The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Season 1The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Season 1 - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video GamesThe Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Season 1
The most famous weapon to come out of the series, or possibly any series, is the "UNCLE Special" issued to agents Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum). With an attachable stock, scope, and barrel extension, the pistol quickly turns into a carbine. The producers were looking for a versatile and distinctive weapon to have on their show, one that could be adapted as the plot required.
1934 Mauser Pocket Pistol
The first attempt at the UNCLE Special was based on a 1934 Mauser Pocket Pistol. It was introduced in the second episode, as the pilot had Solo carrying a Luger P08. The Mauser variant only lasted one episode however, as the pistol was too small for all of the attachments, it did not photograph well, and even worse, didn't handle blanks well. There were continuity errors throughout the second episode, as Solo switched to a Walther P38 whenever he had to fire his weapon.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWhere does Solo keep all of those accessories for his UNCLE Special? A shot of Solo's OWB accessories holster in "The Iowa-Scuba Affair" (S01E02). The pistol itself is carried in a shoulder holster.
Walther P38
As the Mauser had been unable to cycle blanks, the armorers had to borrow Walther P38s from the nearby Combat! set. A bigger pistol firing reliable 9mm blanks, the P38 was a logical replacement for the smaller, .32 caliber Mauser. Eventually, six UNCLE guns were produced at the cost of $1500 apiece, although only two of them were full upgraded, with should stock, scope, barrel extension, and even full auto. While the modifications rendered the guns incapable of firing real rounds, the full auto modification caught the attention of the Treasury department, which fined the studio $2000.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWalther P38 WWII dated with black grips - 9x19mmError creating thumbnail: File missingIllya Kuryakin with his UNCLE gun in "The Iowa-Scuba Affair" (S01E02). Although the second episode featured the Mauser-based UNCLE gun, and didn't otherwise include Illya, a short intro, which was filmed later in the season, was added to the top of each episode, which meant that Illya is the first man the audience sees wielding the Walther-based UNCLE gun.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo with his custom P38 in "The Quadripartite Affair" (S01E03). Note the barrel extension. Here, Solo has opened the breach to insert a tranquilizer round. In a goof, he takes out two guards, even though he only loaded once.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo with his custom P38 in "The Quadripartite Affair" (S01E03). Note the muzzle brake and custom grips.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIllya draws his custom P38 in "The Shark Affair" (S01E04). Note the muzzle brake.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIllya draws his custom P38 in the very next scene in "The Shark Affair" (S01E04). Note the missing muzzle brake.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo assembles his UNCLE special in "The Deadly Games Affair" (S01E05). It had already been partially assembled in that briefcase next to him.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo fires his UNCLE special in "The Deadly Games Affair" (S01E05). Note how he still fires it like a pistol, despite the shoulder stock.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo with his now-empty UNCLE special in "The Deadly Games Affair" (S01E05).Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo and Illya with their pistols drawn in "The Green Opal Affair" (S01E06).Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo points his UNCLE special at Walter B. Brach (Carroll O'Connor) in "The Green Opal Affair" (S01E06).Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn UNCLE agent, credited simply as "Mr. Smith" (Gordon Gilbert) is armed with the UNCLE carbine in "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (S01E07). He actually fires it full auto at one point.Error creating thumbnail: File missingHarold Bufferton (John Van Dreelen) takes Solo's sidearm in "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (S01E07).Error creating thumbnail: File missingIlya with his UNCLE carbine in "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (S01E07).Error creating thumbnail: File missingSolo's UNCLE special in "The Finny Foot Affair" (S01E10). Note the scope mount on the grip panel.
Trivia
Each of the UNCLE specials bears the last initial of its owner.
Napoleon Solo's handgun in the pilot, prior to the introduction of the UNCLE specials, was a Luger P08. It is seen in the hands of various characters throughout the season.
A snub-nosed, nickel-plated Iver Johnson Revolver is seen in Gracie Ladovan's (Victoria Shaw) handbag in "The Vulcan Affair" (S01E01). Angelique (Janine Gray) has a blued revolver in "The Deadly Games Affair" (S01E05).
Laslo Kurasov (Werner Klemperer) pulls out a nickel-plated Baby Browning in "The Project Strigas Affair" (S01E09). Tomo (Tura Satana) uses one in "The Finny Foot Affair" (S01E10). Ernestine Pepper (Diana Millay) threatens Solo with one before Solo takes it away in "The King of Knaves Affair" (S01E13).
Foreign guards are armed with G.98/40 rifles in "The Dove Affair" (S01E12). The name of the country is never mentioned, only that it is in the Balkans.
Fasik el Pasad (Paul Stevens) tosses Solo, posing as an arms dealer, a modified Mauser Gewehr 1888 to test his knowledge in "The King of Knaves Affair" (S01E13). Solo identifies it as a "Brussels Vengeance rifle, manufactured by the Belgians, under duress, for Hitler", which appears to be the correct answer.
Harold Bufferton (John Van Dreelen) fires a Federal Gas Riot Gun mocked up as some sort of rocket launcher from a helicopter in "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (S01E07). UNCLE agents use unmodified gas guns for their intended purpose in "The King of Knaves Affair" (S01E13).
Illya is menaced by missile firing THRUSH Robot Commandos in "The Double Affair" (S01E08). The Robot Commando was a 1961 toy that fired plastic missiles from its head.
Stunt M1 Garand rifles are seen in the hands of guards in "The Dove Affair" (S01E12). Since they are being kicked off a train, rubber stunt rifles replaced the G.98/40s they had earlier in the episode.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn enemy agent takes aim with his "revolver" as "Illya" (stuntman Fred Waugh) tackles him in "The King of Knaves Affair" (S01E13).
