Armorer Works Custom DL-44 Smuggler Heavy Blaster

The DL-44 is instantly recognisable as Han Solo's iconic blaster pistol as seen in famous movies; such as "A New Hope" in which Han famously kills a bounty hunter. This scene has been a hot topic since the release of the film in 1977, who really did shoot first? The Armorer Works Custom DL-44 Smuggler Heavy Blaster won't quite offer you the same protection against space pirates, but it can be used to take out foes on the skirmish field or make a beautiful display piece.

The DL-44 heavy blaster does not come prebuilt, the parts come in two separate boxes. In one box, you will find an Armourer Works M1932 base gun and magazine, the other box contains the Smuggler muzzle device and scope. The M1932 is functional with or without the Smuggler attachments, cocky scoundrel today, WW2 reenactor tomorrow!

The muzzle device is attached to the barrel via a grub screw and the scope plus its mount are attached to the right side of the receiver with knurled thumb screw. All the necessary screws are provided in this custom kit and most feature toolless attachment methods, although a Phillips head screwdriver is needed for one screw and an Allen key can be used to tighten the grub screw if needed.

To begin with, the two double-sided knurled thumb screws are screwed into the right of the receiver. The holes are predrilled, and the shorter screw length is the side attached to the M1932. After this, the scope mount can be placed on the two protruding screws, then the Phillips head screw is inserted into the centre of the mount to secure it to the receiver. Next, slide the scope onto the mount from the back of the pistol and make sure to push it as far as possible so it is secure. Finally, the two knurled thumb nuts can be screwed onto the scope mount, this will ensure the scope won't fall off.

It is a lot simpler to attach the muzzle device to the M1932 to finish the DL-44 Smuggler Heavy Blaster look. The muzzle device comes pre-built and simply slides over the barrel all the way to the receiver. After this, the grub screw can then be tightened into the muzzle device to securely attach it to the M1932's barrel. Unfortunately, one thing we did notice with this grub screw is that it may cause scratching to the base gun barrel. However, if you want to keep your pistol looking exclusively like Han Solo's DL-44 blaster, the potential scratching to the M1972's barrel will not be visible on the finished product.

Now that your Smuggler Blaster is fully constructed, let's talk about its distinctive looks and features. This replica DL-44 blaster features a full metal construction with a faux wood pistol grip. Its design is a perfect recreation of the iconic movie pistol making it perfect for cosplaying or amassing a sci-fi paraphernalia collection.

Starting at the front of the blaster we find the muzzle device, it looks like the MG81 flash cone, this is because a lot of the props used in the movies were real-life guns and attachments, hence the reason the base platform for this DL-44 is an M1932. The flash cone really does add a futuristic look to the blaster, the 1977 prop makers had some serious brilliance when it came to designing their space blasters.

Moving rearwards past the muzzle device we reach the receiver. The upper and lower receiver are constructed from alloy and finished in a glossy black. The ejection port is located on the top, just like the real thing, showing off some detail in the form of a recess on the top to mimic the extractor on the real steel M1932 and Han Solo's blaster.

The Smuggler scope is mounted on the right side of the receiver. It is a dummy telescopic scope that doesn't particularly magnify very well, not optimal for skirmishing, but very good for keeping this blaster looking true to its movie counterpart. It also features a dummy magnification adjustment turret on the top of it, its gold colour matches the trimmings found around both lenses at either end of the scope. The scope design is stunning and looks identical to the one seen in the films, sci-fi nerds can definitely appreciate Armorer Works high level of attention to detail.

Behind the ejection port, we have a rear iron sight, a tangent design like the KAR98K and AK rifles. The sight is adjustable for elevation via the button on the right side, allowing you to adjust the height of the sight notch for different ranges. The sight graduations go from 50 meters out to 1000, a bit optimistic for an Airsoft gun! The control to adjust the sight graduation is difficult to access with the Smuggler scope attached but it is a small sacrifice for an amazing movie replica!

The bolt carrier is located on the rear of the upper receiver, just in front of the hammer, offering two textured protrusions to manipulate it, one on each side. Like your usual GBB pistol, the DL-44 requires cocking before the first shot, and each time you pull the trigger the bolt flies back under gas pressure to load your next shot. The manual safety is located on the rear left of the receiver next to the hammer, within reach of the thumb, it can only be activated when the hammer is cocked. The safety disables the trigger but it can still be pulled; if you find your trigger is spongy and doesn't fire a shot, the safety is probably on!

Moving to the lower receiver, we can find the fire selector switch just above the iconic grip, offering two modes of fire; semi-automatic and full automatic. To switch modes, press the textured button in the centre and the selector can then be rotated, with an "N" to denote semi-auto and an "R" for full auto. The N stands for Normalfeuer (normal fire) and the R stands for Reihenfeuer (serial fire), an authentic nod to the real M712 that the DL-44 is based on.

The magazine release is over on the right side, just in front of the trigger, taking the form of a round textured button which is very easy to reach, similarly positioned to that of an M4/AR-15 rifle. However, with the scope mount attached to the pistol, reaching the mag release can be a bit difficult as only the bottom half of the button is accessible. With some practice though you can still press this button with relative ease.

Last but certainly not least, we come to the pistol grip which is what gives the base gun, the M1932, the nickname "Broomhandle". This grip takes the form of two faux wood polymer panels with linear gripping grooves screwed onto an alloy tang which is integral to the receiver. The grips look great, offering a respectable faux wood finish without the maintenance needs and delicate nature of real wood.

Suppose you need a space pistol to aid you in your smuggling escapades, or maybe you fancy a stunningly realistic replica of your favourite laser-brained scoundrel's blaster pistol to display for other nerds to appreciate. The Armorer Works Custom DL-44 Smuggler Heavy Blaster is a need for any sci-fi fan or those trying to create a space cowboy loadout! Just make sure you clearly draw first in any gunfight, otherwise, it may be a hot topic of discussion for many years to follow...

Features

• Movie-accurate replica 
• Functional M1932 base platform
• Smuggler muzzle device and dummy magnification scope
• Insane rate of fire in full auto
• Perfectly captures the retrofuturism style
• Push button magazine release - Similar to an AR, well within reach of the trigger finger
• Two-position fire selector - Press the central button to rotate, N for semi-auto, R for full-auto
• Manual safety catch - On the rear left of the frame, disconnects the trigger when the hammer is cocked
• Ring hammer - Textured for extra grip, ideal for recocking in the event of a light strike in the real steel
• Eye-catching design 
• Faux wood grip panels - Iconic Broomhandle shape, grooves for grip & superb woodgrain texture
• Suitable for Airsoft skirmishers and collectors 

Package Includes

• Armorer Works Custom DL-44 Smuggler Heavy Blaster
  • Armourer works M1932 base gun
  • Smuggler blaster kit