Question about the screenused Mal Guns... BANG!???

[prototype7]

Hey all - really just passing the time here at work but I do have a question about the guns used on the show and the movie...

If I remember correctly I thought I read that the movie and show guns had a small revolver inside the casing that would shoot blanks. Is this right?
Does anybody have any more detailed info on how they got these guns to "shoot"?

Not saying I'm gonna do it... somebody could lose and eye... :angel

 

[phase pistol]

The gun is basically a Taurus revolver with pieces on it to dress it up.

Search the board here or Google... also there's an article about the making of the gun in the book "Firefly Visual Companion".

- k

 

[xardoz]

Taurus model 85 (still available for around $300 - $400) with an extended octagonal barrel. The grip section of the frame was removed and a custom steel section (water jet cut, IIRC) was welded on for the distinctive grips. The shrouds were cast in bronze, and they had to do several different sets due to the bronze shrinking during the casting process.
They eventually got the right size.

The pistol was rebuilt for Serenity to make it a little more sci-fi-y and to correct a problem with the Firefly era magazine coming loose during shooting.

 

[prototype7]

Thanks guys... I know it's silly but I just have this little daydream of going to a shooting range and pulling out the Mal pistol... too bad no actual company wants to create a working replica:lol

 

[Noeland]

From the official visual companion vol 1 (titan books)

 

[prototype7]

hmmm... makes my little brain get all whymsical! thanks for the pic!

I'm assuming that modifying a real firearm like that would be against the law... although I'm not sure.

I had considered trying to find a blank firing replica of that taurus and try a similar mod. Hmmm...:cool

 

[garybarth]

Wow, what good timing. I just finished the first half of a video for QMx that has a complete breakdown of the hero pistol (and the other guns from the movie) by the gunsmith from ISS who made the conversion. It's 6 minutes long and very informative. Keep checking www.quantummechanix.com as they should be posting it very soon.

Gary

 

[Kadajiroth]

Wow, what good timing. I just finished the first half of a video for QMx that has a complete breakdown of the hero pistol (and the other guns from the movie) by the gunsmith from ISS who made the conversion. It's 6 minutes long and very informative. Keep checking www.quantummechanix.com as they should be posting it very soon.

Gary

Now that sounds cool. I'll be watching the website very closely. Thanks!

 

[pennausamike]

I'm assuming that modifying a real firearm like that would be against the law... although I'm not sure.

There would be nothing illegal about building a replica Mal pistol from a revolver. The problem would be in making it so the shrouds didn't blow off from the firing pressure at the cylinder/ barrel gap.

I'm not sure it would work even with a round as light as a .22 LR.
But that would probably be your best chance for success.

Mike

 

[Great_Bizarro]

If you used 22 short or blanks there shouldn't be enough pressure at the forcing cone to knock off the plates if you had them screwed on. Now 44mag would be a different story!

 

[TurnipyOdour]

Philippes posted this picture in the 'Envy Thread' back in 2005. The parts were made using original source material so I guess this is exactly how the hero prop was built up around the revolver.

Original thread: www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=939

There's also this thread with another beautiful Mal pistol made with brass shrouds: www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=14953

 

[prototype7]

Hey thanks for the pic!