So this question has been rattling around the old brain for a while now. Can't seem to find anyone with inside knowledge as to WHY there were different numbers inside the Alley Viper version 1 shields (which now rolls over to the latest 25th/RoC/PoC/Retaliation figures), and what they mean... so the question is posited here for y'all to speculate and comment upon.

At first thought, maybe it was a regional code type of thing? Since only seeing 8 as a base number as a small child, it kinda made some sense to think "all four map directions for the US (North = 1, East = 2, etc.), 5 is Canada, 6 is Mexico, 7 is the UK areas and 8 is Australia. But maybe that train of thought is skewed.

Perhaps it was production runs? But how could a first year, just recently released brand new version 1 figure have an 8th production run?

Mentioning the newer figures: the only number they have, as far as is known, is 1. Are there more numbers out there to be found? Because if an 8 is floating out there, a PM would be appreciated for a trade or purchase. =)

It's a been a real head scratcher and here's hoping for a real answer. Mysterious Stranger, you're being looked at for a bit of help here since ya seem more "connected" to some Hasbro peeps... lol

# 8.

Why by Jeeves, I've never noticed that. Interesting tidbit there!

_________________

Probably tooling numbers. Several Star Wars Accessories had visible numbers on them that were attributed to whichever tooling they came from by Hasbro in the old Q&A sessions they used to do with the fan sites.

The accessory in the question was the pike that came the unfrozen Carkoon Han Solo figure. They were being found numbered 1-9. Hasbro said they were the number of the tool they came from as they have multiple tools for the production of each character/accessory/etc.

I would imagine the same holds true for the Alley Viper shield numbers.

_________________

That's... actually an option that was never even thought of back then or even up to recently. D'oh! >_<' Feel like such a shlemiel now. Thanks for the clarification, Spectre!

Other question still stands, though: are there more numbers besides 1 on the newer versions that hold the batons in 'em?

If you check out many of the accessories from multiple years, you will find this, and not only with action figures, but many many toys.

It allows for Q/A to determine bad molds if defects start to show up. If alley viper shield 6 was constantly having the handle not form right, they could do something to keep those from hitting the packaging line, or even block the inlet port for the plastic for that mold slot to keep it from producing altogether. If repairable, they could pull the entire single mold which might have all 9 slots on it, repair the one and put it back into production, or just call it a day and only have 8 producing slots.

JOhn M.