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Magnetic Accelerator (“Demolition Man,” 1993). When ’90s cop John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) and ’90s criminal mastermind Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) are awakened from cryogenic sleep to do battle in 2032, they find themselves in a society so pacified that weapons can only be found in a museum. So it’s in a museum that they arm up and do battle — blasting away with implements of destruction now considered beyond antique by a society of people that make Mennonites look warlike by comparison.

While most of the guns used would be familiar to anyone around to see the 20th century, Phoenix wonders where he can find the “phaser guns.” The closest he gets to something out of “Star Trek” is the “Magnetic Accelerator,” a rifle that shoots a powerful, lethal bolt of energy after taking a moment to charge.

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Actually, this gun might also be familiar to viewers, as it’s a copy of the Heckler & Koch G11, an experimental rifle developed and tested for over 20 years. The futuristic appearance and rarity of the weapon made it a good choice to stand in for a fictional weapon. Developed as a potential infantry rifle for western militaries, it featured caseless ammunition, meaning the bullets would fire without requiring a traditional shell shooting out of the weapon.

For “Demolition Man,” a nonfunctional copy of the G11 was loaned to the movie. While the G11 was ultimately abandoned due to logistical issues, it has become a staple in video games, where it has frequently appeared in titles such as “Call of Duty: Black Ops.” (go to page 3 to continue reading)[lz_pagination]