First a bit of background - Every Wednesday a group of us from the comic shop go for food. These guys were just acquaintances at the comic shop, but after a year of hanging out and going to toy shows and comic con's they've become good friends. My one friend just bought a condo and I helped him move. This Wednesday he brought in his last box of toys he had.
Now the story... This box he brought in this week had G.I. Joe. It was his collection from when he was a kid. He has seen my collection so he said I could just have his stuff. I opened the box and found a Tiger Fly, Tiger Cat, Pulverizer, Slam, LCV, Triple T, Ferret, Skystorm X Wing Chopper, Coastal Defender, Demon, and Evader. The vehicles were played with and some small things were missing. No big deal really. That is expected with vehicles from the 80's.
But the figures, there's another story. His figures were in mint condition. No broken crotches. No broken thumbs. All joints in tight condition.
There was Tiger Force Roadblock, 1986 Roadblock, Beachhead, Triple T Sarge, Lightfoot, Wild Bill, IG Ferret (to name a few). Several of these will replace figures in my collection that have broken crotches and loose joints. But the piece I went crazy for was a mint condition 1989 Night Viper. The rifle is in perfect condition. The joints are very tight. But... the night vision scope (and head posts) are in mint condition. My Night Viper's night vision scope broke shortly after I got it in 1989, so I've been missing that piece for a long time. And it is rare to find a mind condition Night Viper at any of the shows. I couldn't believe I found one.
He wanted to give me his collection. I just couldn't do it because I love the pieces he had. So I offered him some money and he gladly took it. I couldn't just take the Night Viper. I had to buy it from him. I have bought quite a few collections over the years. Some have been great. Some have been very disappointing, but this is definitely one of my favourite collections I have found.
