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Set phaser rifle auction to stun: Star Trek prop once used by Captain Kirk sold for $231,000 - over FOUR times its estimated price



A unique phaser rifle produced for the iconic 1960s Star Trek original series has been sold for $231,000 by Californian auction house Julien's.


Created by famed toy designer Reuebn Klamer for Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, the sale is the second largest ever for a prop from the show - beaten only by the $304,750 one collector paid for a captain's chair in 2008.


Produced after NBC made the unusual decision to order a second pilot of the show in 1965, demanding it be 'more action-packed', the rifle was in response to Roddenberry's demands 'for a really big gun'.

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To Boldly Be Sold: The unique rifle produced for the second pilot of Star Trek entitled 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' was auctioned for $231,000 on Saturday

Klamer sketched out and built the wood-aluminium prop at no charge to Roddenberry in exchange for licensing rights for toys to the weapon - predating George Lucas' similar move with Star Wars merchandising profits just over one decade later.




Returned to Klamer once revised pilot 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' had wrapped up filming, the rifle made subsequent appearances only in studio-commissioned publicity photos and even made the front of a lunch box for the series.



William Shatner as Captain Kirk used the rifle to great effect in 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' which aired in 1966



The USS Enterprise from the 1960s television show: Gene Roddenberry was granted the rare opportunity to produce a second pilot for NBC - after his first attempt was declined





Designer Reuben Klamer created the weapon after NBC asked that the 'Star Trek' pilot be 'retooled for a more action-packed adventure.'

Constructed out of wood and finished with blue/green metallic paint, the weapon has aged extremely well and has additional detailing, including a hand-tooled aluminum barrel and three plastic domed indicator lights - presumably to be used by Captain Kirk to set the phaser to stun.


The weapon comes in the original custom-made case made to deliver the rifle to the studio and a letter signed by Roddenberry for approval in 1965 finalizing the plans for the rifle.


'Where No Man Has Gone Before' was produced in 1965 after the first pilot, 'The Cage' was rejected by NBC.


To get another chance at producing a pilot was as rare then as it is now and accordingly, along with bringing in the meatier phaser rifle, Roddenberry made changes to the case.



Toy designer Reuben Klamer produced the rifle at the request of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry who wanted to beef up his fledgling outer space Western-style series









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Letters and photographs during correspondence between Klamer and Roddenberry and the production of the rifle for Star Trek

Out went Jeffrey Hunter who had played the USS Enterprise's second captain, Christopher Pike - replacing him was of course, William Shatner, who went on to define his own career in the role of Captain James T. Kirk.


Also brought in were James Doohan as Chief Engineer Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott and George Takei as Lt. Sulu - completing the cast that would appear in three series and six films together over the course of the next 25-years.


The story of 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' revolves around a Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell, who gains telepathic and telekentic powers that threatened to destroy the crew.






Gary Mitchell (played by Gary Lockwood) from the Star Trek episode 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' - it is rumored that his character may make a reappearance in the the new Star Trek Into Darkness film played by Benedict Cumberbatch (right)

Captain Kirk eventually kills Mitchell with the phaser rifle by causing a landslide to fall on-top of him during their final climactic duel.


Indeed, the story of 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' has gained such iconic status among fans of the long-running franchise that speculation is high that Lt. Gary Mitchell could be the villain in the new Star Trek film 'Into Darkness' which premiers this summer.


Fans have taken to the Internet to discuss the possible identity of the unidentified character played by British actor Benedict Cumberbatch - with many coming to the conclusion that he is in someway inspired by story of 'Where No Man Has Gone Before'.

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