winnetou

Ok folks check out this really big teaser.  This Fort Mattel display was given to toy shops in Germany for window and in-store displays to promote sales.  How would you like one of these for you collection.  I bet your spouse would love it in the family room.  Looks like Warpath has penetrated the fort and thrown the cowboys out.

For a really cool site dedicated to western action figures, check out Michael Crawford's Western Action Figure Archive.  Michael has a really nice Karl May page.