LEGO Western

This imaage of an unreleased Wild West shows the mold of what appears to be a buffalo/bison animal minifigure

## Product Information

### Year(s)

1997

Only one prototype set was made for LEGO's Western theme that never got released and while there isn't much to write home about, it did have at least one piece that would never be used in any other set/theme after that point.

## **Summarry**

Also known as Wild West, Western was a LEGO System theme that was set in the Old West in the second half of the 19th century and featured cowboys, outlaws, cavalry soldiers and native Americans. It was the first minifigure-compatible Wild West-styled LEGO theme, though there was also 620 Wild West Scene and 617 Cowboys from 1975. The first sets released in 1996 focused on the aspect of sheriffs fighting against outlaws as well as the military presence in the old west and less on civilian life. THe few sets that featured town-life served more as a backdrop for the gang of bandits robbing carriages or banks. The town, called Gold City, consisted only of the Sheriff station as well as a bank and a general store (6765 Gold City Junction). The bandits took refuge at an abandoned mine outside the city. Another important element of the theme was the cavalry, based at Fort LEGOREDO. In the second and last year of the theme, 1997, Indianas became a major part of Western. Most of the sets included teepee's, including their main settlement, Rapid River Village. None of the sets including Indians featured other types of Western Minifigures. Three Western sets would be re-released in 2002. There were two Audio Dramas released for the theme, titled "LEGO: Steckbrief für den Kopfgeldjäger" and "LEGO: Der Falsche General." At the moment these have not been translated.

Western was the first theme that introduced realistic fire arms (revolvers and rifles) that could also be found in the real world of today, while Pirates only featured antique weapons like muskets and flintlock pistols. It was also the first theme to introduce racial characteristics for minifigures. That being the printed head pieces for the Indians.The Bandannas used for the cavalry soldiers and the bandits were another of the new pieces that were seen again in various later sets, as were the large barrels. The gold bugle, another new piece appeared in sets of the Western theme, and later Time Cruisers, Soccer and My Own Creation themed sets. Rare pieces that did not appear elsewhere include the teepees, the hollow tree stumps, and various accessories for the Indians including: the chief and medicine man headdresses, hair pieces, and the feathers with black tips.

## '*Cancelled Prototype*

Not much information can be found about this mysterious set, including what number it was or what name it had,  though one set that was featured in some sort of magazine or toy catalog had what appeared to be a river made of LEGO bricks, cactus plants, fur trappers and Indians on a black and white horse respectively, and two trains running on a railroad bridge. There's honestly not too much to say about this as most of the stuff in the image you could find in other Western sets or LEGO themes, though the only reason this is even worth talking about on this page is that if you look to the right, you can see two prototype molds of what appears to be an American buffalo/bison: an animal that has to be represented by a LEGO minifigure to this day.

## **Final Verdict**

There's no real reason as to why the Western train set never got released, though it may have been due to either the theme being retired or the set being too expensive to produce. Either way, the buffalo prototype has not been since the 1990's and will remain: **LOST**.

## **External Link**

* jodawill. (2018, January 16). Unreleased Wild West saloon set?

## **References**

1. ↑ https://brickipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Western#Description
2. ↑ https://brickipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Prototype