How to tell the difference between a vintage and repro. weapon

[aka DaBigKahuna]

Thanks Matt / Dale I asked my quesiton too soon, as then I read the bendy thread over at RS - whew, this stuff is confusing.

Have a productive day -


Matt

[DSJ™]

I am going to do some digging around. I have seen questions before on real & reproduction weapons in the past. When I find the links, I will post them here. Will take some time.  

[JediMAC]

Dale the Bespin, Han, or Nien gun that is grey is fake?  

Let me clarify on this, since you're actually talking about two different guns here.

The Bespin Han gun was mostly a dark blue (or possibly very dark grey).  But that same gun later evolved into a lighter grey color when it was issued with such figures as Squid Face.  So I think that gun can come in both colors.

The gun that comes with Nien Numb (as well as the Tie Fighter Pilot and Cloud Car Pilot) comes in both grey and black.  Not exactly sure which came with whom, but both colors are legit here.

The regular Han gun that Dale's got pictured above NEVER came in grey though...

Confused enough now Matthew?!    

[aka DaBigKahuna]

Like I said...whew!

[Sith Bounty Hunter]

Not that sure. I guess a vintage weapon is probably more wore out, damaged, ect... than a repro weapon.

[DSJ™]

There we go.    Will update in time but if you have any links or questions, post them here.  

[aka DaBigKahuna]

I found the site to be a fantastic for the identification purposes.

http://www.loresdelsith.net/rincon/armeria/index2.htm


-Fish-  

[DSJ™]

Heres a really nice site with lots of pictures & discriptions between original & reproductions.

The Armory of the Jawas

I noticed that Billy Boy is mentioned in the acknowledgements.  

[DSJ™]

Ha, ha. Great minds think alike.    Posted at the same time.  

[aka DaBigKahuna]

LOL


-Fish-

[E.Z.]

I know there are websites that answer most repro and color questions but I'm writing this list out anyways, as I've spent 6 months bending, comparing, dropping, and analyzing what feels like 1000 weapons and I'd hate to see all that time wasted. You should have seen the look on my wife's face the first time she saw me dropping weapons on a table. It's been a very frustrating and expensive learning experience to say the least. How many figures did I buy complete only to have to sell them back weaponless for a quarter of what I paid. If I get a repro it goes right in the garbage. Anyways hopefully it helps someone one day.

This list doesn't deal with repros as much as it deals with colors. Keep in mind that in some cases figures were packed with the wrong colored weapons, particullary with Tri-Logos. They are not listed of course as they are the wrong weapon.

Things to watch out for:

Painted weapons; In almost every case Kenner weapons are supposed to be molded in the color they are. If you think the weapon is painted (It appears too glossy), scratch it or bend it, if the paint comes off it's a repro. The repro lightsabers are often painted.

Color; So many repros are the wrong color. Blue, Grey, and Black are the often used wrong colors. If you have a grey Stormtrooper blaster or a Han blaster it's a fake.

Bendable; Repros are often not very flexible and will sometimes snap or feel like they are going to when bent. They are often resin based and will be very white on the inside. You want to see the same color on the inside that you see on the outside. (Although there will be white stress markings when bent on a real weapon)

Drop Test; The really crappy repros are easy to hear when dropped. They have a high pitched sound. Use this when you have a real one to compare.




Star Wars

Luke Skywalker: Yellow
Chewbacca: Black, Green
Princess Leia: Black
Stormtrooper: Black
Han Solo: Black
DSC (Stormtrooper Blaster): Black
Ben Kenobi: Blue
Jawa: Black
Sand People: Brown
Darth Vader: Red
Greedo (Han Blaster): Black
Hammerhead (Stormtrooper Blaster): Black
Snaggletooth  (Han Blaster): Black
Walrusman (Stormtrooper Blaster): Black
Luke X-Wing (Han Blaster): Black
Boba Fett: (Stormtrooper Blaster): Black


