So I'm a commissar, I'm supposed to have a weapon, so, this is my metal laspistol.
More specifically, this is a Voss Pattern Hellpistol, from the Warhammer 40,000 setting. It is made almost entirely from smithed metal to fit my hand measurements, with glass lenses and brass pre-Heresy* emblems.
This is the showcase post, I will also do a making-of post with all the background images and how it came to be.
The short of it is, I designed it, my friend welded the bare body, and then I prepped, sculpted the details and finished it. I would say re. hours spent, it was an equal division of time between myself and my buddy. Note: Something went very badly wrong with the lacquers and they need redoing. I know.
I've been told by other cosplayers and gamers that we "should" have used foam, resin, plastic or even 3D printed parts. From day one I had folk saying metal was very silly.
But, I wanted this age-worn, tactile metal object in my hands. Something you could believe has outlived dozens of previous owners in a universe where metal is valued above men.
It does not have a trigger. There are two main reasons for this;
- From a distance, or to the general public, it looks a bit like a Mauser or antique pistol. I wanted to be able to be able to very quickly remove any doubt that it's a functioning gun, if requested to show it to staff or security.
- Carrying it and posing is a lot easier without a welded trigger, and allows other (larger) people to put their finger in there.
FAQ:
- No, I can't make you one.
- No, I can't sell you this one.
- Yes, Dan Abnett signed it; his wife took photos, it was sweet.
- It weighs 1.914 KG or 4lb and 3.5oz
- Why a Hell-Pistol?
Because it was the first piece of gear my Rogue Trader Seneschal was awarded in the first ever tabletop RP I ever played in, an archeotech Hell-Pistol.
*It is not particularly lore-abiding, primarily because I don't care, and also because I've never met anyone offline or in person who cares about there being a 30K icon on a 40K gun. They're too busy going, "IT'S A FREAKIN LASPISTOL!!!"