GI Joe Classified Nerf gun reference list

[Blazezard]

So a lot of GI Joe Classified guns are actually down scaled versions of Nerf gun, so I decided to put this little list together for reference, specially since I might use them for reference when painting the guns as colour maps, chief among them and most known is the Cobra Island Cobra Trooper.

The Sniper corresponds to a Nerf LongStrike CS-6 - This gun is also found on the Retro Baroness release.
The pistol is a Nerf Vortex Proton Blaster.
The rifle is a N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike - This gun is also found on the Retro Baroness & Cobra infantry release.

I'll update this thread shortly, but feel free to provide your own contributions.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

This is hilarious and I hope it continues. This is exactly the sort of thing GI Joe needs to be doing.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Out of curiosity, would they now need to license the old guns they used to come with?

 

[CoffeeHorse]

In most cases, probably not.

There's a reason most gun companies out there sell an AR-15 but call it "FU-15" or whatever. Colt still owns the AR-15 trademark, but the design itself is totally fair game at this point. So just call it something else and you're good.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

In most cases, probably not.

There's a reason most gun companies out there sell an AR-15 but call it "FU-15" or whatever. Colt still owns the AR-15 trademark, but the design itself is totally fair game at this point. So just call it something else and you're good.

I think it depends. The same reason Hasbro has made things like a “pseudo-Corvette” for Tracks in Kingdom. They can’t be a full on reproduction, but they get can still “get the idea” across. I think the same thing is true of gun designs, which is why I think GI Joe, in particular, skews towards made up stuff that “evokes” certain real world designs. I think in most cases, toy makers “tweak” the designs enough to avoid any trademark issues.

All that said, I wish GI Joe would continue to stick with adapting Nerf designs to the toys. GI Joe should be FUN and I think basing weapons on Hasbro’s catalog of Nerf designs feeds into that idea of “fun” and I think helps keep a layer of “fantasy” the GI Joe brand really needs. As is, the nature of Nerf has lead to some really neat weapon designs that are totally “functional” with a touch of fantasy.