Continuing my Avengers theme, long time blog friend, Arto Haarala has sent me some excellent photos of his own Lone Star Steed Sword Stick.
Arto points out it’s new-old-stock, and the header card is partially un-punched. Arto suggests this might indicate that the cards and sticks may have been joined by the retailer.
The stick is 62cm long, and serves as a water pump gun by placing the tip in water and sucking it up by pulling the handle; then simply pushing the handle down squirting the water out.
Firing the plastic corks follows a similar operation. Note the Lone Star logo on the handle.
The Avengers had a fairly long stint on and off as a comic strip in TV Comic.
Here's Steed using his brolly as a sword stick!
Another blog friend, Lewis Morley also commented on my previous Avengers Memorabilia post about recalling a similar Adam Adamant version of the Lone Star Sword Stick.
The Adam Adamant version looks to be the same toy, with the same features, but has a slightly different handle, more like what Adamant is seen using on screen.
The stick also came with a monogrammed signet ring. The attractive header card featured Adamant in action with his Sword Stick in front of his Mini Cooper S car. In the series it bore the number plate AA 1000.
It’s hardly surprising that Lone Star repurposed their Sword Stick toy as a piece of Adam Adamant merchandise, as anyone who’s watched the series, would agree it takes some inspiration from The Avengers.
Like The Avengers, Adam Adamant had his own comic strip in TV Comic for a short time. In it our hero is hardly ever without his sword stick!.
Adam Adamant Lives, was originally shown on the BBC between June 1966 and March, 1967, and ran for 29 episodes, plus an unaired pilot.
Suave, Gerald Harper starred as the title character, an Edwardian gentleman adventurer, who in 1902 is frozen in a block of ice by his arched enemy, known as the Face.
He is found in 1966 during the demolition of the building he’d been left in all that time.
Still in the block of ice, remarkably his body has survived the suspended animation, and is revived. Adam Adamant Lives!
The Steed Sword Stick and original header card belonging to Arto is a fantastic example of vintage treasure! l've really enjoyed these in formative pieces, Scoop.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony, yeah, my recent Avengers meanderings appear to have gone down well with readers, it seems we have quite a few cult TV fans amongst them.
DeleteFor this post I was pleased that Arto took some excellent hi -res photos of his Sword Stick, so thanks to him we get to see some nice detail.
What a great post.
ReplyDeleteAll my Lone Star Sword Stick questions answered in one toylicious dose!
Set the Way Back Machine to 1966!
(This year I'll be living '66 all over again!)
Thank you kindly, Lewis. Your mention of Adam Adamant Lives peaked my interest in that Sword Stick too, so we all get to have a 'toylicious dose'! ;D
DeleteI love those toy Sword Sticks. I would have adored either of them as a kid, but the Avengers would have trumped Adamant as I never saw that show. There is a third Lone Star sword - not a stick] with very similar packaging, the Zorro Sword and Mask https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lone-star-walt-disney-zorro-toy-sword-245188134 I found an Italian version of Zorro too https://www.flickr.com/photos/themycia/4984665747 but alas hopeful googling for an Italian Sword Stick got me nowhere! the Lone Star stick part of the Sword reminds me of their harpoon in their 007 Harpoon gun! https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/10/007-james-bond-harpoon-gun-lone-star_30.html
ReplyDeleteInteresting finds, Woodsy. I don't remember watching Zorro as a kid. It was maybe before my time. I assume it's the series starring Guy Williams who went on to star in Lost in Space.
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