Never trust what you see on film--it's always misleading.
We have had access to actual screen-used stunt castings, and the tip of the "laser pointer" is square. Look closely at the screen captures in the previous posts and you'll notice that there are no sharp edges on the gun. The graininess of the film is causing the clear acrylic tip to look like a rounded LED. It is not. Trust me all ye skeptical ones.
Phil
My opinion it is black. There is absolutly a black plate insert in the butt. You can see the silver around this plate. If it were a lighting issue the entire butt would be in one of the colors...not the two tones (silver around black plate)
My opinion
Dean
Scott,
Nice example of what a reflective surface will do under even relatively low light.
Everyone,
Even though the buttplate of the hero blaster in Blade Runner was probably satin-finished, it will still cause reflections very similar to a chromed finish under very bright lights. As a matter of fact, the shadow cast will be rather flat...hey, like the black buttplate shadow in the press stills above...
Phil
Dean,
The silver ring around the base is a bevel. It's reflecting light differently than the vertical sides and slightly concave buttplate base.
The stunt blasters that have been examined show no insert into the buttplate. It's one solid piece of aluminum.
Am I going to have to call Ridley Scott and ask him to pull out the blaster to photograph? Will that settle everything once and for all? Wait a minute, where's my Rolodex...
Phil
So it Ridley Scott who has the blaster? Dammit!
Phil, as you know stunts (you have seen them How I wish I HAD!) and hero had a different butt plate, so this argument
Phil, to have that photos would be TOO good to be true(and I believe you could do it if you wanted to, but getting him on the phone that would be hardest...). After all what do he wants the blaster for? I'm sure he can hardly even remember he made Blade runner... [img]images/smiles//icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Sergio
Actually, if Ridley has the blaster, I'm quite certain he won't want the British authorities to know about it. He would clearly be in violation of the complete gun ban in the UK.
Based on my understanding of British gun laws, the blaster should have been turned in for destruction.
Phil
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Based on my understanding of British gun laws, the blaster should have been turned in for destruction.
Phil
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No possible exceptions made due to historical value?
Of course there must be exceptions, but after going through what kind of bureaucratic machinations?
Phil
Phil,
I'm not completely familiar with the law. When did it come into effect? I ask because if it was recent you'd think the bureaucracy might be pushed aside due to Ridley's now considerable celebrity status.
Any Brit will remember the Dunblane Massacre. That's what led to a total ban on guns in the UK. Since then, overall gun crime has risen 35%.
But there's no need to get into a gun-control discussion here.
I will say one thing: Gun control is imposed by countries that don't trust their citizenry. The right to own a firearm is an implicit and symbolic act of trust by the government. Gun control is a condescending form of regulation that assumes that the people of a country are guilty before being proven innocent. It also implies that a government is insecure about its potential accountability to its citizens.
Phil
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philippes wrote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS=$row_color>
Any Brit will remember the Dunblane Massacre. That's what led to a total ban on guns in the UK. Since then, overall gun crime has risen 35%.
But there's no need to get into a gun-control discussion here.
I will say one thing: Gun control is imposed by countries that don't trust their citizenry. The right to own a firearm is an implicit and symbolic act of trust by the government. Gun control is a condescending form of regulation that assumes that the people of a country are guilty before being proven innocent. It also implies that a government is insecure about its potential accountability to its citizens.
Phil
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Phil,
I agree with you completely on both counts (gun control and gun discussion). All I really meant was the fact that a blind eye may have been turned in regards to Ridley as so often happens when the law and celebrities are concerned.
Technically, no one knows for sure whether or not Ridley has the gun. He's just supposedly the last one who had access to it.
Consequently, since the gun supposedly came into the UK in the early 1980s, why not let sleeping dogs lie.
The gun will probaly only surface the day Ridley Scott dies. And maybe not even then.
Phil
Could the black part be some sort of plate that was added to the base at some point? They make that sort of thing for revolver grip bases, either for decoration or protection, you see those on Police revolvers. The black part does look slightly raised to me, so it could be a plastic or rubber piece made for a revolver. You can also see a square between the two screws.
David.
OH
MY
GOD!
I can't believe you guys...Phil and Richard have worked harder on this project than any 10 of you have ever worked on any prop in your life, and all you can do is sit here and say that he's full of it. Call it debate, call it whatever, but some of you don't quite get that Phil might just be right. I've had several discussions with Phil about lots of this stuff, and I've come to one conclusion: PHIL IS THE MAN. There is nothing about the BR Blaster that either he or Richard don't know. I mean, they've talked to the guys who built it, who did the stunt casting, who SOLD THEM THE GUNS! I mean, come on...enough's enough. I'm sure Phil's getting tired of having to write post after post, defending his research. I don't know, maybe all of you that don't get it are newbies, and you just don't know what you're talking about. There are times in life where you just look at the info given you by a PROFESSIONAL in the field, and say, "you're right...you da man", and take it.
