Introduction

Have you ever played with or seen the little green Army men? If you’ve watched Toy Story, you’ve seen them in action. You may already know that these are some of the oldest modern U.S. military toys, but even they were preceded by others. So, where did they get their start? Military toys span farther back than the U.S. military -- even farther back than the official start of the U.S. itself. Military toys are nothing new. But we’re going to explore how the U.S. has capitalized on the historical trend and improved upon it with different generations, materials, and types of toys.

Military-Themed Toys

The very first mass-produced military figures were made in Germany in the early 1800s. They got more and more detailed as the years went on, and molten lead molds could create some of the most intricate military toys the world had seen. This hollow-casting technique meant that these figurine military toys were cheaper to produce, and therefore cheaper to buy, leading the way for even more efficient means of production in the future. Military toys have always been pervasive, but they reached peak popularity during the era of WWII as more and more family members were being shipped off to war. As the metals that were generally used for toy soldiers and vehicles became scarce, the usage of metal for toys was banned

Old Military Toys

Lead Figurines

Popular just before the 20th century, lead figurines were being created in Britain depicting armies from many nations, including the U.S. This was long before the use of lead and lead-based paint was banned in children’s toys.

No. 100 Doughboy Tanker

Louis Marx and Company was incredibly famous for its production of toy trains. They created all kinds of vehicles, and one of these was a very popular military toy called the No. 100 Doughboy Tanker, made of tin. According to the original 1930 Marx ad, it was a “Very appropriately shaped tanker, that goes back and forth in all directions; and as the toy is in motion a Soldier comes up from the turret of the Tanker as if firing a gun and then disappears again, action continuing.”

Plastic Green Army Men

The green toy soldiers as we know them now were first produced in 1938 by a company called Bergen Toy & Novelty Co. Originally, they were not only painted entirely green but also had variants with a green base and a tan/brown painted figure. Though these little green army guys are the most popular of their kind, the tan ones can still be purchased in bulk if you want to recreate a battle with opposing sides.

Commando Military Barge

When using metal for toys became outlawed, many manufacturers turned to wood and sawdust as a means of continuing their production. One great example is the 1942 Commando military barge, which is completely wooden.

Toy Military Vehicles

After the popularity of the plastic green army men, manufacturers began to realize how much potential there was in the plastic toy market. Now, there are seemingly endless toy military vehicles depicting the awesomest of our military’s ground combat machines.

Matchbox 55a D.U.K.W.

The D.U.K.W. from the famous and successful company Matchbox was produced from 1958-1962. It is a small-scale replica of its real-life counterpart, which was an incredibly popular amphibious cargo truck, of which more than 21,000 were produced.

Corgi M3 Half-Track

Corgi is another popular toy brand that also makes miniatures of military vehicles. The M3 half-track armored vehicle, in particular, was used by both the U.S. and other Allies during WWII. Corgi only produced 1,100 of these half-track armored truck miniatures. Corgi is known for their highly detailed models, too, so you know this one has all the bells and whistles.

LEGO Military Jeep

For those people less interested in accuracy, there are almost infinite things you can do in the world of LEGO. While the brand itself will never officially sponsor any military models, hundreds of people have taken matters into their own hands to create custom sets with authentic LEGO bricks, including a LEGO military Jeep. Some of the most popular sets are modeled after WWII utility vehicles and include M1 military gear.

M113 Desert Armored Vehicle

Complete with a highly detailed figurine, Sunny Days Entertainment Store produces a realistic version of the armored vehicle that first went into service in 1987

Toy Military Helicopters, Jets, & Planes

AEROart North American P-51D Mustang

AEROart makes award-winning miniatures inspired by history. The North American P-51D miniature is nearly 6 and a half inches wide and includes the iconic checker tail that was present on planes entering battle in 1943.

New-Ray Sky Pilot Series: Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk

New-Ray is popular for its toy vehicles. In their series of aviation models, the Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk is a must-have. The real-life version of this toy is a twin-engine helicopter flown by the U.S. Coast Guard for law enforcement as well as search and rescue missions. The helicopter itself was first developed in 1986.

Herpa Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II

After noticing room for improvement in their close air support, the U.S. Air Force dedicated a new aircraft to the task: the Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II. The Herpa miniature of this model was produced with the accompanying aircraft camouflage. Since the real plane would be flying close to the ground, it was important that opposing forces had a difficult time spotting it. The paint on this miniature toy reflects that. It also has realistic panel lines, an accurately painted underside, and antennas.

Vokodo RC Military Air Force Stealth Bomber

Based loosely on the U.S. Air Force stealth bombers, the Walmart-partnered brand Vokodo offers an RC-controlled Air Force jet. Though it doesn’t fly, you can use the included controller to drive it around like it’s ready for takeoff. This is a great example of the revolution of military toys from lead-based figurines to modern-day marvels.

Best Army Toys

As the largest branch of the military, U.S. Army toys are one of the most popular subcategories of military toys.

Joyin Toy Military Base

It might not be perfectly historically accurate, but if you want an entire set that loosely represents a U.S. Army post, the Joyin military base set is a wonderful option. It comes with a motorcycle, helicopter, combat truck, tank turret, tiny missiles, and four toy soldiers (none of which are painted with lead). Don’t let their colorful design scheme fool you. Joyin has so many military toys for sale that you could consider them a military toy shop, though they offer tons of other types of toys, as well. Other military offerings from them include transport airplanes, combat boats, and full-size military accessories for kids.

Toy Army Guns

If you want to train your kids to respect guns at an early age, there are plenty of safe options to do it with. Take this toy Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle. It lights up, has a detachable scope, and has half a dozen firing sounds to loosely emulate what you would hear if you pulled the trigger on a real one. You can find almost any toy gun you’re looking for somewhere, like this M16 gel bullet gun. It has water ammo and soft darts to shoot while maintaining vague semblance to a real M16 (though in a bright-colored package).

Toy Army Gear & Accessories

You’re not going to be able to get your hands on a real bullet proof vest from your local toy store, but many places have moved past figurines and guns to allow kids and adults alike to look the part as they play the part. If you have a future U.S. Army soldier on your hands, Army Surplus World is a great place to find military toys and accessories. They offer full Army digital camo outfits in addition to belt gun holsters, pistol belts, personalized dog tags, and military-inspired patches. They also offer adult U.S. Army surplus items.

Conclusion

Military figures are simple but exciting toys for kids and adults alike that are steeped in history. Accessories and toy guns can really help kids and adults play the part. Whether you’re a collector, someone who still enjoys playing with them, or if you’re looking for military toys for kids in your life, there is no shortage of both historically accurate and exciting (but maybe less accurate) modern military toys to be had. If you have any vintage military toys or cool modern ones, let us know about them below, or share pictures with us on Facebook @ThisIsVeteranLife or Twitter @This_is_VetLife.Want more content like this? Check out our sister site MyBaseGuide’s trending blogU.S. Military Dress Uniforms: What Each Branch Wears To Look Their Best