star trek phaser rifle

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

• Memory Beta articles sourced from novelizations
• Memory Beta stubs (technology)
• Memory Beta articles sourced from RPGs
• Memory Beta articles sourced from games
• Hand-held weapons

Phaser rifle

• View history

Phaser rifle from the year 2367 .

A phaser rifle was a type of phaser weapon , a rifle stock variation of the standard hand-held phaser weapon. Known in Federation parlance as a type-3 , this was a type of phaser used by Starfleet in combat situations that required more powerful weaponry than a standard type-2 phaser pistol .

• 1 History and spefications
• 2 Types of phaser rifles
• 3.1 Connections
• 3.2 References
• 3.3 External links

History and spefications [ ]

Phaser pulse rifle from the 2250s decade .

In the 2250s decade , phaser rifles were used by Starfleet during the Federation-Klingon War of 2256-2257 . ( DSC episodes : " The Vulcan Hello ", " Context Is for Kings ")

Aboard Constitution -class starships in the mid- 23rd century , phaser rifles were not standard issue for landing party missions. When Scotty informed Captain James T. Kirk that a phaser rifle was transported down to planet Delta Vega from the Enterprise , he was surprised, as he hadn't ordered it personally. He withheld further comments when he realized his second-in-command, Spock , had ordered the weapon, and saw it had been received. ( TOS episode : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

The Starfleet phaser rifle in the 2370s .

By the late 24th century , phaser rifles came equipped with 16 power settings, fully autonomous recharge ability, multiple-target acquisition, and gyro stabilization. Some more advanced rifles, called compression phaser rifles , could fire energy pulses, along with the normal phaser beam. Despite all these features, many people outside of the Federation didn't trust these weapons, as they were too advanced and complicated in a combat situation. The Bajoran Resistance preferred to use a Cardassian phase-disruptor rifle , for example. ( DS9 episode : " Return to Grace ")

In late 2365 or early 2366 , three female Trills were killed on Alpha Centauri by an unknown assailant using a type-3 phaser on "burn" setting. The murderer was discovered six months later to be Lieutenant Dar Ableen . ( SCE eBook : Security )

Modified phaser rifles became more common in Starfleet usage around the year 2372 . ( DS9 novelization : The Way of the Warrior )

Types of phaser rifles [ ]

• Bajoran phaser rifle
• Ferengi phaser rifle

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], references [ ].

• FASA RPG module : Trader Captains and Merchant Princes, 1st edition

External links [ ]

• Phaser rifle article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 The Chase
• 3 Preserver (race)

10 Star Trek Phasers, Ranked

The beam weapons have evolved beyond "ray gun" cliches to become an essential part of Star Trek. Here are the 10 best phaser designs in the series.

Star Wars may have lightsabers, but Star Trek has unquestionably cornered the marker on cool ray guns. Like so many other parts of the franchise, phasers have developed a lexicon and terminology all their own. In addition, timeline changes and the need to make each new Star Trek series distinctive have resulted in numerous versions of the same basic gizmo.

Phasers are divided into three basic categories. Type I phasers are about the size of a garage door opener and are designed for concealment. Type IIs are larger and have a pistol grip, with more power and a longer range. Type IIIs are rifles, used only in times of war or when facing a serious threat. Below is a loose list of the 10 best in the franchise.

RELATED: 10 Sci-Fi Tropes That Aged Poorly

10 Star Trek: Picard Assault Phaser Rifle

Star Trek: Picard moved the franchise's timeline to the very end of the 24th century, about 20 years after the final Next Generation movie ended. That meant new updates to the weapons, most notably the phasers.

Season 1, Episode 5, "Stardust City Rag," revealed an "assault phaser rifle." It was blockier than the Type IIIs it replaced, with a sighting array further down the barrel. It benefited from a wild introduction, as Seven of Nine took one in each hand to ruthlessly cut down a squad of attacking minions.

9 Star Trek: Discovery 32nd Century Type II Phaser Pistol

Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery launched the crew into the 32nd Century to find the Federation shattered and Starfleet all but nonexistent. Weaponry of the time had changed, of course. Sleeker and simpler than earlier phasers, it emphasized the firing port more than the controls, stressing just how much damage it could cause.

It also acknowledged that there were limits to how the basic design could be improved. While Discovery made innovative technical leaps for things like transporters and starship shields, the phasers still looked more or less like they always had. The ray-gun notion could never be entirely vanquished.

