With all things Star Wars this week, you may be interested in hearing more about ol’ Han Solo’s “Blastech” DL-44 blaster.
A product of Bapty Props in England, the the gun uses .30 Mauser (7.63×25 mm) caliber Model C96 “Broomhandle” with parts from a M1930 Commercial model visually modified with a World War II-era German MG81 machine gun muzzle device and a Hensoldt & Wetzlar Ziel Dialyth 3X riflescope from the same era. Bapty reportedly crafted the offset scope mount and blaster-shielding on site.
There were apparently at least three different models made by Bapty and others working on the saga in much the above fashion as well as a number of cast resin non-functioning props. And they appeared in all three original Lucas Films. Others carried them as well, for instance, when Luke Skywalker first meets Yoda in the Degoba swamp, he’s carrying a DL-44 though with a shiny muzzie brake.
Jerry Miculek, speed shooter extraordinaire, recently got his hands on a firing model in .30 Mauser and ran it through its paces.
ICYMI, Bob Boyd ran an excellent piece on the DL-44 back in the Feb. 20, 2014 Shooting Illustrated on a DL-44 build.
And remember, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.”
