Grading Loose Vintage 3 3/4 Inch GI Joe and Cobra Action Figures

Collecting this vintage toyline is a wonderful, inexpensive hobby as well as an easy investment!

First of all, I am a fellow, avid collector! My collection is constantly growing and changing featuring only the 3 3/4 inch from 1982-1993. I also assemble collections for other people, hand-picking the best figures from  many lots to make a complete Series Collection.
All that said.....I have seen and handled many thousands of these figures, loose and on the card. So it is with a Collector's Eye that I grade my figures, knowing what folks are looking for in condition and details. I've sold thousands of these figures on eBay over the years and my grading scale always seems to please customers...

So, Buyers and Seller have fun...it's worked for me! onecoolcobra Items for Sale

LOOSE FIGURES:  HOW MY PERSONAL C1-C10 GRADING SCALE WORKS

A lot of people use a c1 through c10 grading scale. There is certainly no set standard or book that dictates any of this.....for any Seller.....it is dependant on the specific person. However, a 1-10 scale is an easy method to communicate the condition of the piece. Here's how my own grading scale works:

c10- DEAD MINT- Absolutely perfect, as if it just came off a perfect card. No flaws whatsoever in paint or limb condition. These don't come up too often! I know what most of these figures look like on a card, so I will grade figures as c10 when they deserve it!

c9.5- MINT- Trace wear, extremely faint wear, perhaps a single, extremely small scratch or very small rub to the paint. This trace wear is the kind of thing that could happen while a figure is still inside a bubble....from banging around a bit during shipment. Still mint, as if it just came off a card.

c9- NearMint- Very minor wear: This is for a few small scratches, paint rub, minor wear to the front of boots or glove tips, etc. Perfect logos, if any, still very glossy. Very nice, very collectable figures! Perfect on display

c8.5- minor wear: This grade is for a figure with some overall minor wear OR a figure with mint or mearmint paint and perhaps one craked elbow. Perhaps a scratch across a logo. A very nice figure but be sure to know it will have some minor flaws

c8- minor overall wear- This is for a figure with some minor wear overall, perhaps slightly loose limbs or a figure with nearmint paint but craked elbows. Some wear to any logos will be minor. Some noticeable wear on display. Overall these figures are in excellent condition. Unless the figure is super-rare I generally do not sell SINGLE FIGURES of less quality than c8. This grade is still in collectable condition for a serious, adult collector.

c7.5- Average Playwear: a fair amount of scratches, paint wear/rubbing, slightly loose joints, fading or yellowing

c7- Playworn - more than average playwear, a lot of paint loss, heavy fading, loose joints etc

BELOW c7- Good for parts or kids toys!

Along with the grade and description I ALWAYS take high quality photos of THE EXACT FIGURE BEING SOLD.

All figures are shipped in a FREE 4x6in POLYBAG: This is a 4inch by 6 inch plastic, zip lock bag. It is clear on one side and has a write-on white surface on the other. The perfect size for a figure, filecard and accessories! Not only can you store your figures in these....with a cheap cork-board and some pushpins ...you can display them too!

Please feel free to ask any questions any time!

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