Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, March 26th. The auction will begin at 10:30AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, March 27th or Friday, March 28th.
Chewbacca's (Peter Mayhew) photo-matched bowcaster prop used in all three films of the original Star Wars trilogy with restored dressing components. Chewbacca's signature bowcaster served as his primary weapon in Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, and also featured in many well-known publicity photos. In addition to the three films, the bowcaster was also featured in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.
With a design as unique as the Wookiee himself, the bowcaster is the only blaster in the original Star Wars films based on a crossbow. Like other Star Wars props, it was built around a real-world weapon dressed with scopes and other greeblies for a futuristic look. The crossbow selected was manufactured by Horton Crossbows of Wales and rented to the production by BAPTY, the UK-based weapons rental facility that provided a number of firearm props for the Star Wars films.
This crossbow was stripped of its dressing at the end of filming on Return of the Jedi, but retains its original shoulder stock extension, custom-fabricated specifically for Jedi, as well as scopes originating from BAPTY of the correct model for the bowcaster and which may have originally been used on it or other Star Wars blasters. Highly accurate replica components have been installed to complete the aesthetic of the prop and restore it to its Return of the Jedi configuration, as it was last utilized by the Star Wars production team.
This is believed to be the one and only crossbow used as Chewie's bowcaster across all three films; there is no evidence of a second or back-up prop. This is extremely significant as only a small number of other hand props, if any, were used in all three movies. The crossbow was dressed for the first movie with a number of components: a multi-scope configuration with a Single Point scope and a pair of 4x20 scopes; a plate-setup with dials and other round greeblies installed in the open forearm; a pair of rubber balls mounted at the ends of the bow arm (likely for the safety of other performers); a barrel and front mounting block assembly with an integral D-ring; and a matching D-ring lashed onto the back of the shoulder stock with twine.
After production on the first film concluded, the bow was stripped of its original dressing. It was re-dressed for its appearance in the Star Wars Holiday Special, filmed circa Fall 1978, with similar but different components. This same revised configuration from the Holiday Special then carried on through The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. While the scope cluster was nearly identical to the original films, the re-dress for the Holiday Special and sequel films included new foregrip side plates that were longer and covered more of the opening, with an altered configuration of round knobs; the barrel assembly was different and mounted in a different manner; the rear D-ring was permanently installed, instead of being lashed on; and the coiled wires were installed on a single side rather than both sides. In Return of the Jedi, the bow was seen with the same dressing components and visible distressing from the prior film but with one notable change: the addition of a custom-fabricated shoulder stock extension at the back of the bow. This was added shortly after filming began on Jedi, presumably to make the prop a better fit for Mayhew's famously large frame.
After filming wrapped on the third film, most of the dressing components were removed, though the shoulder stock extension was left in place and unaltered, serving as a key indicator of the authenticity and origins of this piece. In addition to the remaining shoulder stock, unique scratching and weathering to the frame of this prop photo-matches to production stills from A New Hope, as well as to publicity photos of Chewbacca taken on Empire and Jedi.
BAPTY sold the crossbow in the early 1990s and at that time re-dressed the piece with the correct model scopes from its inventory. They also installed a replica barrel assembly, front site, and shoulder sling that were inaccurate to what was used on the prop in the films. These 1990s-era dressing elements were later removed and the prop restored to its Empire/Jedi configuration with the most accurate replica components available, recreated from the highest-quality reference stills of the original components.
The base crossbow itself is a Horton Magnum model manufactured by Horton Crossbows for the Single Point Company in the UK. It is made of cast metal with a nylon coating and bears no markings; when originally sold, the crossbow had a sticker as the manufacturer's mark. This specific model of crossbow was manufactured in low numbers and surviving examples are exceedingly rare. The shoulder stock extension was made from the stock of a real-world British STEN submachine gun. The STEN stock was cut down by production and welded to a plate, which was then fastened to the back of the crossbow stock with a pair of bolts. The bolts were then covered with two small metallic caps of the same type seen on other Jedi props, such as the bunker bomb charge, providing another indication of authenticity. The sides of the crossbow's frame exhibit remnants of glue near the assembly-pin holes where coiled wire was originally installed, while the ends of its horizontal limb (where the bowstring attaches) exhibit further evidence of glue where the rubber balls were installed during filming.
The replica dressing components are all faithful recreations of the pieces used on the prop in its Empire/Jedi configuration. They include the scope rings; the barrel assembly with the front mounting block and sight; the flat-plate assembly installed in the open foregrip with round dials attached (some dials are the same found real-world components, others are scratch-built recreations); coiled wire installed on the right side of the frame; and a pair of rubber balls added to the ends of the horizontal limb. These replica components have been installed with exacting archival-standard methods without altering the original bow in any way, and can be easily removed in the future if desired.
Chewbacca remains one of the most beloved and enduring characters of the Star Wars saga, and his bowcaster, a unique design among Star Wars props and the only key prop he utilized throughout the trilogy, is forever synonymous with the beloved Wookiee. Principal character Star Wars pieces are always rare and sought after, but this piece is especially desirable as all evidence indicates this is the only prop bowcaster used in the trilogy. Dimensions: 33" x 30" x 9" (84 cm x 76.25 cm x 23 cm)
Estimate: $250,000 - 500,000
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.