REVISED Here is a theory to consider.
The promo images of Leia with the MerrSonn suggest the at least one mold was made I "assume" prior to filming.
Not sure if discussed before or new info but I have been studying the images a bit and am pretty sure the mold for the MerrSonn(s) was made prior to brazing on the right side crossbar mounting disks. Meaning they cast the 2813 C96 with bull barrel and preproduction lower before they added the scope mount to the right side. It is the same lower IMO. Pretty dang sure.
So they either had or made up additional bull barrel c96(s) other than the NR version since we all tend to agree the bevels and lower do not match the ANH blaster.
Carl from Bapty said... He "showed the gun(s) to George", he liked the gun but wanted changes. He took it back and added the FH.
He said: The gun was already cut (barrel) * They had 4...effed up for firing (black fire). Does this mean 4 c96 with bull barrels? OR just 4 that could fire blanks?
1- Naked Runner (1967) - Left side -2 mounts - barrel lock (not a match) Different safety
2- Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969) - ROUGH milling very visible. (
2813 HERO upper)
3-Sitting Target (1972)- left side 1 mount -
HERO mount and scope
4- The Protectors (1972-74) - right side 2 mounts - not sure if bull barrel - possible lower - maybe the PS lower?
5 -The Sweeney (1975) - left side 2 mounts - - no visible barrel lock - Possible upper and lower.
My speculated chronological order:
According to Bapty, they had 4 c96's with "cut" or bull barrels and or fired blanks. Nothing else. NR, R&H/Sweeney, ST and The Protectors
On George's request Carl adds the FH to one of the scoped bull barreled guns and brings it back to George.
The prop dept. makes a mold with the scope off of course. (MerrSonn) 2 left side disks
and NO right side mounts... yet...
After some playing with the HERO...George thinks the NR type scope and mount is TOO big and uncool and remembers the Sitting Target scope version... much cooler. but they don't want the full auto 712.
George likes the idea but suddenly realizes Right-handed Harrison Ford can't holster it like a cowboy with the left side mount... CRAP!
Carl says, "no problem", I'll put the ST scope and mount on the 2813 c96. ( Likely Sweeney)
Carl de-brazes the Sweeney lower taking off the two left side mounts and adds the brazed discs and crossbar to right side.
He cleans up the left side and re-blues the lower... leaving some marks. After heating to debraze the lower would need refinishing IMO.
**Maybe Carl added the crossbar to "center the mount" for better balance and to fit in the holster. A forward mount would have left a lot of gun out above the holster. Also may have been a function issue if brazed over the trigger group.
This is the logical way Bapty would have sent out the hero prop to LucasFilm. Apparently the pre production images are Baptys continuity images.
George Loves it! but wants some more doodads on it and has the prop department glue on a few plastic bits like the grill and sight antenna and mystery knob disk and maybe coil on the rail.
Viola! The production DL44...
Just guessing but it is likely the HERO blaster was put together as seen in the Ford outdoor images and he test fired the blanks out there.
The image of Ford turning with a surprised look on his face and blaster pointing up is prob just after he took his first shot. He looks shocked. Likely this is where most of the antenna sight broke off. Right side antenna is still "long-ish" in that pic but the rest is gone. The mystery knob and other greebles also broke off at this time.
I am surprised the grill managed to sty on! Although the top section is broken more in some images if I remember correctly.
So what about the PS version...
They "may have" made another (different) T mount and crossbar and added it to the PS 9415 c96 as a backup ... but the modern-clean looking parkerized FH make me doubt it. Also no signs of adding the grill or sight or MD disc. so...
Maybe, ...just maybe, when they started ESB production they went to get the old ANH blaster from Bapty and they had either taken it apart already or it finally broke all the way and had to be destroyed?
So Carl had to make another one up with one of the other "effed up guns" he had with a cut Bull Barrel... the PS 9415- but he had lost or broken the ANH mount so he had to make another. Not exact, - different attachment, no dovetail. Not important to him...he didn't have the plastic parts anymore. The mount and crossbar look "good" Steel parts, well made. It would match well enough... but without the FH. Maybe he didn't have a vintage one. ?
Carl presents it to George and prop dept. They say, we don't have those plastic parts anymore either. And where is the FH ?! Dilemma.
Ford comes in. "Hey guys, I don't want to shoot that thing again. I'm scared of it. It's too loud and flashy!
The prop dept. scrap the ANH style blaster and decide to use MGCs and change the design to the ESB type blasters.
So...
...the PS gun is not the original ANH DL44.... But it "could be" the one we see in the bunker...
maybe. No sign of mystery disk on the bunker gun either. They throw a weird FH on it and put the scope on backwards... WHY? Who knows...
Now in 2019, Tony Watts (Bapty) finds the 9415 c96 that they had "made for" SW with crossbar, mount and original scope... but no FH or plastic grill OR mystery disk... It IS a prop "made for" SW but not screen used...
Hey Carl! Find and fit a new FH on that thing. They are making nice reproductions out there, and lets try to sell it!
So it may be a real blaster made for SW production, but NOT the/an original screen used blaster for ANH... maybe for ESB deleted bunker scene.
*The Protectors gun is a "possible match" for the lower...
but due to later SW images without right side mount on the lower (MerrSonn casting) I don't think it can be logically -
but it could be the PS/bunker version!
See proof image for same lowers below. The long barrel Merrsonn has the same marks and the other side has details that match as well.
Something like that...
If this isn't the real true history of the ANH DL44... it should be... ; )