{"id":8992,"date":"2009-01-09T00:14:51","date_gmt":"2009-01-09T08:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/?p=8992"},"modified":"2014-05-12T15:39:11","modified_gmt":"2014-05-12T22:39:11","slug":"star-wars-a-new-hope-batpy-stormtrooper-blasters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/2009\/01\/09\/star-wars-a-new-hope-batpy-stormtrooper-blasters\/","title":{"rendered":"“Star Wars: A New Hope” Batpy’s Stormtrooper Blasters"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I have started a series of more comprehensive profiles of the original props in my own collection, and the first piece to be showcased is one of the Imperial E-11 Stormtrooper blasters produced by Bapty in England for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope<\/em>.\u00a0 Since Star Wars has such a wide appeal, I thought I would make note of it in a redirect article for those who may be interested.<\/p>\n

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Imperial BlasTech E-11 Blaster (“Stormtrooper Blaster”)<\/h1>\n

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Note: Background on the custom Bapty Stormtrooper blasters is based on information from The Prop Store of London<\/a> and two collectors involved in finding and identifying the pieces at Bapty & Co. Also used as a reference resource is the website Parts of Star Wars<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Note: Images throughout the article can be clicked on for higher resolution versions<\/span>
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Background: The Discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Stormtrooper blaster is one of approximately 20 that were discovered at Bapty & Co. and purchased by The Prop Store of London circa 2004-2005. Bapty is the UK-based armourer who produced and supplied weapons for Star Wars: A New Hope<\/em> and The Empire Strikes Back<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Based on research and discussions with Bapty staff (including the man who made these for the film), it was determined that the props were indeed custom made for the first Star Wars film.<\/p>\n

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The Imperial Stormtrooper blaster is one of the most recognizable props from the original Star Wars trilogy, in that they were assigned to the Imperial Stormtroopers but also used by the principal protagonists in the films – Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.<\/p>\n

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The prop is generally based on a found part – a Sterling Arms Mk4\/L2A3 sub-machine gun – which were used by the British following World War II.<\/p>\n

Below is a photo of an unaltered British Sterling sub-machine gun:<\/p>\n

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As such, the firing versions of these props were altered for production by some cosmetic dressing: the addition of six grips along the barrel (the same found “T-Track” used as grips on Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber), a vintage 1942 model M38 azimuth scope mounted on a custom-made scope rail (as well as other similar vintage military tank scopes), a Hengstler Corporation industrial counter box on the side, and two small cylinders on top of the magazine well (in some cases coiled wires were attached between these and the Hengstler counter box). Additionally, the 34-round Sterling magazine was cut down significantly.<\/p>\n

Also of note is that those blasters seen in the film are comprised of a wide array of variations – from different “found” parts employed to some seen on screen as incomplete (either due to a lack of full sets of dressing parts and\/or parts falling off during filming).<\/p>\n

Below is an example of one of the blasters which lacks the cylinders on top of the mag well, the Hengstler counter box, and adjoining wires (Stormtrooper on LEFT):<\/p>\n

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Another example of a firing\/practical version of the blaster missing the cylinders, Hengstler box, and wires:<\/p>\n

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Below is an example of two of the blasters with different style scopes attached (behind and to LEFT and RIGHT of Princess Leia):<\/p>\n

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In carefully reviewing the film, firing versions of this prop can be identified by seeing the weapons actually fire – ejecting shells with bursts and smoke emitted from the barrel:<\/p>\n

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Given the challenges in exporting real firearms from the UK, it would seem the production decided to produce a number of versions of the Stormtrooper blaster that could be classified as a “non-gun”. This alternate version of the prop is the type featured in this article. These were custom designed and fabricated for easy export and import and to reduce the production costs required of having an armourer on set when live fire weapons are present.<\/p>\n

The custom Bapty versions of the Stormtrooper blaster found were stripped of those aforementioned accessories – the scope, scope rail, Hengstler counter box, and magazine well cylinders.<\/p>\n

Below is a photo comparison showing one of the custom Bapty blasters as found (TOP) and another as restored (BOTTOM):<\/p>\n

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These custom Bapty versions of the Stormtrooper blaster are unique is a variety of ways. Per Bapty staff who participated in the fabrication of these props, as well as those involved in modern-day research following their “discovery” at the Bapty armoury storeroom, and with a physical examination, these custom features and alterations are as follows:<\/p>\n