RELATED: 10 Best Television Universes, Ranked

8 Star Trek: First Contact Type II Phaser Pistol

The Next Generation went through a series of designs for their phasers, which often looked difficult to hold. It eventually resulted in the "boomerang" phaser, first introduced in Star Trek: First Contact. The curved handle matched the aesthetic of the phasers used in The Next Generation while making it a little more stylish.

The design proved durable and was used throughout the remainder of The Next Generation 's feature-length films. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager also used it. That makes it emblematic of the franchise's "renaissance" period in the mid-to-late 1990s.

7 Star Trek: Enterprise MACO Pulse Pistol

Star Trek: Enterprise took place in Starfleet's infancy, and as such, the protocols were much different. MACOs -- Military Assault Command Operations -- served as de facto marines onboard ship. They were beholden to a different chain of command and used more effective weapons than their colleagues in Starfleet.

That included the pulse pistol: a precursor to the phaser based on the slightly friendlier versions used by Captain Archer and his crew. They had a mechanical look that spoke to new technology. More importantly, they looked dangerous, something that rarely comes to mind with other phaser designs.

6 'The Cage' Type II Phaser Pistol

The original Star Trek pilot "The Cage" drew heavily on previous space opera epics for its aesthetics, including the likes of Forbidden Planet and the Flash Gordon serials of the 1930s. The franchise's very first phasers retained a larger-than-life look but were also clearly human in design, avoiding excessively outlandish touches.

It made for a strong opening statement on the issue and helped pave the way for the classic phaser design of The Original Series . More importantly, it looked cool, and its stylish design helped it hold up in the ensuing decades.

RELATED: 10 Controversial Star Trek: TOS Episodes That Wouldn't Fly Today

5 Star Trek III Type II Phaser Pistol

Phasers didn't really appear in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, while Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan went with an updated look that felt more of a kind with its predecessor. For Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , the saga went back to the phasers from The Original Series , with a slight update and redesign.

The new versions worked for the next three movies before more or less retiring with the original crew. And like Picard 's phaser rifles, they benefited from a memorable introduction. In their case, it was Commander Uhura, suddenly turning on her overconfident coworker.

4 Star Trek Enterprise MACO Pulse Rifle

Even more than the pistols, the MACO's pulse rifles spoke to how dangerous the Final Frontier could be. They resembled modern assault rifles rather than sleek laser emitters, with a two-handed grip reminiscent of the far less endearing Type III rifles of The Next Generation .

Over and above their immediate purpose as deadly weapons, the pulse rifles helped draw a sharp distinction between the MACOs and the Starfleet officers around them. That paid narrative dividends when the two sides came to loggerheads. It also stressed how far humanity still had to go before the utopia of The Original Series.

3 The Original Series Type III Phaser Rifle

Nowhere can Star Trek 's space opera roots be more clearly seen than in its Type III phaser rifle. It became a part of the series very early: the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before." And while it was rarely used, it was invariably a lot of fun.

The phaser rifles of The Original Series had recognizable technology -- the coils powering it, for example -- to give the notion of a viable piece of machinery. But the long barrel and radar-style tip added the right sense of retro style.

RELATED: 10 Best Star Trek Spinoffs, Ranked

2 Star Trek: First Contact Type III Phaser Rifle

While the boomerang design for the Type II phasers in First Contact was serviceable at best, the movie struck gold with the rifle variant. Previous versions of the Type III used a pair of pistol grips, essentially making it a jumped-up Type II. It worked in terms of world-building -- the technology was of a kind with the Type IIs -- but it also looked very awkward.

First Contact brought a sleeker, cooler design to the rifles. A stylized grip and butt for shoulder firing tapered down to a sleek barrel. It felt very utilitarian, but also undeniably Star Trek . Like the film's Type II design, it soon became the standard for the Trek TV shows of the era.

1 The Original Series Type II Phaser Pistol

Several subsequent Star Trek projects have tinkered with the basic look of The Original Series Type II, but nothing really compares in terms of evoking the Final Frontier. Like so much else with the first show, it came to define the aesthetic of the whole franchise.

Its stylized look hasn't aged a day. The design fit a removable Type I within it, emphasizing its practicality. Yet it also had the style of the older Flash Gordon -esque ray guns to lend the show a sense of the exotic. It's no surprise that new variations from the likes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and the Kelvinverse are still just imitations.

