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Deckard’s Blaster (“Blade Runner,” 1982). Initially a box-office and critical bomb, Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi film “Blade Runner” is now hailed as one of cinema’s most influential masterpieces. Harrison Ford played Rick Deckard, a trenchcoat-clad special police officer in a dreary, rain-soaked 2019 Los Angeles who “retires” rogue humanlike machines known as “replicants.”

The replicants are smart, strong, and virtually indistinguishable from regular humans. Deckard’s sidearm, used to kill three replicants, is known as a “blaster.”

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A peculiar-looking handgun, the blaster is strange enough to stump even dedicated gun enthusiasts. In truth, it’s a combination of a Steyer Mannlicher Model SL .222 receiver and a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special. The rifle’s receiver was essentially bolted on over the Charter Arms handgun, with the Steyer’s magazine and some LED lights added to make it even more futuristic in appearance.

The blaster is fired only a few times, but its unusual aesthetic and presence in an awe-inspiring cinema classic make it an unforgettable piece of fake-movie-gun history. Look for it to reappear in “Blade Runner 2049,” which stars Ford and Ryan Gosling, later this year. (go to page 4 to continue reading)[lz_pagination]