The Top 5 Guns Used In STAR WARS

Star Wars blasters vs real firearms

The hosts open with a May the 4th theme and a debate over which Star Wars trilogy is better, with one favoring the originals and another defending the prequels. They set up the episode as a top five list of Star Wars blaster weapons that have clear ties to real-world guns. One host insists they are blasters rather than firearms, while another notes that some props actually fired projectiles. A third participant joins as a referee and historical commentator, explaining that many Star Wars blasters were visually built from classic firearms. The group plans to alternate picks between original trilogy and prequel-focused choices, using the discussion to highlight both on-screen moments and the underlying gun designs.

Original trilogy vs prequels and list setup

The conversation turns into playful arguing over which era of Star Wars is superior. One host champions Episodes IV, V, and VI as the “real” Star Wars, criticizing heavy CGI and praising practical effects and models. Another defends the prequel trilogy, arguing that its lightsaber duels and choreography surpass the originals, referencing characters like Yoda performing acrobatic moves. They clarify that one list leans toward prequels and animated material, while the other focuses on the original films. The referee-style host explains his role: to keep the debate moving, provide context on the real firearms behind the blasters, and occasionally mediate the age and trilogy jokes that keep surfacing.

Number 5: DDC Defender and Tusken Cycler rifle

For the first entry, one host selects the DDC Defender, the compact blaster used by Princess Leia in A New Hope. They reference the scene where Leia stuns a target and joke about not having the iconic hair buns. The opposing pick for number five is the Tusken Cycler rifle, used by Tusken Raiders and noted as a weapon that actually fires physical projectiles rather than pure energy bolts. The hosts mention that a blaster-style version of the Tusken weapon also appears in both the prequels and sequels. This pairing sets up the episode’s pattern: contrasting a sleek, senator’s-daughter sidearm with a crude, tribal long gun that still has a basis in real historical rifles.

Jazail rifles and Ruger .22 pistol lineage

The historical commentator explains that the Tusken Cycler rifle is visually modeled on the Jazail, a family of muskets and rifles used from Afghanistan through Central Asia into Turkey. These long guns were associated with nomadic groups in arid, mountainous regions, making the desert-dwelling Tusken Raiders an appropriate fictional analogue. He describes the Jazail’s long barrel for extended sight radius and its sharply curved stock, which could be hooked under the arm for better control during mounted use, somewhat like a modern brace. Turning to Leia’s DDC Defender, he notes its resemblance to classic .22 target pistols such as the Ruger Mark series and competition-style designs like the Vostok Margolin. These .22 pistols are known for low recoil and precision shooting, which fits the more refined, elegant sidearm aesthetic given to Leia.

Number 4: T21 heavy blaster and BlasTech A295

At number four, one host picks the T21 heavy blaster, carried by Imperial stormtroopers and seen more extensively in Clone Wars-era material and related lore. It is highlighted as a strong performer in Battlefront gameplay and associated with heavy-support roles. The other host counters with the BlasTech A295, used by Rebel forces during the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. The on-screen A295 prop is built from the STG44, widely regarded as the first true assault rifle. The discussion briefly touches on the Hoth battle’s impact and the Rebels’ eventual defeat, while still acknowledging the memorable ground combat and the use of these rifles against large Imperial walkers. The segment emphasizes how both blasters are rooted in historically significant support and infantry weapons.

STG44 and Lewis gun design details

The commentator dives into the STG44’s importance, describing it as a select-fire rifle chambered for an intermediate cartridge, more powerful than pistol calibers yet less than full-size rifle rounds like 8mm Mauser. This balance allowed controllable automatic fire and influenced later assault rifle development. He notes earlier concepts such as the Federov Avtomat and Italian designs like the Beretta 38 series that blended semi and full-auto capabilities. Shifting to the T21’s inspiration, he identifies it as a dressed-up Lewis gun, originally a British light machine gun designed by an American who had moved to Europe. The Lewis gun typically used .303 British and featured a distinctive top-mounted pan magazine and a shrouded barrel with a long-stroke gas piston system. Variants were also chambered in calibers like 7.62x54R when adopted by other countries. The hosts joke about stormtrooper accuracy versus clone troopers while reinforcing how closely Star Wars props track these real designs.

Number 3: BlasTech DLT-19 heavy blaster

Moving to number three, the hosts introduce the BlasTech DLT-19 heavy blaster, another support-style weapon used by Imperial forces. One host notes that research for the episode revealed just how many Star Wars blasters are essentially real guns with added scopes, greebles, and cosmetic changes rather than entirely new shapes. They remark that many props appear to be existing firearms with multiple optics and attachments stacked on them. The discussion sets up a deeper look at how production teams modified recognizable platforms into science-fiction weapons, though the detailed breakdown of the DLT-19’s specific base gun and mechanics is left for later in the video. The segment reinforces the theme that Star Wars armory design is grounded in practical, functioning firearms dressed for a different universe.