It's like when my ex-wife used to argue with me about basic theories of time travel and such...she was an english major, and never bothered studying SQUAT about astrophysics, much less quantum mechanics, like I did. But did that stop her? No. She'd say I wasn't a professor in the field, so that meant I knew nothing. She'd tell me that I didn't know what I was talking about, even though I spent a good chunk of my life studying that stuff. What does this story mean? I don't know. I guess I just plain don't like my ex wife. lol.
Leave Phil alone! He's the Man! Nibb High Rules!
See...THIS is why I don't post anymore. [img]images/smiles//icon_wink.gif[/img]
-E
Actually, Phil, guns were banned in Britain against the popular desires of the rich/establishment. The only significant gun culture at that time was the providence of hunters and farmers, both of whom are significantly associated to the wealthy/Tory/establishment sections of British society.
You rightly quote the Dunblane massacre as significant in the UK gun ban. The UK is famous for the power of the tabloid press on public opinion, and in turn for their exploitation of 'the masses' by the creation of righteous moral panics. After Dunblane, massive public opinion turned in the direction of totally banning guns, stirred up by hystrical tabloid reporting. The ban was largely an appeasement by the government of a populace who simply couldn't understand why guns should be legally available to 'allow' this kind of tragedy to occur.
While I don't have current guncrime statistics at my fingertips, it is becoming very tiring listening to proponents of gun cultures like your own trying to apply it to a culture that is not like your own. Americans seem to get very snotty about countries who have banned guns. Get over it.
Well Docking Bay 93, I think that here we all have the right to be proven we are right or wrong. Of course I know Phil before I knew this forum (not in person but his site and articles) so I'm sure he knows what he talks about and I never talk lightly about nothing, specially with this proffesionals around. But mening I'm almost new to this forum (or at least writing here) doesn't mean I have to be inexpert or lightly worded. All the observations I made are result of getting my eyes red watching photos and videos. I know odf course -as Phil said- that details that you get from film or photos can be misleading. I like to participate because I'm sure everyone treats everyone with the respect and equity we deserve.
Of couse I never had access to a real stunt but I've looking details in this film from 10 years,and I had the Hobby Japan EX mag from Winter 94 where I fist read the gun was based in the Steyr and a revolver (they had the wrong gun there- a Smith&Wesson). I don't know where those guys got their info from but they had most of the details correc (laser pointer, revolver drum covers and screw placement..), plus I had the OZ version (I thought it was a great kit then!) So I'm kind of no new to this item.
I think Rich and Phil made the finest work of research on this prop, you don't know how happy and excited I was when I first saw Phil's site on the weapon! That site is one of my ever favourites, I can't be enough grateful to them for sharing all that info!
I'm only trying to get a confirmation trough consensus of some minor details I think have been incorrectly interpreted. I can always be wrong of course, I just want solid proofs that can convince of it.
Sergio
Simon,
You'll find this report interesting:
http://www.parliament.the-stationery.../95/95ap69.htm
Our laws and Constitution are direct descendants of British Common Law. Consequently, I pay very close attention to what happens in England.
Although there are marked differences between our cultures, there are also tremendous similarities.
What the United Kingdom does in regards to gun regulation is up to them. Unfortunately, in this country, where our basic individual right to own firearms (inspired by British Common Law) is regularly assaulted, the modern British example of gun control is regularly touted.
I guess you're trying to say that even with strict gun control laws the UK has remained a vibrant democracy. Well, that's true, but would you say you're as free today as you were 50 years ago, 100 years ago? How free will you be 100 years from now?
Firearm ownership rights are simply an example of one of the first and easiest rights to take away from the people. It's downhill from there.
By the way, I have both American and European (French) citizenship. Therefore, I think I'm pretty well qualified to understand and compare the differences and similarities between our two cultures.
In the end, I'm not trying to insult the UK's majority position on guns; I'm trying to understand it.
Phil
I usually don't post much but I felt like I could contribute.
Ok, here's my story.
