Bidding for this lot will end on Friday, December 5th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM GMT (7:00AM PST) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Saturday, December 6th or Sunday, December 7th.

Johnny Rico's (Casper Van Dien) hero Tanker Bug-bloodied Morita MK I rifle with a screen-matched sling from Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers. In one of the film's most memorable action sequences, Rico leapt onto the back of a colossal Tanker, shot a blood-spattering hole into it with his Morita MK I rifle, then tossed a grenade into its open wound, heroically killing the massive armoured Bug on Tango Urilla. Jean Rasczak (Michael Ironside) later promoted Rico to Corporal of Roughnecks 2-0. Unique, organic Bug blood splatter patterns and a deformity visible in the middle of the webbing where the slider buckle lays on the sling in this lot screen-matches it to the promotion sequence.

A uniquely entertaining combination of sci-fi action and political satire that has earned the film a cult following in the decades since its release, Starship Troopers was nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 70th Academy Awards®. Van Dien's performance was a particular fan favourite and highlighted by some critics upon the film's initial release, with Van Dien returning as Rico in both the third and fifth films in the franchise.

Both practical, live-firing and static rubber versions of the United Citizens Federation's (UCF) standard-issue Morita MK I rifles were created for the film. During production, this hero Morita MK I rifle with serial number "186-63057" engraved on bottom utilized a real-world Ruger Mini-14 rifle modified to fire blanks only. The rifle was originally concealed inside this fibreglass shell, which is detailed with a ribbed pistol grip, a pump shotgun trigger, and a shotgun and painted to resemble a more futuristic combination weapon.

This hero shell was created by Hollywood weapons effects company WKR after Academy Award®-winning special effects department head John Richardson opted to use real weapons hidden inside of stylised outer shells based on his previous success with that technique on James Cameron's Aliens. It was spattered with orange Tanker Bug blood for the Rico vs. Tanker sequence, but may also have been used by Rico or other UCF soldiers at other points during filming.

Following production, the live-fire Ruger used during filming was sympathetically replaced with a static cast rubber version from production in order for this Morita to be sold as a collectible. However, no other alterations were made to the weapon or its internal mechanisms - including a real M60 flash suppressor, an internal barrel designed to connect to a live-fire Ruger's receiver, internal mounts for the Ruger, and internal trigger linkage - allowing for the rubber Mini-14 to be swapped out again if desired.

The rubber rifle is permanently affixed with a rubber Mini-14 mag and includes one detached housing for a Mini-14 mag; a shoulder strap; an acrylic display case with a metal plaque featuring the film's title logo and printed stills from the film; two color-printed behind-the-scenes stills of Tanker blood being sprayed onto Rico for the sequence encased in a custom acrylic display; a large framed still of Rico autographed by Van Dien; a second, unsigned still; and a printed article about the Morita.

The rifle exhibits scuffing throughout, cracking on the ejection port, and missing bits of fiberglass at the port, near the top, and at the bottom of the housing from extensive production use. Dimensions: (displayed) 115.75 cm x 28 cm x 40.25 cm (45.5" x 11" x 15.75")

A printed still of this lot is also included with its sale.

Additional Provenance: Letter of Authenticity from Robert "Rock" Galotti on Motion Picture Weapons letterhead.

Contains mechanical components; see notice in the Terms and Conditions.

Estimate: £15,000 - 30,000 US

View all lots from STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997)