MGC (Model Gun Corporation)
http://www.newmgc.com/
http://modelgun.co.jp/
The oldest and most known modelgun manufacturer. Company was founded in 1959 as "Japan Modelgun Collection Association", changed the name to MGC in early 1980s. Initially MGC sold imported toyguns (Mattel, Hubley, Nichols) and worked on making them more realistic.
MGC was one of the first (beside Hudson) Japanese company to produce self-designed modelgun in 1962. In 1960s they have released a few unique steel-made models (MP40, Sten MkIII, Sterling). Their first employee (hired by founder and owner of MGC) and designer of most of the models was Tazuo (Tanio) Kobayashi.
In early 1960s MGC designed and manufactured modelguns that were sold under their own brands by other toygun shops, for example "INT" brand (later became Kokusai). Eventually MGC established their own brand "MGC BondShop", while other shops moved on to design and manufacture modelguns by themselves.
In late 1980s based on "Star Wars" popularity, MGC released translucent "SF" modelguns: Automag, Sig P210 and Sig Flash. They could not really be fired (quickly became opaque ;-) ), but allowed to show inner workings of models.
Over the years MGC (and Tanio Kobayashi) contributed many inventions to this hobby:
- mechanical action modelgun, using "Tanio action" or "slide action" where mechanical lever moves slide when trigger is pressed. This extremely simple design works surpisingly well.
- windup action modelgun, where M3A1 (undersized, made of steel) could be wound up first, and trigger press made bolt fly back and forth simulating full auto action.
- first working cap blowback design, with "BLK" cartridges (open type).
- improved cap blowback design with "CP-BLK", where piston helps to use more cap energy. Today this is still probably the best cartridge type when it comes to efficiency.
Apart from modelguns, MGC designed and manufactured airsoft replicas, also introducing many new mechanisms such as the first pistol with internal gas tank and blowback function.
Unfortunately company went bankrupt in 1994. According to Tanio this was caused by the President losing interest in modelguns. Production was taken over by Taito, and later Shin Nihon Mokei (SNM), you can see these brands on some of the models released at the time. Some of MGC workers moved to work at KSC.
After some time company was reactivated as New MGC, and specialized in Colt 1911 variantes. New MGC continued production until 2007, when it was closed for the second time (?).
Surprisingly, in 2009, a few models were released to celebrate 50 years of MGC foundation: Colt 1911 variants and M31 shotgun. Announcement on MGC building says that production will cease on the 30th of April 2010.
http://mp40modelguns.forumotion. ... del-gun-corporation
