The Mauser C96: The origin of one of the most iconic weapons in movie history, and lorded over by Star Wars fans scifi geeks and cosplayers the world over. With its unique long barrel and magazine, its was known by another nickname, the Broomhandle, due to its distinctive wooden stock. A powerful weapon for its time used in many conflicts and spawned many knock-offs. But rather than being resigned to be a gun collector’s piece or museum exhibit, it it now revered amongst Star Wars fans.
I am of course talking about the DL-44 or to use its more popular name, Han Solo’s Blaster, first seen on screen in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. I fell in love with this blaster the first moment I saw it in Star wars as a kid, the shape the silver muzzle and the long scope attached to the side. I knew nothing about how it was designed or made, but I remember thinking to myself I’ve seen that before somewhere, I just couldn’t place where! Then it dawned on me, war films I’ve seen it in a war film. Don’t ask me which one, I used to watch a lot of them and still do.
In the fictional universe of Star Wars, the Han Solo Solo Blaster or its correct title the DL-44 heavy blaster pistol was made by Blastech Industries and could fire 50 shots (interesting fact I’ve never seen Han load it). It also had a good kick to it. The blaster delivered a pretty heavy knockout blow in a firefight and had a range of around 65 metres (or 213 feet). It was used primarily by smugglers and the Rebel Alliance for its power to cause fatal shots through stormtrooper armour (we all know how good they were when it came to aiming).
Then along came the sequels Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Teddy Bears… I mean Ewoks, uh no that’s not right.. Jedi !! Low and behold Han Solo’s blaster in the Empire Strikes Back had a redesigned scope and bracket! Noooooooo! You could argue its was just a natural evolution or a clever marketing ploy, and it happened again in Return of the Jedi, where the scoped changed again.
The blaster remained as it was until The Force Awakens. Regardless of what you might think, it was good thing for Han’s Blaster! Fan’s wondered what will it be this time, will they hark back to the original or do something radically different, Han apparently found his original DL-44 when he boarded the millennium falcon and painted the muzzle black, this is just my theory. Not a radical redesign but classy.
It was first seen or known about around 33 BBY, and because of its notoriety, it caused the Empire to put controls and restriction on it, basically banning it completely. So another company picked up the mantle and decided to make its own version of the DL44 Power Blaster. Merr Sonn Munitions created the Merr Sonn Power 5 a less powerful but popular amongst TIE pilots and Imperial Officers.
But I hear you cry when did Han first get his hands on his beloved DL-44. Cue up Solo: a Star Wars Story, the origin of Hans Solo’s Blaster. Okay here it goes: Woody Harrelson had the blaster in rifle form and took it apart and gave Han the middle bit. The end, that’s it! I could go into the scene a bit more but that’s essentially what happened, the original weapon looked nice but for whatever reason Woody decided to give him the middle bit and it became the original Han Solo Blaster.
It never ceases to amaze me how popular this prop is in Star Wars lore. After the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, everybody I knew had to have one! It didn’t matter if it was for Christmas or a birthday it was the number one present to have, along with an X Wing, and last but not least a lightsaber. My lightsaber was a torch with a plastic tube attached and you could swap out a red and blue gel, allowing me to be Luke or Darth Vader.
Truth be told, all of us Star Wars fans, cosplayers, young or old, have one final thing that binds us together. An opinion that unites us all……….HAN SHOT FIRST !!!!!!
Later Padawans