As I mentioned in one of my earlier articles, anyone who knows me knows that I’m a Trekkie, so it fills my heart with joy to write, yet again, about relics from my all-time favorite TV/Film franchise.
AUCTION PREVIEW: Browse Star Trek props and memorabilia in our special Star Trek Auction on February 22, 2022.
In November, we set a world record for an Original Series hand prop: the Phaser Rifle from the second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, that fetched an astounding $615,000! The prop Trek weapons I am discussing in this article are certainly of a very different variety and bygone era. Steel, gunpowder, and lead have been long replaced by pulsed-energy projectiles and the future tech in the 22nd Century universe of Star Trek. In other words, Phasers, these most certainly are not!!
Used in the first season episode “The Squire of Gothos”…
The whole bridge crew are the unwilling guests of the creature who calls himself Trelane. We are weaponless, powerless, and our only hope of escape with the Enterprise lies in playing his games. I’ve decided to make my move with the field-of-honor game, and everything depends on my one chance with the ancient dueling pistol.
Captain’s Log, stardate 2126.1 Delayed report.
The prop department at Desilu obtained this beautiful, matched pair of Belgium-made dueling/target pistols (ca. 1880s) for this episode. When challenged to a duel by “Captain Kirk” (William Shatner), “Trelane” (William Campbell) pulls a wooden box from his mantle shelf and proclaims, “A matched set. Just like the pair that slew your heroic Alexander Hamilton. And Captain, I never miss.” Kirk and Trelane each grab a pistol and Kirk shoots Trelane’s a mirror revealing the mechanical workings of the illusion generator he and his crew have been trapped within. “The Squire of Gothos” is a fan-favorite and influential episode. Of particular note in Star Trek lore, “Trelane” inspired the immensely powerful alien character “Q” in Star Trek: The Next Generation. These dueling pistols were originally from the collection of Ellis Props & Graphics that rented them to Desilu Productions for this episode. They are accompanied by a PM&G, Inc. photo-matched certification.
Exceptional “crossover” artifacts, being classic antique 19th-century dueling pistols which also served as key props in a revered episode of the most influential science fiction television series of all time. The Special Star Trek Auction will take place on February 22nd, 2022. Until then…
Keep your subatomic particles dry!
Brian Changes
LEAVE A COMMENT: What is your favorite “holy grail” prop from Star Trek?
My holy grail prop from Star Trek would be a vial of the Green Girl’s tears.
Great article.
Thanks for this post about STar Trek, my fave TV show of all time.