• April 26, 2024 | Michael Dorn Wanted Armin Shimerman To Play The Ferengi That Worf Killed In Star Trek Picard
• April 26, 2024 | Podcast: All Access Gets To Know The Breen In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ 505, “Mirrors”
• April 25, 2024 | Prep Begins For ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3 Finale; Cast And Directors Share BTS Images
• April 25, 2024 | Jonathan Frakes Sees Opportunities With Streaming Star Trek Movies, Weighs In On “Filler Episodes”
• April 25, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Reflects On Its Choices In “Mirrors”

Iconic ‘Star Trek’ Phaser Rifle Sells For $615,000 At Auction

| November 9, 2021 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 18 comments so far

An auction over the weekend from a private collector brought in millions, including over one million just for the Star Trek items, with a phaser rifle only used on one episode coming in at the top of the list.

Original Star Trek items demand top dollar at auction

Over the weekend Heritage Auctions held an auction for private collector John Azarian , with years of his accumulated Hollywood memorabilia. And the item that brought in the most was the Star Trek phaser rile first seen in William Shatner’s debut episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” The rifle sold for $615,000 , far outpacing the other top items from the auction including George Reeve’s Superman costume ($350K) and Sylvester Stallone’s leather jacket from Rocky ($325K).

Phaser rifle in “Where No Man Has Gone Before”

This phaser rifle was featured in an excerpt from the recent book Star Trek – A Celebration , telling the story of how it was designed by legendary game designer Reuben Klamer, who kept the rifle until 2013 when he sold it at auction for $231,000 . Bidding for the Heritage Auction started at $240,000 and rapidly climbed into a bidding war you can see online . $615,000 is one of the highest prices ever paid for a Star Trek lot at auction, and over twice as much as a TOS phaser pistol sold by Heritage for $250,000 earlier this year , or Picard’s Ressikan flute which was auctioned for $190,000 by Prop Store.

Phaser rifle sold for $615,000

Other Star Trek lots also brought high winning bids during the Azarian Auction, including an original signed TOS Kirk tunic and boots for $50,000  and a Spock tunic worn by Leonard Nimoy for $45,000 . The auction included a number of additional original Star Trek costumes including one of DeForest Kelley’s Dr. McCoy costumes which sold for $31,250 , and a tunic worn by Walter Koenig as Chekov went for $25,000 .

Tunic signed by Shatner brought in $50,000

Spock tunic sold for $45,000

There were some other Star Trek props that brought in top dollar, including a chair from the TOS bridge set for $42,500 , and a “walking tribble” for $10,625 .

$42,500 for a bridge chair

Would you pay $10,625 for a tribble?

Visit ha.com to see more Star Trek items that brought in big money for the Azarian auction.

Find more news and reviews of Star Trek merchandise .

Related Articles

Documentary , Shatner

‘William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill’ Documentary Arrives On VOD On Friday

History , TOS

Lost Original USS Enterprise Model From ‘Star Trek’ Returned To Gene Roddenberry’s Son

Collectibles , Star Trek: Picard , TOS

Star Trek Coffees Launching In May With Several Blends

Art , Books , Collectibles , DS9 , Merchandise , Strange New Worlds , TNG , TOS

Star Trek Merch: TOS Art Poster, EXO Ensign Ro, “Subspace Rhapsody” On Vinyl, And More

For 615k id expect Bill Shatner to hand deliver it and magically transform back into his ’66 self and act out the finale of WNMHGB with deaged Gary Lockwood

Shatner already had Storyfile Life immortalize himself as an interactive AI, it is probably not as difficult to give you what you want as you might think.

Uhura was only willing to pay a measly 10 credits for her tribble! Does that mean a Star Trek credit is actually worth $1,625?

Taking in to account inflation that is probably about right!

Interestingly, the phaser rifle was featured prominently in Harlan Ellison’s early drafts for “The City on the Edge of Forever,” where Spock had to work to keep it concealed from 1930s’ prying eyes. It was replaced by the pistol later on, before others wrote it out of the script entirely.

that’s exactly what I thought.

I can’t believe that actually sold for more than the 6 foot Enterprise D filming model, or any other starship studio model for that fact *facepalm. Ahh to have ‘fuck you’ money.

