Authentic vs Replica ST:TNG Dustbuster Phaser

[JCaruso]

Hello All,
I am new to this forum, and I would like to pose an academic question to the experts in the prop-collecting community.
I have some information pertaining to a Next Generation "Dustbuster" phaser and I was wondering if the members could offer their opinion about the following 5 questions:

QUESTIONS:
(1) Is this a replica phaser, or an authentic prop made by Paramount and used during the filming of STNG?
(2) What features allow you to determine if it is a replica or authentic piece?
(3) Who may have built this?
(4) What is the approximate age of the item?
(5) What is the approximate value?

Approximate dimensions
Overall Length: 21.5 cm (tip to tail)
Overall Width: 7.5 cm (at widest point)
Overall Height: 4.5 cm (at widest point)
Weight: 9.0 oz without battery
9.6 oz with battery

Recessed electronics plate (not a perfect rectangle)
Length: 3 cm
Width: 2 cm

Two intensity adjustment buttons
Length: 9 mm
Width 7 mm

Trigger button
Length: 2.5 cm
Width: 1.1 cm

Emitter area (not a perfect oval)
Length: 4.3 cm
Width: 2 cm

Battery compartment
Approximately 4 cm from terminal to terminal.

Notes
The battery currently in the device is an Energizer e2 Photo 123 Pile Lithium 3.0 volt battery dated 2012.

Electronics work intermittently, but when functioning, depressing the trigger lights up the bezel as well as the red emitter tip.
There are no sound effects when pressing the trigger.

Pressing the left button under the power meter produces a beep with each press, and advances the power meter by one bar, starting with 2 lit bars and proceeding until all 10 bars are lit.
Pressing the right button resets the power meter to 2 lit bars (without a beep).

All 3 buttons are depressible, and result in an audible click when pressed.

There is a YSC 2-position slide switch accessible on the grip plate.
When the switch is in the forward position, the power meter and two smaller buttons work, when the switch is in the rear position, they don't function.
The trigger button and the red lighting effects at the bezel/emitter appear unaffected by the slide switch and seem to work when the switch is in the front or rear positions.

There is a green circuit board in the internal cavity of the phaser.

Frontal and side-view X-ray images are also provided.

 

[trekker670]

I am not an expert in this area, but the fact the electronics include sounds makes me think it's almost certainly a replica. Sound effects would have been added in post production, so there's m need for the prop to have sound. It also appears to be in very prestine condition, which is very unlikely for a piece that was used during filming.

 

[JCaruso]

To clarify, the only sound are the "beeps" made by pressing the smaller left button under the power meter.
There are no sounds when pressing the trigger.
Thanks!

 

[Lost in Trek]

But the fact that it makes sounds at all is suspicious. I am also under the impression that sounds are added in post. I doubt the prop department would have included any sound effects.

 

[13doctorwho]

There were so many unlicensed replicas all the way back to the 80's it's hard to say who made it. Actual production props that go to auction are all pretty beat up.

 

[Mark2000]

I’m going to go with replica. Like others have said, the sound is a big tip off. But there are others. The props weren’t that functional. They didn’t change the meter lights. Those were all on or all off. Also, the buttons were not buttons, but stickers on top of buttons. There was never a dustbuster prop with separated buttons on it. In fact, what it looks like, with it’s buttons and inset indicator, is a Roddenberry.com replica.