Star Wars 'stunt' Sterlings first used in the movie Zardoz?

[lonepigeon]

I was doing a little research tonight and stumbled into a very interesting discovery.

In the movie Zardoz there are warriors called Exterminators which have Sterling submachine guns.
I've never seen the movie, but thanks to the Internet Movie Firearms Database here is a pile of guns in a still frame from the movie...
Zardoz - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games



Notice anything unusual and familiar about those Sterlings?
No triggers, solid metal cast back ends, rivets, etc.

They look exactly like the Sterlings used in the Tunisia scenes in Star Wars.


I always assumed these stunt blasters were made for something else originally, but I never expected to find clear enough proof like this.

Zardoz was released in 1974 - 3 years before Star Wars.
I don't see a credit for an armorer on IMDB, but I'm guessing the guns for Zardoz were supplied by Bapty as well.

Am I going to have to watch this movie for research?
I'd rather not have to see this...

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Good eye.

 

[jkno]

Indeed very cool catch. All they had to do was to add t-tracks, scope rails and scopes, Hengstlers and cylinders. But the base blaster was already made for Zardoz (and maybe for who knows what other movies too).