Profiles in History sale #24, lot #306
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Profiles In History Catalog Listing
| SALE: Hollywood Auction 24 | ESTIMATE: $2000 - $3000 PRICE: $3250 |
| Original Laser Pistol from the Star Trek pilot episode, “The Cage” | |
| (NBC-TV, 1966-69) Called a “Hand Laser” or “Laser Pistol” before the term “Phaser” came into the terminology, this rare original weapon from the Star Trek pilot episode is made of cast resin, with a black painted frame and handgrip featuring silver “basket-weave” detailing. The original brass barrel tip and aluminum rings are not present, and a section of resin is missing from the left side of the frame. However – and most significantly – there is evidence of adhesive residue on the frame in the form of faint shadow markings, exactly at the locations where the prop was later modified for subsequent episodes of Star Trek. Those episodes are “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, “The Man Trap” and “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”, and in these the laser pistol was retrofitted with original side buttons (which were actually typewriter keys!) and a circular disc at the rear of the frame for use by other characters. This piece comes direct from the collection of Henry Renshaw, a financial representative at Paramount from 1948-75, and includes a letter of provenance from Renshaw which states that he was given this prop by Russ Brown, an executive in charge of the back lot departments at Paramount. The missing pieces on the pistol and the damage to the frame was caused (almost incredibly!) by his children, who used this prop as a play toy in the days when such things were considered useless production remnants. In spite of its current condition, this is an exceedingly rare piece and believed to be one of only four made for the production. Measures 5 1/4 in. long (barrel, tip-to-tip) and 5 in. tall from bottom of handgrip to the top of the barrel frame. | |