LOL. Indeed!

easier to display than the 6ft model, but…if you’ve got that much money you’ve also got the room(s)

umm YA I’d pay 10k for the walking tribble! I know exactly which one it is from the episode too

I think all the buyers had previously invested in Shiba Inu.

There sure seems to be a lot of disposable income to toss around these days.

The may have invested in Voyager Digital the day before Prodigy came out :-) 100% in a day…

…and it looks great over my fireplace, too. ;)

No, I don’t think I’d pay $10,625 for a walking Tribble.

These prices indicate the franchise is VERY strong on the nostalgia front, even beating Superman! I expect Viacom to finally get that vibe. What I expect will happen in 2022 / 23 is a retur to a far more traditional Star Trek feel.

PIC S2 will reset the timeline in a far more radical manner. We may learn that S1 had already taken place in a significantly altered reality only worsened by what occured prior to S2. S3 will be set in the “real” future of TNG. Picard may get a refit of his old USS Stargazer as a gift from Starfleet for saving history.

DSC S4 will have a strong TMP look and feel, embracing exploration and science far stronger than in its previous seasons. If there is a S5, they may even return to a more episodic format if SNW is a streaming success.

LDS can continue its path, maybe diverting a little bit from its frantic easter egg bombardment in favor of more subtle storytelling.

PRO may eventually transform the young crew into “real” Starfleet officers, getting their own uniforms along the road.

And then there is SNW of course…

Why do I believe PIC will be changed? Well, mainly due to what happened on DSC… The new management seems to care A LOT about fan opinions. Thus we got Pike and Spock in S2, a look at the Enterprise, Klingon hair and ripped out holographic comms. They moved the ship to the future what fans were demanding from day one (of course they wanted the show to be set in the future from the start). We got new Trek-heavy uniforms for S4. And of course SNW was green-lit as a direct answer to fan demand.

I don’t see any reason they wouldn’t take our complaints about PIC S1 equally serious.

And that way, we can beat Superman :-)

The blue shirt supposedly worn by Leonard Nimoy does not have any braids on the sleeves. Leonard Nimoy never wore a shirt like that on the show. Somebody got ripped off big time for 45K!

That ain’t necessarily so. Costumes are like any other prop – they don’t build it once and let it collect dust never to be used for any other purpose again. If the production needs a shirt without braids and all that’s on the rack is one with braids, the costumer wouldn’t hesitate to remove them.

Phaser rifle

A phaser rifle is the Star Trek Federation's phaser -based equivalent of a modern sub-machinegun or assault rifle. Several different styles have appeared in the course of the series. They are presumably more accurate over long distances than a hand phaser , and they probably have larger power supplies.

• 1 Phaser III
• 2 "Assault Rifles"

Much like hand phasers, Phaser III is an ergonomic disaster that lacks proper sighting features and safety devices like a trigger guard. According to Major Kira , this Federation weapon has several extra features that have questionable value in a combat situation, making it inferior to Cardassian phaser rifles, which have fewer features but are more reliable. The additional features include the following:

• Gyroscopic stabilization, which presumably makes it easier to hold the rifle steady on a target.
• "Multiple target acquisition", which is a mystery. One speculation is that the weapon has tricorder features for detecting enemies.
• "Fully autonomous recharge", which is also a mystery. Presumably the power supply can recharge from a variety of power sources.
• Sixteen beam settings, a feature that Phaser III has in common with Phaser II .

"Assault Rifles"

Phaser rifles made during the Dominion War have trigger guards and scopes, features that previous models lacked. During the war emergency, Starfleet presumably did not have the luxury of sending every recruit through years of Academy training, prompting them to design weapons that were easier to use.

Phaser 3 from TOS

Phaser 3 from TNG

Phaser rifle from Star Trek: First Contact

• Hand phaser
• Phase pistol
• ST Infantry
• ST Infantry Offense

Navigation menu

Phaser Technology

From star trek: theurgy wiki.

Phasers (an acronym for PHAS ed E nergy R ectification) were the most common and standard directed energy weapon in the arsenal of Starfleet and several other powers. Most phasers were classified as particle weapons and fire nadion particle beams. Based on the intensity and field of the beam and a variety of adjustments, a wide variety of effects could be achieved. All Starfleet phasers followed a similar naming convention, with the lowest being handheld and each higher number becoming more powerful and larger in size. After the Type-III, Phasers were too unwieldy to be hand operated and required such power that they were only suitable to be attached to vehicles, vessels, or outposts.

