We have recently discovered a new range of collectable animals at a major department store. Not surprisingly, the figurines were exact moulds and colouring as well known animal figurine brands Schleich and CollectA. In this blog post, I want to make you aware of copy cats brands like these.

We picked up one of the horses, which we know is an exact copy of the Schleich Appaloosa Stallion. See the image above. On the left is the copied model, and on the right is the original Schleich model.

Both horses were bought brand new, and simply taken out of their packaging before this photo shoot. These copied animal figurines are usually cheaper because their quality is cheap. Have a closer look at the details of the copy. There are cracks running around the whole body and marks where the paint wasn't applied properly, or has come off. The seam lines are quite obvious and we found unfinished areas, such as the ear, which was rough and falling apart when it should be smooth and solid.

The copy measured 13.6 x 2.6 cm (LxW) compared to the original Schleich horse which is 13.8 x 2.8 cm (LxW). We believe this 2mm difference between the two suggests that the Schleich model was used to make the moulds for the copy.

Schleich figurines are made of medical grade PVC and will last a lifetime. Original Schleich figurines are also hand-painted, with their focus on attention to detail. Copy Cats have been manufactured, causing defects that are often overlooked, as we have already seen in this one model.

If you're still unsure whether a product is genuine Schleich or not, the best way to tell is by looking underneath for the Schleich stamp. Original Schleich products will have the stamp underneath as shown in the image. The top picture is the copy brand which has no stamp at all. The bottom is the obvious brand, Schleich.

So whether you were unaware of copy brands, didn't know how to tell the difference, or were just looking for the best in quality, I hope this article was helpful for both collectors and general buyers of these figurines.