Deckard's Hero Blaster is now up for sale

[The Loyalizer]

I think they should've left it well enough alone. Leave any restoration for whoever it is that wins the auction.

That said, I think they did a really crappy job rewiring it. I'm sure its probably a complex wiring scheme, but at least make some effort to make it look a little more presentable.
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"We began to recognize in them a strange obsession..."

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[andy]

I don't think they realized how much people have fetishized that gun, and how much of that fetish has been fed by Karl's pictures. Cleaning up the gun has taken away some of the appeal of the gun. Like having an antique refinished, I think they took value away from the gun. Because they altered it's appearance significantly, and took away some of it's "seedy" quality that fit it's reputation, and that of the movie's gritty realistic nature. They should have left the clean up and restoration up to the new owner. I think they will now see a lesser price for it possibly.

On another note, I hope they may have taken pictures of the restoration and even the open cylinder. I know Rich told me that even though he opened the bolt when with Karl, that he never pushed the Cylinder release, because he assumed that it wouldn't open. I kind of hope he is wrong. I also want to see this infamous case and anything else that would have come along with it. they could help with some of the mysteries of the gun.

Andy

[DeckB26354]

Andy

I agree with everything you said, it has devalued the gun in the eyes of any serious fan. However, the likelyhood is that this will be bought for investment purposes only by someone who has little or no interest in the significance of the restoration. I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.

By the way, we already know that the cylinder will not open unless the left side plate is removed first. With it meeting the Steyr ammo housing so tightly, it would bind against it if it was swung down. Also, someone involved in the film has already confirmed that it needed to be removed everytime it was reloaded with blanks. You can see how many times those screws have been removed by looking at the over worn screw heads!

[joberg]

To restore or not...always the same debate in any auction sale for any type of piece/artwork/antiques, etc.
Will that type of restoration affect pricing? Very unlikely, it could even have the reverse effect. Lots of investors out there liking clean pieces and not caring about the history of the piece itself (it's money, remember?)
As for me: leave it as is with all its history/rust/dust, etc.

[Noeland]

Just imagine if this was our first look at the hero. We'd have no idea. We'd be like "WOW, those wires look replaced!"



Personally, I don't mind the rust being removed (though, they seem to have done a half ass job of that too) and the 30 years of neglect being wiped away. I don't mind the new polish on the grips, etc. Guns have to be maintained and cared for. That means new coats of oil, etc, from time to time.

Running a cleaning rod down the barrel 30 years ago would have been a good idea. Treating the cylinder and hammer with some oil probably never happened.

I have a buddy in LA. I'll give him a call.
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I don't have enough blasters!

[clutch]

I think Ridley didn't like the color green and said the green LED's have to go. So they just cut the wires.

[eltee]

The original wires were saved and will be included w/the gun. The magazine's red LED was not restored/rewired but can be. The gun's original Bulldog barrel is included as is the propmaker's carry case (fitted foam) which was included when the gun was first sold. There is also a spare Steyr magazine included.

The gun still functions in that:

1. The Steyr bolt retracts
2. Cylinder swings out and rotates
3. Double action trigger operates
4. Lights have been restored as shown.

[andy]

[phase pistol]

Also if the cylinder didn't open before, perhaps it was modified TO open at some point.

[DeckB26354]

Fair point Andy. But looking at how close they meet, I don't see it. We really need someone to try it.

Eltree is that information you gave us from PIH?

[Noeland]

There is a plenty big enough gap between the ammo housing and the sideplate for the cylinder to swing out, as long as the ejector rod was removed, and it very likely was.

More than likely the wires were clipped because they didn't allow the cylinder to swing open.
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I don't have enough blasters!

[eltee]

The ejector rod was cut short, enough of it was left to eject rounds by using a pen or screwdriver.



However, by the scratches shown here, you can see it was a tight fit. This also verifies that the "shells" covering the cylinder were, in fact, aluminum and not a synthetic.



The gun can be fired when closed, with magazine seated and with wires lighting up the LEDs.

[Noeland]

Well damn. LOOK at that.

Thanks eltee.
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I don't have enough blasters!

[eltee]

The gun will function with the wires intact as it is now. So, theoretically, you could have lights (LED's) on and shoot blanks.

I'll try to get up some shots from the inside showing the cylinder to shell clearances when I have time.

Note how the front LED fits into the rod, I'll try to post some clean pics of the rod as well.

[phase pistol]

Sweet!

[andy]

I knew it! Awesome!

Andy

[joberg]

Finally, answers to our numerous questions Thanks Eltee.

[BeastMaster]

very cool eltee

is that barrel a darker shade than the rest of the bulldog frame? looks as dark as the receiver cover.

I think the triggers were this dark but the blueing is more worn away on them.

it seems the other two wires are fed behind the panel and meet up at the bottom. you'd think with the simplicity of the light system in a sidkit it wouldn't take a genius to wire these up. they could have left the original cut wires and just passed a couple of fine wires around the back like sids.
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"F*ck it, it's just a movie. Let him worry about it" Harrison Ford

[clutch]

Did they replace the green LED's? Look at how clean this one looks. Lots of space around it:


Now look at Karl's photo:


Looks kinda gunked up.

[DeckB26354]

WoW great photos! Where did you get them from Eltree?

Well, Andy you were right it does clear the ammo housing! But I can take some consolation bt thinking that it did bind a little and it's worn all the paint off!