ESB DL-44 Hero Blaster thumbscrew nearly IDENTIFIED

[thd9791]

so folks, I’m sorry for shaking things up. I’ve found the source for the weird thumbscrew used on Live firing Hero blasters in Empire Strikes Back.

The knurling was so specific that Boba Debt reverse engineered photo evidence and had to try it twice to figure it out. Beautiful pieces and I’m using one of his to compare to.

This is a Kaiser retaining screw. (Same brand as the Fett prototype blaster handle) it is an adapter from 1/4 20 to 3/8 16 or the euro equivalent. The front surface shows a zigzag profile for the knurling without a raised edge. It’s also larger by a few mm.

Now, there could be a smaller Kaiser nut that used to exist, or these were modified. The post only reaches to the mag well and not through it. I’m thinking, if this was used, they sliced off the stem and tapped through to put a stud into the magazine, leaving some exposed.

Also there’s a furniture store in Northern Europe that uses XXX in its name. That would be a porn store here in the states.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Some folks call it a “Kaiser Nut” I calls it a “Sling Nut”....ahum...

 

[mugatu]

Excellent detective work, Tom!

 

[OdiWan72]

Thanks for sharing.

The knowledge about the thumbscrews being some vintage camera nuts is out there for years (but obviously not as common and spread as I thought :lol ).

I also purchased a couple of different nuts over the years, but never found any with the correct O.D.
You can still buy these on amazon:

https://www.amazon.de/Kaiser-Fotote...2505&sr=8-3&keywords=kaiser+schrauben+stative

 

[matty matt]

Darn it, that title got me excited! These have been mentioned before but I’ve never found one the right size. I even contacted Kaiser a couple years ago. They were no help. It’s probably a similar screw but from a different manufacturer.

 

[russellsch]

Markus, when I click on your link, it takes me to your Amazon under your sign in.

 

[Halliwax]

Toms at it again!!

 

[thd9791]

I had no idea you could still buy an "assortment" for like 80 euro through amazon. Anyone done that, and gotten one of these?

I'll add that I sourced mine from evilBay from another country so I think this is the original packaging.

I saw that stock photo of Kaiser screws a long time ago myself, but I've never seen one in real life. It's exciting to hold one. These are only 1-2 mm too big and I'm torn between us eyeballing things wrong or there being a slightly smaller "nut" version. It's the only vintage thumbscrew I've seen or held that looks like this, so I'm convinced we're really close. It even threads onto the exposed stud on my ESB blaster.

 

[SethS]

I can tell you from all my custom saber part acquisition that a 1/4 20 to 3/8 adapter is super common in photo gear. Not that knob specifically, but I can see it coming from that world.

 

[OdiWan72]

HAH!...I knew we discussed this topic before. check out these posts from 2015, where I pointed the KAISER screws out to you guys

DL-44 ESB Blaster Discussion - Greeblies POST 208

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

I started researching XXX Lutz and then got sidetracked...

 

[Halliwax]

I started researching XXX Lutz and then got sidetracked...

Lmao!!!!

 

[OdiWan72]

I started researching XXX Lutz and then got sidetracked...

*LOL* ... it´s legit buddy.

One of the biggest (hence the XXX) furniture shop chains in Germany and some other european countries.
But of course they sell beds, even to p**n related businesses, so there´s your connection :lol

 

[Dann]

HAH!...I knew we discussed this topic before. check out these posts from 2015, where I pointed the KAISER screws out to you guys

DL-44 ESB Blaster Discussion - Greeblies POST 208

I had totally forgotten about that, and look, I even replied like two posts down! My memory really leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[thd9791]

Dang, so did I

Well I guess this is a development from that post, and can open up more discussion

 

[mgoob]

I remember that thread.

One day it will be found, of that I am sure.

 

[redbutton]

Great find Tom!