Han Solo ANH Blaster From RIA, Prev on Pawn Stars
- Thread starter JoeG
- Start date
They'll find out one day that it was a costly mistake on their part. It's their problem now I suppose..
-Carson
The fake phaser sold last year for $250,000, and now there's this. Yeesh.
deadbolt
Sr Member
That's for sure, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. We at least learned a few small things in the process, but this wannabe prop has been more of an aggravation and distraction to our community until today, so, I suppose it's best that it's over for the time being. But we still stuck through it.
Nice collection, too! I recognize a couple I've been lucky enough to acquire like the Luke figure in front of the falcon, mine also out of packaging.. My first SW toy as a kid was one my dad found in early online auction days (my era as a little kid), which was ironically, Han Solo's blaster..(or laser pistol in this case =b) before it was called the DL-44 Heavy Blaster, which was the orange one of my era, but dad managed to get his hands on one of the good ones..It made for a life-changing Christmas for sure.
-Carson
Nice collection, too! I recognize a couple I've been lucky enough to acquire like the Luke figure in front of the falcon, mine also out of packaging.. My first SW toy as a kid was one my dad found in early online auction days (my era as a little kid), which was ironically, Han Solo's blaster..(or laser pistol in this case =b) before it was called the DL-44 Heavy Blaster, which was the orange one of my era, but dad managed to get his hands on one of the good ones..It made for a life-changing Christmas for sure.
-Carson
robstyle
Master Member
As for live fire rentals and returns that are customized, and note I've no real insight how UK laws for such things dictate how a shop holds and houses its inventory, it's common in the US for a modified weapon to live in its modified state until that weapon is needed for another show. One good example is the River bar pistol from Serenity. If memory serves it was created years prior for Earth One, they kept falling apart to the point bits a pieces were kept in plastic baggies with each gun, and put back on the shelf until a new production would pay to have them put back together... And that cycle repeated. Firefly in general is a good example of off the shelf recycling with both live fire and prop weapons.
As stated I've no real insight on how Bapty handled returns and storage other than boxes of inert and add on parts piled up over time. That's common for prop houses but not for live fire weapons. Documentation is key with live fire weapons. Even when a shop shuts down or changes hands. That paperwork goes somewhere. Even the Stembridge logs and paperwork still exists.
As stated I've no real insight on how Bapty handled returns and storage other than boxes of inert and add on parts piled up over time. That's common for prop houses but not for live fire weapons. Documentation is key with live fire weapons. Even when a shop shuts down or changes hands. That paperwork goes somewhere. Even the Stembridge logs and paperwork still exists.
joberg
Legendary Member
Reflecting on the last few weeks, one takeaway seems to be the challenge of mounting a well-informed and well-reasoned opposition in the midst of not only misguided auction house defenders, but also poorly-informed, poorly-reasoned opposition. I’ve been boggled by the number of social media comments supporting the RPF’s position at first glance, yet quickly revealing that the commenter only half-knows what they’re talking about… if that. The gaping logical holes make easy pickings for defensive counterargument – frequently of the “you obviously didn’t read the listing” variety, or refuting absolutist accusations with the fact (if I understand correctly) that most of RIA’s claims do annoyingly remain technically plausible.
These voices get lumped in with the logical ones, enabling every refutation to be seen as an invalidation of the collective skepticism. I can’t swear that I’ve personally made no misstatements, but boy… some of those outside the RPF managed to make RIA sound fair and balanced by comparison. I'm also noticing quite a few negative comments stemming from an entirely different motive: those who don’t see value in firearm film props – period.
[Interestingly, while RIA is once again deleting authenticity-related comments from their latest video showing the lot’s sale, they’re prudently not touching historical gun collector dissent.]
Not criticizing anyone’s efforts here by any means; I just think the next time this piece or another questionable blaster surfaces on the market, it will be important to remember again that the integrity and consistency of opposition arguments matters as much as the resulting stance. Ignorant opposition, while seemingly on “our side,” just made it harder.
I’ll probably encounter you guys in other threads, but in any case, thanks for helping me to become semi-informed, and best of luck getting back to your DL-44 projects. If I eventually feel the need for a replica of my own, I’ll certainly know where to turn!
These voices get lumped in with the logical ones, enabling every refutation to be seen as an invalidation of the collective skepticism. I can’t swear that I’ve personally made no misstatements, but boy… some of those outside the RPF managed to make RIA sound fair and balanced by comparison. I'm also noticing quite a few negative comments stemming from an entirely different motive: those who don’t see value in firearm film props – period.
