At its core, Star Wars is about the fight between good and evil, and for that you need tools of war—whether it be a battered X-wing pilot’s helmet or a Wookiee’s bowcaster. But whatever their fictional origins, these props were inspired by objects from our world. Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for Han Solo’s blaster, but that blaster is based on the German Mauser pistol. Those tough-to-aim stormtrooper rifles? Modeled on the Sterling submachine gun. And just like here on Earth, the arms in the Star Wars universe evolve over time. Consider the iconic lightsaber—an elegant weapon from a more civilized age—which has morphed into Kylo Ren’s fire-breathing crossguard weapon. The forked saber may be new in that faraway galaxy, but the similarity to an old European sword is neither clumsy nor random. Above, enjoy a few dozen (seriously) of the helmets, firearms, and sabers you'll be able to catch a glimpse of in Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it comes out on December 18.