No one knows for sure when Nardi started producing composition toy soldiers. The figures found today are from the early 1950's through the early 1960's. Nardi issued both 10cm and the more common 7 cm figures. The company is most noted for it's Western Series but also produced American Civil War, African Natives, Crusaders, Romans, Foreign Legion , English Guards and others. Nardi is also noted for the first use of plastic swoppet style figures that were later copied by Britains and Timpo among others. The company produced an extensive line of plastic figures until it's demise in the 1970's.
10cm Nardi Crusader Knight circa 1950's
Base from figure above
Click Here to View more Nardi Crusaders
Click Here to View Nardi Western Figures
Click Here to View Nardi American Civil War Figures
For Reference: "Italian Toy Soldiers: Composition and Plastic Production from 1930 to 1970 " by Edizioni Lazzaro published in 1994.
Available for purchase on our Toy Soldier Books page.