Han Solo’s Iconic Blaster Sets World Record for “Most Expensive Prop Gun Sold at Auction”
One of the most recognizable firearms in cinema history, and the preferred weapon of a certain lovable scoundrel, Han Solo’s DL-44 blaster, set the record for the “Most Expensive Prop Gun Sold at Auction.” Selling at $1,057,500, the prop used on set for A New Hope was recently featured in the Guinness World Records 2024 book, according to Fox Business (via Jedi News).
While the prop sold in 2022, part of the reason why it is so valuable is because it originally went missing. In 1976, when shooting the original film, three copies of the prop were made. But after filming completed, all three went missing. New copies were eventually made for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. But the one sold at auction in 2022 is claimed to be the only surviving copy from A New Hope. Feel free to check out the video below from Rock Island Auction Company detailing the history of the iconic weapon and how it was discovered.
The prop guns were originally created by London props house Bapty & Co. The DL-44 blaster is taken from a Mauser C98 German pistol and is decorated with parts from a World War II machine gun, a 19th-century hunting rifle, and a model aircraft kit.
The DL-44 blaster is yet another iconic piece of Star Wars movie-making history that has gone on sale and broken records. Recently, a lost X-Wing model from a new hope went up for auction and sold for $3.1 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the X-Wing model also “set the record for the most expensive Star Wars screen-used prop sold at auction.” And last month, Anthony Daniels also auctioned his personal collection of Star Wars memorabilia as well. The most noteworthy item that went on sale was an original helmet of C-3PO used while filming A New Hope. It then sold for under 700,000 pounds.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jay Goodearl runs the YouTube Gaming channel “Good Games, Dude” His channel aims to open up video games to beginners and immediate players and help them understand what makes games the art form that it is.
