The Man from UNCLE

A friend recently was VERY lucky to have come across this EBay find. The auction was for not only two of the rare MGC (Model Gun Company) all metal replicas of the UNCLE P-38 but it's accessories AND an MGC browning 1910. Total cost: $75.00. I know...I hate him too!!!
                                                                                                                                 
Only problem was that whomever previously owned these 'Beat them to death'

I was commissioned to restore them back to, as close as possible, their original condition.  

The top photo is from the original EBay listing.
Notice that the grips are completely encapsulated with black electrical tape. That is the only thing holding them together.

More photo will follow as I continue the restoration.  ---Ed

You'll see a lot of chipping and cracks on the grips. When the tape was removed they literally fell apart.

Left hand view of pistols 'A' (Left) and 'B' (Right) show the condition of the grips.

Pistol 'A' has 1/4 of the grip cracked off. There were some loose parts I later found that allowed me to, at least, glue parts back on.

Pistol 'B' grip was broken in half and the previous owner glued it back incorrectly as you can see how the bottom of the grip doesn't line up to the curve of the pistol. He also must have used a soldering gun and tried to melt the two halves back together.

Notice the 2nd & 3rd photos that the top upper left side of the grip is missing and being held on by the black electrical tape.

Top photo shows you a close-up of the condition of Pistol 'B.' The takedown lever was cracked in half then glued in place. It also had several surface cracks. Because it was glued, I had to hammer the barrel out then file it down so it could slide back on smoothly.

Pistol 'B' was completely taken apart and each of the parts were cleaned then sanded.

Notice that the spring at the bottom of the photo is not the original. It looks homemade by the previous owner.

Notice the takedown lever is cracked in two.

Photo shows pistol 'A' fully sanded. Pistol 'B' above has received its first coat of paint.

Pistol 'B' with first coat. The grip was also re-glued and sanded.

Bottom photo shows original condition of the pistol magazine. Above shows it fully disassembled and sanded.

Pistol 'A' fully sanded and with first coat of paint alongside both the standard and extended magazine which have been restored.

Bottom is original condition. Above shows the magazine re-assembled after being sanded and painted.

The original condition of the scope and scope mount.
I completely disassembled all the parts prior to sanding.

Both the scope and mount now sanded.
I re-assembled it and gave it the first coat of paint.

Original condition of the 'Birdcage' flash suppressor on top and a sanded version below.
The interior of the 'Birdcage' was not in the greatest of shape.
Bottom photo shows he exterior sanded but prior to the interior being cleaned.

Both of the 'Birdcage' flash suppressors now sanded and the interior of both cleaned. Here with first coat of paint.

Shoulder stock in original condition. Previous owner was using the scope retention screw as the tightening screw on the stock and the screw for the stock as the scope retention screw.

This is amazing work!!

Now disassembled and sanded.

Shoulder stock now sanded and with first coat of paint. The tightening nut placement is now correct.

Test fit of the shoulder stock.
Notice the correct thumbscrew is now being used for the scope mount retention.
This grip is now sanded smooth and the grip screw now correctly placed.

The extended barrel and grip in its original condition. Notice that the grip is only being held on with black electrical tape.
Badly glued surface had to be sanded smooth, Also, the end of the extended barrel originally had a piece that slides into the pistol barrel. It was broken off.

Extended barrel is now sanded.

I had to create an adapter and fabricate a new part to fit into the pistol barrel.

Bottom photo shows the extended barrel, now with new parts, in place so it can fit to pistol barrel.
Both grips sanded and properly glued in place and with first coat of paint.

Slot in the new part of the extended barrel allows it to slide past the internal barrel blocks inside.

Pistol 'A' above and Pistol 'B' below.

Pistol 'A' grips had to be re-broken so it could be re-glued back properly. I used a Dremel to remove all the burnt parts. This also shows that there are still missing sections.

Pistol 'B' grip had to be re-assembled like a jigsaw puzzle. Again, missing sections that need to be repaired.

Both of these grips were in the worst condition you can imagine. They literally crumbled into pieces as I was working to restore them.

If you refer back to photo #1 you'll see that the only thing holding the grips unto the gun was several wrappings of black electrical tape.

Missing sections now being filled with Milliput.

Reinforced areas around the grip screws had to be created to hold them in place. You can see the melted plastic from the previous owners attempt to melt the parts back together.






Stay tuned as I continue to attempt to bring them back to, at least, nice condition.
'Channel D...out"
--Ed

That is some serious and excellent restoration work, i know its not finished but hell thats good work. i would of totally given up on those grips, just shows what you can do with determination, imagination and of course loads of skill.