Han Solo’s Blaster from A New Hope Is Up for Auction—and It’s Gonna Cost More Than a Star Destroyer

Matt "ObiWaN" Hansen star wars, weapons

There are legendary movie props… and then there’s this. The actual blaster used by Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars: A New Hope is officially back in circulation. Well, not exactly in circulation—more like available to the highest bidder. And it’s probably going to cost more than most people’s mortgages. Combined.

The DL-44 heavy blaster pistol isn’t just some sci-fi pew-pew toy. This is the OG prop from 1977, the one Han fired in the Mos Eisley cantina when he definitely shot first (don’t start that debate here). After being thought lost to time, this iconic weapon has resurfaced and is headed to the auction block.

So if you’ve been wondering what to do with that spare million lying around, this might just be your moment.

A Piece of Star Wars History, Up for Grabs

For anyone familiar with the original trilogy, the sight of Han’s blaster brings an immediate shot of nostalgia. It’s the sidearm of the galaxy’s most charming smuggler, a weapon with just as much swagger as its wielder.

Crafted from a modified Mauser C96 pistol (yes, it’s based on a real Earth gun), this prop helped define the look and feel of Star Wars weaponry going forward. It’s rugged, it’s deadly, and it doesn’t apologize. Kind of like Han.

The auction, hosted by Rock Island Auction Company, is expected to pull in a jaw-dropping sum—previous estimates have ranged well into six figures, and that might be conservative. We’re talking about a screen-used prop from the most influential sci-fi film of all time. This isn’t just memorabilia. It’s pop culture royalty.

The Story Behind the Blaster

Here’s where it gets interesting: for years, it was believed that the original blaster from A New Hope had been lost or destroyed after filming. What collectors had seen at previous events were replicas or versions from later films like The Empire Strikes Back.

But this particular DL-44 has the receipts—literally. It’s been authenticated, matched with stills from the movie, and confirmed as the real deal. You could say it has a better backstory than some entire spinoff trilogies.

The blaster’s reappearance is the kind of event that makes auction houses buzz and collectors tremble. And yes, the hammer price could easily exceed that of some small spacecraft.

How Valuable Is It, Really?

Let’s just say this isn’t ending up in someone’s basement man cave next to an off-brand lightsaber. We’re talking museum-grade prop collecting.

To give you a sense of scale, another screen-used Han Solo blaster (from Return of the Jedi) sold for over $550,000 in 2018. That one wasn’t even the blaster from the first film. So, the weapon that introduced the DL-44 to cinema? Expect the final number to be somewhere between “yikes” and “how is that even real money?”

Even among high-end Star Wars collectors, this is top-tier stuff. It sits in the same echelon as Luke’s lightsaber, Vader’s helmet, or Carrie Fisher’s original Leia costume. These aren’t just props—they’re relics from one of the most influential movie sagas in history.

Why This Matters Beyond the Auction Price

Sure, the price tag makes headlines. But what really makes this blaster special is what it represents. Star Wars: A New Hope wasn’t just a film—it was the launchpad for an entire galaxy of storytelling, from movies and TV shows to novels, comics, and video games.

Han Solo’s blaster is a physical connection to that origin story. It’s a symbol of everything that followed. The rebellion. The expanded universe. The constant debate over whether Jedi should be allowed to love. All of it.

And let’s be real—there’s something poetic about this particular prop. Han never really belonged to anyone. He was a rogue, a wanderer, a wildcard. So it feels fitting that his blaster is now going rogue once again, waiting for a new owner bold (and rich) enough to claim it.

Final Thoughts: The Galaxy’s Coolest Collectible Is Looking for a New Smuggler

In a world full of movie props, there are those that collect dust on shelves, and then there are those that make history. Han Solo’s original A New Hope blaster is firmly in the latter category.

It’s not just an item for collectors—it’s a symbol of cinematic legacy, a call back to when the Star Wars universe first exploded into our lives. Whoever wins the auction isn’t just buying a prop. They’re buying a piece of the Force itself.

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