Most firearms that make their way from private hands through the Rock Island Auction Company usually sell for anywhere between tens of thousands up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, a few select items often fetch much higher prices stretching all the way into seven-figure territory. We previously reported that Han Solo’s DL-44 Blaster pistol from the 1977 film Star Wars would be going up for auction at the end of August. With the conclusion of the August 2022 Rock Island Premier Firearms Auction, we’ve finally got the results and were surprised to hear that the DL-44 Heavy Blaster pistol prop sold for a whopping $1,057,500. Full details and the results from a handful of other famous pieces will be posted below.

More from RIAC @ TFB: 

• Wheelgun Wednesday: Wild Bill Hickok’s Smith & Wesson Model No. 2 Old Army Revolver
• President Ulysses Grant’s Revolvers Sold at RIAC for $5,170,000
• Wheelgun Wednesday: Colt 1851 Navy Revolver Attributed to Wild Bill Hickok

Han Solo’s DL-44 Blaster Sells for Over $1M at RIAC’s Premier Auction

The only surviving blaster originally used by Harrison Ford as Han Solo in “Star Wars: A New Hope” sold at Rock Island Auction Company’s August Premier Auction for $1,057,500. Han Solo’s blaster headlined the three-day event that drew international interest and achieved over $23 million.

Interest in the iconic blaster was hotter than the twin suns of Tatooine in the run-up to the auction. The BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster was estimated to bring between $300,000 – $500,000. Bidding quickly blew past the estimate as well as the 2018 sale of a blaster prop used in “Return of the Jedi” for $550,000.

We know how passionate fine arms collectors can be and it’s great to see that same energy in other fields of collecting,” said Kevin Hogan, President of Rock Island Auction Company. “We’re grateful for the excitement and support generated for this auction. It’s yet another demonstration of the growing markets for collectibles and fine arms.”

The prop, one of three made for the 1977 film, was previously considered missing and presumed lost forever. The gun had been in the inventory of Bapty & Co., a London prop house that provided numerous weapons for “A New Hope.

The Finest Known 1891 Production Colt Single Action Army

In addition to the DL-44 blaster selling for a pretty hefty sum, a couple of other firearms we also covered in the lead-up to the August 2022 Premier Firearms Auction also fetched pretty high prices including the finest known 1891 production Colt Single Action Army which sold for $763,750, Wild Bill Hickock’s Smith & Wesson No. 2 revolver which sold for $235,000, as well as Lara Croft’s brace of HK match pistols from the film Tomb Raider that sold for $35,250.

Wild Bill Hickock’s Smith & Wesson No. 2 revolver

It seems that interest in Hollywood Memorabilia, especially firearms, is continuing to grow and I’m sure we can expect to see more and more silver screen firearms make their way out of private hands and into the auction world. My best guess is that in no less than 10 years we’ll probably be seeing John Wick’s custom H&K P30L make its way to the Rock Island Auction to be picked up by an interested collector. What are your thoughts on the results of the RIAC August 2022 Premier Firearms Auction? Did the firearms we covered sell for what you expected them to or did any of the results surprise you? Let us know down in the comments!