Orlando, FL (June 24, 2018) – In June of 2017, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! purchased the lightsaber® used by Luke Skywalker™ himself, Mark Hamill, in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™. Just this May, Ripley’s bought the R2-D2® that ran for decades at Walt Disney World® Resort, , and now they have Han Solo’s blaster from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
The blaster was purchased at Julien’s Auctions on Saturday, June 23, 2018, for $550,000, making it the most expensive item in Ripley’s Star Wars collection – beating out the lightsaber purchased for $450,000.
Photo © Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
According to Julien’s Auctions, the blaster is “An original production used “BlasTech DL-44” blaster prop used by Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Return of the Jedi (Lucasfilm, 1983). The prop is custom made, built on a metal working non-firing model version of the German Mauser C96 (“Broomhandle Mauser”) from MGC (Model Gun Corporation) of Japan with additional found parts, greblies and cast resin pieces added on, creating one of the most iconic sci-fi weapons in the history of film.”
Edward Meyer, former Vice President of Exhibits and Archives for Ripley Entertainment, who recently retired just a week ago, came out of retirement to bid on the iconic movie prop.
“We now own three of the most significant icons of Star Wars film history: the blaster, R2-D2, and the lightsaber. Combine these with our giant matchstick Millennium Falcon and Ripley’s can say we have the most significant collection of Star Wars exhibitory in this universe. Julien’s is a great auction house and made this purchase fun and exciting!” – Edward Meyer.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010 Cell: 727-439-0136
About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. www.ripleys.com family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.
Star Wars®, Lightsaber®, The Last Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back, and R2-D2 are trademarks of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC and/or Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC. Lucasfilm is not affiliated with, endorsing or sponsoring this display or press release. Walt Disney World® is a registered trademark of Disney. Disney is not affiliated with, endorsing or sponsoring this display or press release.