[Interestingly, while RIA is once again deleting authenticity-related comments from their latest video showing the lot’s sale, they’re prudently not touching historical gun collector dissent.]
Not criticizing anyone’s efforts here by any means; I just think the next time this piece or another questionable blaster surfaces on the market, it will be important to remember again that the integrity and consistency of opposition arguments matters as much as the resulting stance. Ignorant opposition, while seemingly on “our side,” just made it harder.
I’ll probably encounter you guys in other threads, but in any case, thanks for helping me to become semi-informed, and best of luck getting back to your DL-44 projects. If I eventually feel the need for a replica of my own, I’ll certainly know where to turn!
russellsch
Master Member
Not meaning to draw this thread out past its relevance... but I just noticed an additional claim made by RIA that I don't *think* anyone ever mentioned, implying some interesting contradictions.
This is a close-up of page 190 in RIA's Premier Firearms Auction #86 Digital Catalog, Volume II.
"one of the three" - say WHAT?
This is a close-up of page 190 in RIA's Premier Firearms Auction #86 Digital Catalog, Volume II.
"one of the three" - say WHAT?
russellsch
Master Member
The one he's holding in the photo looks like the Greedo Killer.
Right... so they're claiming that the Greedo Killer was "one of the three" hero blasters supposedly produced by Bapty.
russellsch
Master Member
Apparently?
kpax
Sr Member
No. Showing the Greedo killer is a mistake.
Shows how little RIA knows of the history of the prop AND their enormous lack of observational skill. !
The 3 gun story is a fantasy that Tony made up. Pure CONJECTURE. To quote Commodore Decker. “ Absolutely Pure!”
Some assume that “ it makes sense” that they would have a backup. But no proof of its existence has been offered except for the magical fantasy photograph… that no one is allowed to see !
Cleaver boy.
There has never been any talk of more than one ANH blaster. No stunt versions or casts for ANH have EVER been shown or mentioned anywhere and zero proof of Tony’s wild and unsupported claims.
Surly there is still a prop guy/person from ANH around that can answer this question?
And yes. I am calling them Shirley…
Are there no members here that have friends of friends that know who to ask?
Shows how little RIA knows of the history of the prop AND their enormous lack of observational skill. !
The 3 gun story is a fantasy that Tony made up. Pure CONJECTURE. To quote Commodore Decker. “ Absolutely Pure!”
Some assume that “ it makes sense” that they would have a backup. But no proof of its existence has been offered except for the magical fantasy photograph… that no one is allowed to see !
Cleaver boy.
There has never been any talk of more than one ANH blaster. No stunt versions or casts for ANH have EVER been shown or mentioned anywhere and zero proof of Tony’s wild and unsupported claims.
Surly there is still a prop guy/person from ANH around that can answer this question?
And yes. I am calling them Shirley…
Are there no members here that have friends of friends that know who to ask?
deadbolt
Sr Member
That implies that the MGC based Alt-DL-44 (or, Greedo Killer) was one of the three, thus not a real bull-barrelled Mauser, or "cut" real Mauser as they said. Although cut, it's MGC so.. What does that say about the memory and expertise there?..or possible mis-identification of an obviously different prop altogether on their part. If that's 'one' of the three, what makes this Auction one, one of the three without them showing a photo of it being screen-used? The Hero and Alt blasters are clearly present on screen, yet no evidence of the PS/RIA Mauser..?
-Carson
-Carson
deadbolt
Sr Member
Also note, the Alt blaster (or, Greedo Killer) was produced for the insert shots during the US filming (since they couldn't import the Hero that we all know and love). I've never seen or heard of any evidence that it was a Bapty prop whatsoever. I, as far as I know of, gotta call that claim as total B.S..
Edit: Also, there's no way to swap that Hero Mount out to the Alt blaster, which was also said at some point that they swapped the mount between the three..??
-Carson
Edit: Also, there's no way to swap that Hero Mount out to the Alt blaster, which was also said at some point that they swapped the mount between the three..??
-Carson
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No kidding. As anyone with basic knowledge about these props would be aware, that photo is indeed from the Bob Seidemann session, which was long after filming, and when Harrison Ford had his FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE haircut. He's holding the Greedo Killer because it had been built here in the States during pickups (after filming in Tunisia and England), since the hero prop was gone by that point.
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