Long-Lost ‘Star Wars’ Blaster From Original Trilogy Re-Emerges For Auction

Han Solo’s blaster that aided the Rebel Alliance in taking down the Empire could soon land in the hands of a worthy Jedi. 

The DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol will be sold through Rock Island Auction Company as part of its inaugural firearms sale held from August 26 to 28. The blaster that is going on sale is the actual prop wielded by Harrison Ford, and it was first seen on-screen in the 1977 Star Wars: A New Hope during a fight between Solo and Greedo on Mos Eisley. 

After filming had wrapped on A New Hope, the firearm was lost and labeled as missing by the props department. Eventually, it was replaced by two new ones for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, where it was used as Solo’s trusty weapon that often got him out of trouble. 

In a surprising twist of fate, the original pistol used in the first movie has resurfaced, and it even has a letter of authenticity to back it up. 

The DL-44 isn’t just limited to the Star Wars universe; in fact, its résumé also includes the 1967 Frank Sinatra film, Naked Runner.

To create Solo’s weapon, the props department modified a Mauser C96 broom handle pistol and put the movie’s own aesthetic to fit the character. 

The set director for A New Hope, Roger Christian, once told Esquire that he imagined Solo’s gun to look like it came straight out of a classic western. 

Its replacements from the films went on the auction block in 2018, where it gathered a total of US$550,000. Pre-auction sales for the prop are estimated to garner anywhere from US$300,000 to US$500,000. 

[via Robb Report and PR Newswire, images via various sources]