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Star Wars (1977): Difference between revisions
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One of the weapons utilized by the Rebels in the films is the "BlasTech DH-17 blaster pistol". These blasters are first seen in ''A New Hope'' used by Rebel troops against Stormtroopers on the blockade runner ''Tantive IV'' and are later seen being carried by guards and officers on the Death Star. These were nonfunctional props with the receiver and pistol grip based on casts from a Sterling SMG (hence the larger trigger guards) and a (back then) distinctive looking Singlepoint OEG (Occluded Eye Gunsight) attached. Consequently, the muzzle flashes were added in post-production. There is an interesting continuity error where a couple of Imperial guards start off carrying this weapon but then switch to the E-11, firing it one handed like a pistol no less. This is perhaps because they looked similar enough and blanks provided a better reference point for adding blaster effects later. | One of the weapons utilized by the Rebels in the films is the "BlasTech DH-17 blaster pistol". These blasters are first seen in ''A New Hope'' used by Rebel troops against Stormtroopers on the blockade runner ''Tantive IV'' and are later seen being carried by guards and officers on the Death Star. These were nonfunctional props with the receiver and pistol grip based on casts from a Sterling SMG (hence the larger trigger guards) and a (back then) distinctive looking Singlepoint OEG (Occluded Eye Gunsight) attached. Consequently, the muzzle flashes were added in post-production. There is an interesting continuity error where a couple of Imperial guards start off carrying this weapon but then switch to the E-11, firing it one handed like a pistol no less. This is perhaps because they looked similar enough and blanks provided a better reference point for adding blaster effects later. | ||
[[Image:ANH DH-17.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Stunt prop of the BlasTech DH-17 Blaster Pistol from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise. This particular prop is from the 1977 film '' | [[Image:ANH DH-17.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Stunt prop of the BlasTech DH-17 Blaster Pistol from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise. This particular prop is from the 1977 film ''Star Wars''.]] | ||
[[Image:SterlingSMG.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Original Sterling L2A3 - 9x19mm]] | [[Image:SterlingSMG.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Original Sterling L2A3 - 9x19mm]] | ||
[[Image:StarWars-DH-171.jpg|thumb|none|600px|In ''A New Hope'', Rebel soldiers with BlasTech DH-17s. Note the Singlepoint OEG attached to the weapon.]] | [[Image:StarWars-DH-171.jpg|thumb|none|600px|In ''A New Hope'', Rebel soldiers with BlasTech DH-17s. Note the Singlepoint OEG attached to the weapon.]] | ||
Revision as of 12:30, 4 July 2020
Star Wars (retroactively titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. The movie is the first work of the Star Wars film series, and would spawn two direct sequels: 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi. These three films form the "Original Trilogy" of Star Wars.
The following lists the weapons used in Star Wars:
Blaster Pistols
DDC Defender Blaster Pistol (Vostok Margolin .22LR target pistol)
In the early scenes of A New Hope, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) can be seen with a "Drearian Defense Conglomerate Defender sporting blaster pistol". The pistol is actually a Vostok Margolin .22LR target pistol, with some muzzle attachment fitted, selected for its diminutive size, keeping the prop gun from looking too bulky and unwieldy in Fisher's petite hands. Luke also briefly carries the Defender during the ceremony at the end of A New Hope.
BlasTech DH-17 Blaster Pistol
One of the weapons utilized by the Rebels in the films is the "BlasTech DH-17 blaster pistol". These blasters are first seen in A New Hope used by Rebel troops against Stormtroopers on the blockade runner Tantive IV and are later seen being carried by guards and officers on the Death Star. These were nonfunctional props with the receiver and pistol grip based on casts from a Sterling SMG (hence the larger trigger guards) and a (back then) distinctive looking Singlepoint OEG (Occluded Eye Gunsight) attached. Consequently, the muzzle flashes were added in post-production. There is an interesting continuity error where a couple of Imperial guards start off carrying this weapon but then switch to the E-11, firing it one handed like a pistol no less. This is perhaps because they looked similar enough and blanks provided a better reference point for adding blaster effects later.
BlasTech SE-14C Blaster Pistol (Rexim-Favor Mk5)
The "BlasTech SE-14C blaster pistol" is carried by Dr. Evazan in A New Hope, who draws his weapon after provoking a fight with Luke Skywalker at the Mos Eisley cantina. It was built from a Swiss Rexim-Favor Mk5 submachine gun with the stock, barrel, and magazine removed and two ASI 4x20 scopes attached. A similar weapon, the "BlasTech SE-14r light repeating blaster" is also seen being wielded by Stormtroopers in publicity photos for A New Hope, but does not actually appear in the films.
DL-21 Blaster Pistol (Armalite AR-7)
The "DL-21 Blaster Pistol" is a chopped down Armalite AR-7 in pistol form with the tail section from a British 2 inch mortar shell fitted to the muzzle. The DL-21 was carried by Ponda Baba at the Mos Eisley cantina in A New Hope. However it is not certain if it actually appears in the film, as the only clear shot of the weapon was when it was shown in Ponda Baba's severed hand and George Lucas did not like the original hoof-like appearance of the appendage in question so the scene was reshot with a werewolf-like hand instead holding the SE-14C listed above. In this first appearance the pistol lacked a true grip instead having a simple rubberised tube, possibly a bicycle handle grip, and was fitted with a telescopic scope.