• 1.2.1 Type-II Pulse Phase Pistol
• 1.3.1 Type-III EVA Variant
• 2 Phaser Rifle Evolution
• 4.1 Type-IV Phaser Bank
• 4.2 Type-V Phaser Bank
• 4.3 Type-VI Phaser Bank
• 4.4 Type-VII Phaser Array
• 4.5 Type-VIII Phaser Array
• 4.6 Type-IX Phaser Array
• 4.7 Type-X Phaser Array
• 4.8 Type-XI Phaser Array
• 4.9 Type-XII Phaser Array
• 4.10 Type-XII Pulse Phaser Array
• 4.11 Type-U Pulse Phaser Cannon
• 4.12 Type-U+ Pulse Phaser Cannon
• 4.13 Type-I Rawley Heavy Pulse Phaser Cannon
• 5 Disclaimer Notice

Handheld Phasers

Utilized primarily in defensive situations, Handheld phasers had several applications, from use as a weapon to use as a cutting tool, explosive device, or energy source. Storing considerable energy, most phasers were distinguished by their size and firing capabilities, with all models able to output a focused energy discharge in the form of a beam or steady stream.

Colloquially know as the "Cricket", the type-I phaser was the smallest, most basic weapon carried by Starfleet and other Federation personnel. Easily concealable, the type-I was able to be programmed to fire automatically at set intervals. However, due to the lack of its operating capabilities, longevity, and diversity when compared to its larger brethren, the type-I phasers were typically only carried when it would be inappropriate to carry a larger weapon, such as on diplomatic missions. Because of this, the type-I was synonymous with secret missions and seldom seen in active use.

The type-II was the standard weapon used aboard all Starfleet vessels and bases, as it offered a very favorable compromise between size and power. Originally designed to encompass the type-I, the type-II held a pistol-like grip. By the 2360s, the type-II had evolved past that configuration, becoming a sleek, silver-colored device with a handle flowing into the form of a muzzle cowling and emitter. The type-II phaser was a required piece of equipment for most Starfleet away teams, and was the basic sidearm of Starfleet security teams

With two small buttons for beam width and intensity control and a large one to fire the device, the type-II featured a large, illuminated power level readout. The phaser retained the functionality of the previous designs, but increased the power and versatility. Like their predecessors, these units could be adjusted for use as cutting tools or power sources. They could also be set to overload, becoming a powerful explosive device.

In addition to more variable power settings than the Type-I, Type-II Phasers were able to be set for a "narrow" (affecting a single target) or "wide" beam (affecting two or more targets over a certain area). The frequency of the beam could also be adjusted to make it more effective against certain types of shields and/or force fields.

Type-II Pulse Phase Pistol

During the Dominion War , it became apparent that single beam particle weapons were ineffective against groups of Jem’Hadar. As such, Starfleet Security desired the ability to fire multiple short pulses of energy. The Type-III rifle was easily modified with a change of beam emitter, but due to the smaller size, the Type-II was unable to be modified in such a way.

With the need of a small weapon for use in close quarter situations, this handphaser variant Type-II Pulse Phase Pistol was created. Not only to be easily distinguishable between the conventional Type-II and this pulse fire variant, but to also account for an increased need for stability and accuracy, this new weapon took design elements of more traditional handheld weapons, incorporating a pistol-like grip and hard sight points along the top of the device.

Because of the difference in shape and fire pattern, Starfleet Personnel required further training on this weapon in addition to standard phaser profiency. As such, the type-II Pulse Phase Pistol was standardly reserved for Security and Tactical Conn personnel.

The largest standard phaser issued to Starfleet personnel, the Type-III (or simply referred to as the phaser rifle) was a two handed weapon capable of greater accuracy and longevity than its type-II counterpart. Even though the type-III had a much greater energy reserve, this only translated to an increase of longer periods of fire rather than any rise in output levels over one-handed phasers. Phaser rifles were not standard landing party equipment aboard Starfleet vessels. Typically, rifles were equipped only when firepower heavier than that of the type-II phaser was required.

Originally a bulky device with the capability of its rear handle to be rotated into a shoulder stock, the type-III was more streamlined and smaller by the 2360s. In the early 2370s, the need for accuracy caused the design aesthetic of the weapon to change once again, this time the rifle returned to having a shoulder stock but also incorporated a rear pistol-like and front under barrel grip, a combined sight and tactical light, and an integrated shoulder sling for ease of carrying.