ESB

Bossk: Blue
Ugnaught (Bag): White
Bespin Security Guards (Bespin Gun): Blue
Imperial Stormtrooper Hoth (Dengar Rifle): Blue
Lando (Bespin Blaster): Blue
Luke Bespin (Han Blaster) (Saber): Blue Yellow
Han Solo Hoth (Han Blaster): Blue
Leia Bespin (Leia Blaster): Blue
Leia Hoth (Leia Blaster): Blue
Rebel Soldier: (Bespin Blaster): Blue
Yoda (Snake): Orange Brown Green
Dengar (Dengar/Snowtrooper Rifle): Blue
Han Bespin (Bespin Gun): Blue
Lobot (Bespin Gun): Blue
AT-AT Driver (Luke Hoth Rifle): Black
Luke Hoth (Luke Hoth/AT-AT/Rebel Commander): Black
Imperial Commander (Stormtrooper Blaster): Blue
2-1B: Silver
Rebel Commander (Luke Hoth/AT-AT/Rebel Commander): Black
AT-AT Commander (Bespin Blaster): Blue
Cloud Car Pilot (Nien Nunb, CCP, Tie Fighter Pilot Blaster) (Commlink): Grey
Tie Fighter Pilot (Nien Nunb, CCP, Tie Fighter Pilot Blaster) Grey
2-1B: Silver
4-LOM: Black
Zuckuss: Black


ROTJ

Admiral Ackbar: Black
Bib Fortuna: Brown
Biker Scout: Grey
Cheif Chirpa: Brown
ERG: Grey
Klaatu (Lando Skiff/Klaatu/Weequay): Grey
Gammorean Guard : Grey and Brown
General Mandine: White
Logray: Black
Luke Jedi (Lando General/Luke Jedi/Luke Poncho): Grey or Brownish Grey
Ree Yees: Gold
Rancor Keeper: Grey
Squid Head (Bespin Blaster): Grey
Weequay (Lando Skiff/Klaatu/Weequay): Grey
Klaatu Skiff: Grey
Rebel Commando: Brown
Leia Boussh: Black
Nikto (Yak Face/Nikto/Barada): Grey
Emperor:  Black
AT-ST Driver (Leia Poncho/AT-ST Driver/B-Wing/Imperial Gunner/Awing): Blue
B-Wing Pilot (Leia Poncho/AT-ST Driver/B-Wing/Imperial Gunner/Awing): Blue
Leia Poncho (Leia Poncho/AT-ST Driver/B-Wing/Imperial Gunner/Awing): Blue
Han Trench (Han Blaster): Black
Prune Face: Brown
Teebo: Beige
Wicket: (Wicket/Romba) Brown
Lumat (Lumat/Warok Bow): Light Brown/Orange
Paploo: Brown

POTF

Imp. Gunner (Leia Poncho/AT-ST Driver/B-Wing/Imperial Gunner/Awing): Black
A-Wing Pilot (Leia Poncho/AT-ST Driver/B-Wing/Imperial Gunner/Awing): Black
Luke Stormtrooper (Stormtrooper Blaster): Black
Yak Face (Yak Face/Nikto/Barada): Grey
Barada (Yak Face/Nikto/Barada): Grey
Luke Poncho (Lando General/Luke Jedi/Luke Poncho): Black
Lando General (Lando General/Luke Jedi/Luke Poncho): Black
Romba (Wicket/Romba): Brown
Warok (Lumat/Warok Bow):  Dark Brown

[DSJ™]

Nice list Shawn.    Dropping weapons is fun & the looks you get.     Takes a bit of time to get the sound down pat, I don't know how many times I dropped the same weapons over & over just to make sure.  

I bought 2 different packs of repros weapons a couple yrs back & keep them in a marked case. One thing I find handy is a magnifying light. Gets you up close & personal with the weapons.  

[E.Z.]

Thanks Dale.  

I lke the idea of the magnifying light, it must really help for the blue weapons (to see through them - which really helps in telling if they are real, as you can't see through painted weapons).  I'd always put them up to the ceiling light but that sounds much easier.  

I'd hate to be building a collection 5-10 years from now as it seems everyone is getting into the repro game. It is only a matter of time before repros outnumber the real, if that isn't already the case.

[DSJ™]

Speaking of dark weapons. I played around with the repro sabers I have. I scraped some of the paint on one side & man it looks like crap!



So I wonder how many more repro weapons I can scrap!  
 

[E.Z.]

Man do they look like crap Dale!

At least with some the repros they made it easy to check.