It's a fake.I just ran across this cool video on You Tube where they pull out one of the original DL44's used by Han Solo in A New Hope. I enjoy the close ups so I can compare the detail of my ow DL-44 replicas.
There is more than one, there are supposed to be 4 originals
Yes, according to the actual armorer. But 2 were for Han, 2 were for Luke. Each had a hero and backup. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember much about the ones for Luke.There is more than one, there are supposed to be 4 originals
Tony was very detailed in the letter he provided to RIA, explaining what parts of the gun are original, what parts are new, and what parts could possibly have been on the backup. No matter what the hype was, the bidders were told up front that only a portion of the gun was confirmed to be original.From ‘77 Star Wars? Don’t think this info is accurate unfortunately. Of course the people who are selling and profiting off this prop would have u believe different… There is/was only ever one true Hero.
Unfortunately, he doesn't remember much..
**** Todd, I didn't know you were there/possibly handled the damned thing!Yes, according to the actual armorer. But 2 were for Han, 2 were for Luke. Each had a hero and backup. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember much about the ones for Luke.
Tony was very detailed in the letter he provided to RIA, explaining what parts of the gun are original, what parts are new, and what parts could possibly have been on the backup. No matter what the hype was, the bidders were told up front that only a portion of the gun was confirmed to be original.
That video takes me back! I was there when Brownell's made that video (I think they got the gun right after I was done with it.)
I spent an entire day at Bapty in November last year, talking to Tony and the gunsmiths about Carl and the blaster. Eight hours at Bapty, four hours at dinner with Tony. Don't believe me? 020 857 7700 is their number. Ask for Ben.You probably could have stopped right there.
Yes, for the sake of this thread, its all in that thread that @KramStaar posted above.
Yes. The lead gunsmith at Bapty showed me exactly where Carl spliced the upright stand with a new section with mounting groove.The scope and the rings/cradle are probably original.
Yep, as were the threaded parts to connect the flash hidercrossbar/knobs were made from scratch
The flash hider wan't new, but it was very rusty. Carl had just sandblasted it with the Pawn Stars crew came to film. No one makes any claim that it was used on the hero weapon.Flash hider is... was brand spankin new looking and looked like a replica though they claim they still had one in Bapty
Yes, I spent about 6 hours with it on the Wednesday before the auction. I took my blueprints and notes and double checked measurements, weights, etc. Made some tracings of the scope mount, etc. RIA was VERY accommodating, providing me with a chaperone the entire time. They even set up a little work area for me.**** Todd, I didn't know you were there/possibly handled the damned thing!
I spent an entire day at Bapty in November last year, talking to Tony and the gunsmiths about Carl and the blaster. Eight hours at Bapty, four hours at dinner with Tony. Don't believe me? 020 857 7700 is their number. Ask for Ben.
Tony had been in the firearms/prop rental business for decades before taking over Bapty. No, he's not a Star Wars fan. His knowledge is behind the scenes - first hand information from employees, and the huge inventory of production-used guns and parts that he owned.
The man in the center of all this is Carl Schmidt. (Yes, his name IS spelled with a C, according to the man who signed his paychecks for 22 years.) He casts a very large shadow. He is very private. He doesn't talk much. He doesn't have a computer. His wife drives him to work and carries his lunch. His dad was an SS member during WW2. He's got a bad temper. Despite the "no alcohol at work" rule, he's decorated his work area with rows of Colt 45 cans nailed to the wall. He hardly ever uses a milling machine, preferring to do his metalwork on a bench grinder. He thinks Star Wars fans are idiots, and he's sick and tired of the decades and decades of endless questions about it. He doesn't talk about it almost out of spite. He thought the hoopla over the auction was ridiculous. He only cooperated for Tony's sake. It wasn't his gun, after all. Tony was lucky to get him to appear in the Pawn Stars video, although Carl barely hid his contempt for the whole thing.
Carl is the one who has claimed for decades that he prepared 4 blasters. 2 were for Han, 2 not. I believe the back up Han gun is the one the imperial officer draws when Han and crew storm the docking bay control room.
Yes, sorry about that! I just jumped in here because I saw it being discussed. I have seen the other thread.