The outbreak of the dominion war caused a need for weapons to fire in multiple bursts rather than just a single beam of energy. Starfleet Security created two new weapons for this purpose - the Type II Pulse Phase Pistol and the Type-III Phaser Compression Rifle. By 2375, the Compression Rifle was removed from service, due to comparable capabilities produced from the standard type-III with a change to its beam emitter. The switch between the angular and smooth beam emitters on the type-III rifles allowed the weapons to fire both single beam and pulses of energy at will by the operator.

After the completion of the dominion war, in the late 2370s, Starfleet Security updated the sights of the type-III to a red holographic style allowing for great accuracy and target acquisition. The integrated flashlight was unaffected.

Type-III EVA Variant

During the 2370s, Starfleet produced an additional variant of the type-III specifically designed for EVA missions. This rifle had unique features including, two pistol-like grips for ease of handling, no trigger guard to allow for use by personnel wearing EVA Suits , and magnetic areas allowing the rifle to be attached to a ship's hull.

This variant was later removed from service by Starfleet ; however, due to its popularity among officers, there were still many units available in the field. Before the acquisition of the Accipiter rifles Ryuan Sel , the Mistress-of-Arms of the USS Theurgy was known to prefer this weapon.

Phaser Rifle Evolution

All handheld Phasers used a common scale to denote the power output of the weapon, however, not all phasers could achieve the highest settings. Type-I Phasers were only able to reach settings 1-8, whereas type-II and type-III are able to make use of all sixteen.

Vessel-mounted Energy Weaponry

Directed energy weapons projected bolts or beams of focused energy or energized particles at a target. These weapons were commonplace, with most cultures having some form or another of directed energy weapon as the typical armament of their spacecraft, and they drew upon the abundant energy that starships generated. Energy weapons were composed of a type and a delivery method. Federation starships rarely used any other kind of directed energy weaponry than phasers. The delivery method of a phaser described how the emitters were arranged, and how the weapon was set-up to fire.

Cannons were close range, rapid-firing weapons that projected pulses or bolts of energy rather than consistent beams. These were inaccurate at longer ranges, but the volley of quick pulses could be devastating. Banks were a collection of emitters used early on by Starfleet , designed to fire in unison. They produced a focused beam of energy that could inflict considerable damage. Arrays were a more advanced technology, with long strips of linked emitters that shared a power feed, allowing the ship to fire from any point along the strip. This allowed the ship to fire in multiple directions at once, or to adjust and fire on moving targets repeatedly in quick succession.

Originally, starships used phaser banks. Each bank contained one or more phaser emitters from which the beam energy was released. These systems shared common power sources and targeting systems. In the 2270s, phaser power systems of Federation starships were redesigned to channel power directly from the warp core, thereby increasing the power output of phaser banks.

By the 24 th century, the number of emitters in each bank had been increased to the point where they were laid out in long strips called phaser arrays. The arrays aboard a Galaxy-class starship could channel vast energy in a short time frame, capable of cutting through a mile of solid granite in seconds. Starship-mounted phasers were normally set to fire steady streams of phaser energies that would travel along the emitter strip and converge at the best position for targeting. Following the Battle of Wolf-359, Starfleet Engineers were also able to reconfigure the emitters in a different layout that allowed the phaser bank to rapid-fire as phaser cannons.

In addition to the powerful settings, the ship's phasers also had a stun setting that could be used to render lifeforms unconscious when fired at a planetary surface from orbit. It was also possible to configure starship phasers to also fire energy beams for power transfer.

There were many different type-of phasers mounted to starships. As new phaser technology became available, it was placed onto the ships being built at the time. Below are a few examples of phaser types mounted to various ship at the time of their initial construction.

Type-IV Phaser Bank

The smallest phaser bank currently deployed in the Federation , the Type-IV was markedly superior to the Type-III phaser rifle, providing more power, range, accuracy and adaptability. As such, it had been the workhorse of Starfleet 's auxiliary craft fleet for decades, as well as being mounted on a number of ground based vehicles. Only by 2381 is it being replaced by the Type-V array, a weapon of comparable simplicity but greater ability. It was not a very strong offensive measure but was capable of warding a small craft from many natural threats, such as asteroids and debris, and similar sized craft. Type-6 Shuttlecraft were known to operate with Type-IV Phasers.