BlasTech DT-12 Heavy Blaster Pistol (Ruger Mk I)
In A New Hope, Greedo carries a BlasTech DT-12 during his confrontation with Han Solo where he may or may not have failed to shoot first. The pistol is a Ruger Mk I modified with a short barrel, finned flash hider, slightly modified grips, and several apparently targeting-related devices.
BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol (Mauser C96)
The "BlasTech DL-44 heavy blaster pistol" is the iconic sidearm of Han Solo (Harrison Ford). The weapon is also sometimes in the hands of other Rebels. The DL-44 blaster pistol prop was built from a Mauser C96 handgun with a custom bull barrel (it is unclear if this was a real heavy barrel or just a sleeve on a regular barrel), an added right-side mounted scope and a muzzle cone taken from either an MG81 machine gun, an M3 "Grease Gun", or a fire extinguisher depending on the film. The extra parts (known as "greeblies" and mostly consisting of model airplane parts) are obviously added on to the exterior, though the distinct "broomhandle" grips are still wooden.
A blaster built on an MGC replica is used in the closeup of Han drawing his pistol to shoot Greedo in Mos Eisley in A New Hope, since all the firing versions were held by Bapty & Co in England while this additional footage was filmed in Hollywood.
The live-fire C96 used in A New Hope was previously used by Frank Sinatra in The Naked Runner, where it also had a scope mounted to it, although the lower body was replaced. The scope and mount actually used in Star Wars were previously used in Sitting Target, where it was mounted to a Mauser M712 Schnellfeuer machine pistol: the mount in Star Wars was attached to a custom bracket on the right-hand side of the pistol rather than mounting on the left as in Sitting Target.
The scope mounted on the gun actually changes depending on the film: in A New Hope it is a Hensoldt Wetzlar Dialyt 3x scope in its original mounting, a WWI-era German sniper rifle scope. In Empire Strikes Back this is changed to a 1942-issue M19 brass azimuth-finding telescope sight (or M32, though M19 is identified as more likely by collectors), a device used by the M4 Sherman tank, with a custom scope mount, while in Return of the Jedi it was a modified version of the same scope. The replica built for the scene where Han shoots Greedo used a Japanese Compac Super 4x31 hunting scope and an M3 Grease Gun conical flash hider, though no flash hider was actually fitted during filming, presumably to make it easier to draw the blaster from its holster.
Blaster Rifles
BlasTech E-11 Blaster Rifle (Sterling L2A3)
The "BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle" is the standard issue blaster rifle of the Imperial Stormtroopers. The E-11 props were built from the British-made Sterling L2A3 submachine gun (provided by Bapty & Co.) equipped with Sherman tank gunsights. Numerous main characters, including Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) use the weapon. Some details differ between the three movies, most notably the method of scope attachment and battery pack beside it (or lack thereof).
A revealing mistake is that spent cartridge cases can be seen ejecting from this "blaster" rifle. It is most noticeable in the bridge swing scene of A New Hope and when Lando is firing at Stormtroopers in The Empire Strikes Back. In Return of the Jedi the hero props were built from MGC Sterling replicas, explaining why there were no blanks used as in the previous two films.
BlasTech DLT-19 Heavy Blaster Rifle (MG34)
The "BlasTech DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle" is the standard issue heavy blaster of the Imperial Stormtroopers. The DLT-19s were nothing more than World War II German MG34 general purpose machine guns painted solid black with added "rails" on the barrel shroud (like the E-11): these were just metal drawer runners that Bapty & Co purchased from a nearby B&Q hardware store.
BlasTech T-21 Light Repeating Blaster (Lewis Gun)
The "BlasTech T-21 light repeating blaster" seen carried by the Sandtrooper Officer in A New Hope is a British Lewis light machine gun with its drum magazine removed and other minor cosmetic alterations.
RT-97C Heavy Blaster Rifle (MG15)
Imperial Sandtroopers can be seen carrying "RT-97C heavy blaster rifles" while on patrol on Tatooine in A New Hope. The RT-97C prop is in fact a modified German MG15 machine gun. Notably, until the release of Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection in 2008, the weapon did not have an official designation, and had been simply referred to as the "MG-15" by fans. The name references Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas, the artists of the blueprints, and the year they first met - R(eiff)T(revas)-(19)97C(hris).
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Ion Blaster (Cut-down Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII)
The "ion blaster" utilized by the Jawas who shoot R2-D2 in A New Hope were built from a cut-down British Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII* series bolt-action rifle with a No.1 Mk.I Cup Discharger grenade launcher attached to the shortened barrel. Due to the fact that the shortened rifle lacks the nosecap to which the grenade launcher normally mounts, the redundant clamping mechanism has been removed and instead the launcher is attached directly to the barrel.
