ANH Hero DL-44 Discussion - Three ANH Greeblies Found

[chubsANDdoggers]

One thing that may come out of all this Bapty nonsense is the stamping on the back of the actual film prop itself. IF these c96’s that are used to make these auction blasters truly are from Baptys inventory.. the real hero could be missing the S/N as well? Just a food for thought with this one as that stone will probably never be unturned..

 

[Vanitas]

One thing that may come out of all this Bapty nonsense is the stamping on the back of the actual film prop itself. IF these c96’s that are used to make these auction blasters truly are from Baptys inventory.. the real hero could be missing the S/N as well? Just a food for thought with this one as that stone will probably never be unturned..View attachment 1916204

I wouldn't trust anything coming out of Bapty these days; they've more then proven themselves to be willing fraudsters in the name of a quick buck. Then again, if anything remotely positive might come out of all their nonsense then I'm happy to thank the little guys doing their part while thumbing my nose at the higher ups.

As they say, **** rolls downhill.

 

[Hirohawa]

One thing that may come out of all this Bapty nonsense is the stamping on the back of the actual film prop itself. IF these c96’s that are used to make these auction blasters truly are from Baptys inventory.. the real hero could be missing the S/N as well? Just a food for thought with this one as that stone will probably never be unturned..View attachment 1916204

The large ring Mausers normally don't have Serial numbers stamped on their Lock frame the way the small ring C96 does.

 

[Tommy]

A Stuff Dreams Are Made Of podcast deep-dive, featuring scottjua:

Note: The video also covers later-film DL-44s and the auction fiascos, so happy to repost elsewhere if more appropriate.

 

[Gregatron]

A Stuff Dreams Are Made Of podcast deep-dive, featuring scottjua:

Note: The video also covers later-film DL-44s and the auction fiascos, so happy to repost elsewhere if more appropriate.

…this podcast is co-hosted by the guy who was playing around with STAR TREK TOS props and models prior to their auction as if they were toys.

Can I overcome my cringe and revulsion to watch Scott bring some sanity to the table?

 

[Tommy]

Can I overcome my cringe and revulsion to watch Scott bring some sanity to the table?

Yes. Yes you can. Just occupy your mind with the very real damage that's been done to the historical record these past couple years.

Physical surviving props absolutely matter and should be cared for / handled ever-so-slightly more gingerly pre-ownership than in that video.

But I'd argue caring for facts matters a whole lot more.

 

[Gregatron]

Yes. Yes you can. Just occupy your mind with the very real damage that's been done to the historical record these past couple years.

Physical surviving props absolutely matter and should be cared for / handled ever-so-slightly more gingerly pre-ownership than in that video.

But I'd argue caring for facts matters a whole lot more.

….yeah, I’m watching right now.

 

[scottjua]

….yeah, I’m watching right now.

I hope I did ok

 

[Gregatron]

I hope I did ok

 

[Treadwell]

So it seems their affiliation with Heritage is over. They teased more info to come in the next podcast.

 

[chubsANDdoggers]

I genuinely try to avoid BS as much as possible but I recently got into a discussion on the gram with a couple people who work at Bapty & Co with regards to the ANH Hero and the auction blaster. First with regards to the PS/RIA and the real scope..

“Not once has it been said that this is a screen used prop (apart from the scope etc) but it was built for the original Star Wars by Carl & is the closest thing anyone is likely to handle.”

But what was really interesting is he went on to say this..

“P.S. we know where the original screen used one is.”

 

[Gregatron]

 

[Vanitas]

I genuinely try to avoid BS as much as possible but I recently got into a discussion on the gram with a couple people who work at Bapty & Co with regards to the ANH Hero and the auction blaster. First with regards to the PS/RIA and the real scope..

“Not once has it been said that this is a screen used prop (apart from the scope etc) but it was built for the original Star Wars by Carl & is the closest thing anyone is likely to handle.”

But what was really interesting is he went on to say this..

“P.S. we know where the original screen used one is.”

I'd say the chances of them knowing where the real screen used C96 are about as good as an Egyptian mummy being revived.

 

[chubsANDdoggers]

I'd say the chances of them knowing where the real screen used C96 are about as good as an Egyptian mummy being revived.

Oh I don’t disagree. My 1st thought was how deep are they going to dig this hole to die in.

But they apparently keep records so maybe a Frank Sinatra fan has it.

 

[chubsANDdoggers]

That’s actually pretty funny. To think it’s on display celebrating “the naked runner” of all things.

 

[Tommy]

That’s actually pretty funny. To think it’s on display celebrating “the naked runner” of all things.

Speaking of which...


"Not once has it been said that this is a screen used prop (apart from the scope etc)"

Exhibit A:
“serial number 299415 had seen previous screen time in the hands of Frank Sinatra in his film The Naked Runner”
- RIA, 05 August 2022


That was easy!

 

[thd9791]

Yeah I was going to say - it’s been directly written and implied that these auction blasters, especially the pawn stars one, were the hero gun, and advertised as such. As time went on people walked back some of that and added some technicalities after the fact.

It was handled pretty irresponsibly and whether because of incompetence or greed, poorly investigated.

 

[chubsANDdoggers]

Yeah I was going to say - it’s been directly written and implied that these auction blasters, especially the pawn stars one, were the hero gun, and advertised as such. As time went on people walked back some of that and added some technicalities after the fact.

It was handled pretty irresponsibly and whether because of incompetence or greed, poorly investigated.

In Tony’s letter of authenticity I’m pretty sure he stated that the PS/RIA was 80% legit. The scope and 1/3 mount certainly can’t add up to 80%!? So strange.. money talks though. Do you really think the guy who owns this replica is even putting a sign out that says 80% legit or simply a sign that says “Han Solo’s Film used SW Blaster”. Anyhow at least people who take the time to read this thread will know the truth. Thank goodness for that.

 

[Tommy]

thd9791 Both definitely handled irresponsibly and at-best researched incompetently; no doubt.

[Actually, incompetently-researched regardless, considering the conflation of the former with the Greedo Killer, and the breathtaking laziness of the latter fake.]


Just to briefly clarify for readers, the only occasion I recall where either was directly presented as the hero is the 2019 Pawn Stars episode. Tony spoke of it singularly as "the original" without explicit mention by him or Carl of multiples, Tony claimed matching witness marks on the side opposite the scope, and Rick – at least as edited – claimed a photo-match of the gun's serial number to the known hero. So unless I'm forgetting, the walking back happened between then and when it came to Rock Island Auction in 2022, as they (along with Tony in his letter) adopted "only surviving" language. Likewise, Goldin / Studio Auctions this year used "only surviving fully intact" for their fake, in a presumed attempt to simultaneously capitalize on and one-up the PS/RIA.

Certainly there were further instances of misleading implication, though (at least with the PS/RIA; Goldin/SA didn't really have time since the scam was caught so quickly), and if anything, I'd say RIA walked forward their claims by inexplicably adding the aforementioned Naked Runner tidbit.


chubsANDdoggers Tony's 80% statement read: "[...] the end result contains 80% of the last remaining original pieces of this iconic prop."

As wishful, and corrosive to the historical record, as we agree the C96's uncorroborated inclusion ("undoubtably one of the three") is, it doesn't in itself contradict the Bapty folks regarding claimed screen use. However, you might share THIS and see how far they bend over to equivocate:

As for their obnoxiously hollow P.S. – much like the supposed "mystery photo" – I'd simply reply:

Prove it.
P.S. We know where Jimmy Hoffa is.