Back in 1984 I went with my brother out to Hollywood to get some posters for his room. There were several around the time on Hollywood and I believe the one on Hollywood and Vine is still there. The one we stopped at (forgot name, anyone?)was a bit further down towards the Chinese theater. ANYWAY, we stopped inside and went towards the back. They had a large selection of movie lobby cards and press photos. Being a fan of Blade Runner I asked them what they had...a few posters, photos etc. The guy behind the counter asked if I wanted to see the "slides". I could pick out any I wanted, pay the printing fee, and pick up my prints a week later. Well, I picked out a boatload of very cool pics and many that had Deckard and his gun. Some were the ones I've seen posted here, magazines, books...but others I've not seen since. Of course I'm at odds with my folks (the pics are in their attic) so it might be awhile till I find them. But, from all the hero gun pics I've seen I would say that there is something glossy black attached underneath. It appeared to be very thin and I couldn't tell if it was paint...or an added piece. The photos that appeared to be of the stunt (I have one also) had a silver bottom.
Phil, I will try to get these photos scanned (if I get them back) and send them off to you first. Your research on this piece has always impressed me. You know I'm a believer in your work but I wanted to throw out what I know today. [img]images/smiles//icon_cheers.gif[/img]
Docking Bay 93, it's OK. We're all just looking at photos here. If you have the gun, I'm sure we'll all shut up. It just takes some of us that also "know somethin" a bit of time to get off our asses and contribute.
Personally however, I like the all-silver butt. The blaster of course. [img]images/smiles//icon_smile.gif[/img]
Dave
Oh, and back on topic:
Sergio, I admire and encourage vigorous debate, except when I'm right. [img]images/smiles//icon_wink.gif[/img]
The buttplate is silver.
There is no green LED.
There.
Phil
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Oh, and back on topic:
Sergio, I admire and encourage vigorous debate, except when I'm right. [img]images/smiles//icon_wink.gif[/img]
The buttplate is silver.
There is no green LED.
There.
Phil
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Now I am debating if I should paint my buttplate silver. Hmmm.
Kinda like a 6 grip or 7 grip thing, huh? [img]images/smiles//icon_wink.gif[/img]
Tell you what Phil....maybe you need to show some more cool pics of the blaster...you know..to show the silver buttplate. Real hi rez ones too. [img]images/smiles//icon_wink.gif[/img]
DC
Docking Bay 93 yelped [img]images/smiles//icon_biggrin.gif[/img] :
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...Phil and Richard have worked harder on this project than any 10 of you have ever worked on any prop in your life...
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100% true! And if you read Rich's comments above...he is convinced it is BLACK (which is why he still supports the black buttplate he's put on the C&S) while Phil is convinced it is SILVER (which is why his model will always have silver)...so we have a quandry between the two best of the best, and a long, interesting and fantastic discussion!
Hey Phil...I think that the two sides will just have to agree to disagree. Until there is someone who can handle the actual piece (and sorry, but stunts and heroes always have some major discrepencies) we'll never know 100% for sure.
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It's like when my ex-wife used to argue with me about basic theories of time travel and such...she was an english major, and never bothered studying SQUAT about astrophysics, much less quantum mechanics, like I did. But did that stop her? No.
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Hmmm... I think we might have the same ex-wife.
Mike,
Actually, it's 2 against 1. Craig Kovach is the one who convinced me it was silver. Before, I believed it was black.
Dave,
I look forward to the photos. Thanks.
Phil
Phil,
Fair points, all, and I won't take up much more OT time in this fascinating thread!
The point I was really making was that in my my view the British banning of firearms was not down to the government seeking to reduce civil liberties *in this case*
It was actually courting the popularity of an electorate that was positively howling for gun control following an appalling crime. Even before the ban it was virtually impossible to legally aquire a handgun, and you had to have a bloody good reason to own a larger calibre weapon.
I am as concerned with the erosion of civil liberties as anyone, and am appalled at the record of Tony Blair's government in restricting freedoms in the UK across the board.
However, it is depressing to see this country constantly villified on this forum, simply because US liberals choose us to illustrate an anti-gun culture. We're not inviting these comparisons and we don't welcome them. So leave it out! [img]images/smiles//icon_smile.gif[/img]
Simon,
About 40% of my time in this hobby is spent with my European brothers; primarily, those from the UK. Therefore, when I bring up the British, I do so with the utmost respect.
Because of my unusual cultural background, I'm not like the typical British-bashing Yankee.
In reality, I'm much more European than American in my overall outlook.
Nevertheless, since I'm a pro-gun, anti-capital punishment, pro-choice, and anti-abortion agnostic, no one I know agrees with me on everything. The positions I hold defy political dogma. My one constant: a strong belief in freedom of the individual.
Peace.
Phil
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