The 'blaster' gun used by Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back has emerged for sale for $300,000 (£208,000) after it was gifted to a British fan of Star Wars.

The DL-44 Blaster was used by Mark Hamill's character in the cult 1980 movie and is in original filming condition.

It is the same model used by Han Solo, Harrison Ford's character, in the first Star Wars film and was custom-made by making a cast of it.

The Star Wars fan, known only as Daniel, wrote to Jim'll Fix It asking for presenter Jimmy Savile to arrange it for him to have a picnic with Luke Skywalker.

Mark Hamill, pictured here as Luke Skywalker with R2-D2, used the DL-44 Blaster in the non-shooting scenes of The Empire Strikes Back.

The prop, which is 12 inches long, is made from grey, silver and brown-colored fiberglass and was used by Hamill for all the non-firing scenes.

In The Empire Strikes Back - the fifth instalment of the Star Wars series - Luke holds the weapon aloft as he cautiously makes his way through the corridors of Cloud City which has been taken over by Darth Vader.

The actual design of the blaster was based on the German Mauser C96 pistol.

Hamill gave the prop to an eight-year-old British boy named only as Daniel when he appeared on BBC's Jim'll Fix It show in 1979 having a picnic with 'Luke Skywalker'.

The prop, which is 12 inches long, is made from grey, silver and brown-colored fiberglass. It is in filming condition, including one glued section, and still has its original flash suppressor and scope.

The blaster will become Hollywood's most expensive screen weapon if it sells for its $300,000 estimate.

It is now owned by a private collector but is in very good condition and still has its original flash suppressor and scope. It does have some wear from filming, including one glued section.

The film prop is for sale at auctioneers Nate D. Sanders in Los Angeles and is expected to sell for $300,000.

Sam Heller, from the auctioneers, said: "This is a very rare and desirable piece of Star Wars history.

"The recently released Star Wars flick, The Force Awakens, is on pace to become the highest-grossing film of all-time.

"And Luke Skywalker is one of the most beloved cinematic characters of all-time.

"Collectors will cherish Skywalker's Blaster Gun, which was used in the Rebel Alliance's battle against the evil Galactic Empire."

Daniel appeared on Jim'll Fix It in 1979.

A similar gun used by Harrison Ford as Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold for $200,000 (£140,000) in 2013.

The Empire Strikes Back became the most critically acclaimed chapter in the Star Wars saga and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

It was the highest-grossing film of 1980 and has earned more than $538million worldwide to date.

The online auction will end on January 28.

The blaster will become Hollywood's most expensive screen weapon if it sells for its estimate.

That record is currently held by the pistol used by Harrison Ford's character Rick Deckard in the 1982 film Blade Runner, which sold for $207,000 in 2009.

It would also become the best selling Star Wars weapon if it beats the $240,000 made by Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from the original 1977 Star Wars film, which sold in 2008.



