The Gabriel Lone Ranger line!

[Vortigern99]

I'm astonished that no one has put up a thread in honor of this terrific 10" line! With their removeable clothes, hats, boots, guns and other accessories, they're at least as play-friendly as Megos, and when coupled with the awesome, fully-articulated 12" horses, they're pure Western adventure and fun!

When I was about 6 years old (in 1976) my friend Craig LeFevre (who also had Megos galore) introduced me to the wonders of the Lone Ranger. Craig had a number of horses and figures, and also the little comic book inserts that told us the origins of the Ranger and Tonto. I soon began collecting the figures myself, though they were pricier than Megos or Star Wars, so my cache was limited. My sister and I combined her Barbie's with my Lone Ranger and Butch Cavendish, and an endless variation of the classic capture-and-rescue story was born!

Last year, from a collector in England I bought a glorious collection of LR figures, disguises and accessories. Since most of the figures were Lone Ranger heads and bodies -- which are cheap to obtain on ebay -- I have painted and customized almost all of them to create different characters. I now have 31 figures and 12 horses, the latter of which I've also painted and customized to create different breeds, such as a Golden Palomino, a gunmetal gray Morgan, an ebony Arabian, various shades and patterns of Pinto, etc. At a later date I'll post pics of all of my Western friends and their steeds, but for now here's a breakdown of the basic Gabriel figures:

The Lone Ranger
Tonto
Danny Reid (8" kid sidekick)
Butch Cavendish
Red Sleeves (Apache villain)
Tex Dawson (Sheriff of Carson City)
El Lobo (Mexican no-goodnik)

Silver
Scout (Pinto)
Banjo (Palomino)
Smoke (black Mustang)
Bandit (same as Smoke with different name?)

Forthcoming will be a list of all the disguises and playsets. How many do YOU have, and what's your Lone Ranger story???

[toys2cool]

I use to love that set,I had almost all of them:grin:

[EmergencyIan]

I loved this line too! It was a heckuva lot of fun to play with.

- Ian

[Marvelmania]

Another wonderful toy. I recently won a Lone Ranger and Silver CHEAP but am getting screwed by the seller because he's not answering any of my emails. AAARRGGG!

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I had the Lone Ranger, Silver, Tonto and Scout and a few outfits. I loved them very much and got a few when I got an adult body ;)...will post a pic shortly...

[saildog]

When I was 5, I had my tonsils taken out and the first thing I saw as I emerged from the anesthesia was The Lone Ranger astride Silver. Almost 33 years later, I can remember who was in the room, how the room was arranged, and how Silver was set on the little hospital meal table in a somewhat-reared up pose. Awesome memory of something that should have otherwise been (somewhat) traumatic.

[toys2cool]

I had kept my original Tonto with Horse in the box and never played with it,I got my brother to trade me his.This was actually one of the 1st things I sold on ebay to buy the modern star wars in 98 & 99

D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dogman67]

Cool, I had the Long Ranger figure, Silver, Tonto, and a couple of play sets...
__________________________________________

I meant Lone Ranger. My typing SUCKS...:googly:

[batmanmc]

i have the lone ranger and tonto roday. love the line.

[Bizarro Amy]

I remember watching Lone Ranger programs on TV. I never realized how many characters they made toys for. I've never had any of the figures, but I must admit, I'm getting tempted. Maybe once my Mego collection is a little closer to complete...

[HardyGirl]

My cousins had The Lone Ranger and Butch Cavendish. We used to call him Black Bart. I don't think they had the posable horses, but I do remember a plastic horse. Lincoln Logs provided the town.

[FastDog40]

Had these when little.I still have my loose figures.bought tonto in the box afew years back at a toy show for $20.00.I had all of these toys when i was little.this line had cool playsets.fire pit with skull.

[MIB41]

Great line! I had such wonderful memories of playing with these figures. I currently have Lone Ranger, Tonto, and Butch Cavendish in their respective boxes. LR and Tonto are both bagged with all accessories. I've also got the Lone Ranger/Silver box set complete as well. I would love to see the pics of your collection! Sounds awesome. :smile:

[kresge1]

Being someone who dabbles in the Lone Ranger line,i have to agree with the concensus here.This is a great line of figures.The best posable horses made IMO

[batmanmc]

i realy like them because they are posable like mego and i think thats why many of us love them. the hands gabrile made were better and more workable to hold the accessories then megos . horses ive never seen so i cant say but they sound cool. mike

[LadyZod]

I actually bought a Scout this past weekend at a flea market, with stand for $2.00. The seller thought it was a breyer horse. Worked out well, since I got a complete Tonto in a mego lot a few years ago.

My Ranger is in need of repair and cleaning, and in need of Silver... but it's good to see Tonto riding high.

I love this line.

[batty]

This was one of the best lines there has been made, hands down. So far in my collection of 10" figures I have : Lone Ranger w/ Silver, Tonto w/ Scout, Butch Cavendish w/ Smoke, and I also have the Carson City Playset. I plan to build a display cabinet for all my Megos, playsets, Lone Ranger figures and town real soon. Being a cabinet maker for a living should provide some usefulness,....HAHA! Anyway, soon as I get the time to do it, I'll get some pictures out. Catch y'all later!--B.

[saildog]

This was one of the best lines there has been made, hands down. So far in my collection of 10" figures I have : Lone Ranger w/ Silver, Tonto w/ Scout, Butch Cavendish w/ Smoke, and I also have the Carson City Playset. I plan to build a display cabinet for all my Megos, playsets, Lone Ranger figures and town real soon. Being a cabinet maker for a living should provide some usefulness,....HAHA! Anyway, soon as I get the time to do it, I'll get some pictures out. Catch y'all later!--B.

Definitely want to see some pictures when you get the display built. Sounds like you have a killer Lone Ranger collection.

[English Paul]

I was fortunate enough to win a boxed Lone Ranger and boxed Tonto in this years Megomeet raffle thanks to a very generous donor. They are just fantastic figures. I had wanted a Lone Ranger to replace my childhood one for such a long time. The one I won was still sealed in the baggie but temptation got the better of me and I opened the bag after he`d been untouched for 30 years. I needed to see him with the mask and hat on again. They are now definately firm favourites as part of my collection.

[Earth 2 Chris]

My dad is a big Lone Ranger fan, having been lucky enough to be a kid during the Ranger's radio heyday. So I've always had an affection for the Masked Rider of the Plains. My grandparents gave me the Lone Ranger/Silver and Tonto/Scout reissue giftsets for Christmas the year "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" was released. I love them and played with them a lot, but only the horses survived in any kind of shape.I picked up a decent Tonto back in the late 90s, but I just couldn't find a nice complete Ranger.

A few years ago while on vacation my wife and I visited an antqiue mall. I looked over and there was the Lone Ranger, with his awesome painted box. As I walked over the William Tell overture played in my brain. I had to have it. Now I have them all displayed in a case that once belonged to my granfather. Pretty appropriate, I think!
http://megomuseum.com/albums/Earth-2-Batcave/Lone_Ranger_Superman.sized.jpg

It would be pretty easy for me to plunge headfirst into collecting this line. Maybe after I get all the WGSH wrapped up...

Chris