Type-V Phaser Bank

A phaser bank generally found on small but high-powered Starfleet shuttlecraft, the Type-V was generally considered to be the next feasible replacement for the Type-IV array found on several thousand shuttles throughout the Federation . While not as powerful as the Type-VI or Type-VII, what it lacked in strength and longevity was more than made up for in its simplicity. Indeed, it rivalled even the modern Type-IV variant commonly found on shuttlecraft for ease of construction, maintenance and repair.

Type-VI Phaser Bank

The second largest bank used on small craft such as runabouts, the Type-VI phaser bank was undeniably more powerful than its more dimunitive counterparts, with faster recharge rates, ranges and, of course, offensive capabilities, but lacked several of the advantageous maintenance and power factors found in its Type-VII fellow. Most remarkably, the Type-VI's increase in power over its smaller counterparts was less than the equivalent difference between it and the Type-VII, a characteristic explained by the (then) advanced techniques used in its construction and new methods of energy dissipation.

The Type-VI was not as commonly found as any of its counterparts, primarily due to the detailed work required in constructing it and the real but admittedly barely significant advantage in tactical situations it provided over the Type-V. It had, however, been found to be a suitable armament for some shuttlecraft, its intricate composition easily adaptable to some shuttles' requirements.

Type-VII Phaser Array

The largest emitter used on small craft such as runabouts and light escorts, the Type-VII phaser array was considerably more powerful than its more dimunitive counterparts, with faster recharge rates, ranges and, of course, offensive capabilities.

Recent advances in technology had allowed Starfleet to decrease the overall size of the Type-VII, thereby allowing it to be employed on vessels previously considered to be much too small to cope with the necessary machinery. As such, the Type-VII was markedly superior to the Type-VI phaser array but, due to practical issues, fell a bit short of the standard Type-VIII arrays being deployed on starships as of 2381.

Type-VIII Phaser Array

The Type-VIII was the phaser armament of choice for most of Starfleet 's small-to medium-sized ships. While varying degrees of power and capabilities could be found from class to class - even from ship to ship - the general Type-VIII operating principles remained the same and any deviations in any regard were usually negligible. This phaser type-provided excellent offensive and defensive capabilities for many ship classes that, due to their size, required significant quantities of internal volume for other operations which would otherwise be consumed by larger phaser weaponry.

Originally these weapons were installed in phaser banks aboard ships like the Excelsior-class and Constellation-class. Ships equipped with them as of 2381 were set in the standard array package. The only fighters that held dedicated Type-VIII phaser emitters were the AC-477 Mk I Valravn fighters, and those emitters were prototype-technology as of 2381, mounted on only twenty constructed fighters. On these fighters, the warp drive plasma conduit ran through the primary phaser coupling to double the power of the beams. It is as of yet unknown how the emitters would last in a prolonged engagement.

Type-IX Phaser Array

This was the armament of choice for many of Starfleet 's larger vessels and some of its medium-sized but patrol/combat-oriented craft. While bulkier and more complicated than its Type-VIII counterpart, the Type-IX provided excellent firepower with an impressive rate of fire that could only be bettered by Type-X, Type-XII or Type-U weapons.

Recent advances in weapons technology had allowed Starfleet to reduce the operating size for the Type-IX's components, allowing for this array to be employed as the new phaser weaponry of even refitted 23rd century starships.

Type-X Phaser Array

Until the development of the Type-XII, the Type-X was the heaviest weapon in use aboard Federation vessels, comprising the main armament of the Galaxy class starship. The Type-X had since seen its incorporation into other ship classes, providing significant firepower to some of Starfleet 's largest vessels. Galaxy and Intrepid-class vessels were originally fitted with Type-X Phasers.

Type-XI Phaser Array

Type-XI phaser was used normally for planetary defense. The emitters were designed to minimize atmospheric blooming of the beam. The phaser emitters in the carriages, embedded into the habitat ring of Deep Space 9 , were of this type, modified for use in space.

Type-XII Phaser Array

Previously designated as the 'Type-X+' for security reasons, the Type-XII phaser has been used in dedicated planetary defence arrays and as the main armament of heavy fortified starbases since 2363. It was considered that the Type-XII was unsuitable for use on a starship because the power requirements were too high and the support systems too bulky. However, by 2368 technical improvements had allowed for considerable shrinkage in the size of the equipment, and ship power systems had become capable of supporting the weapon. The main phaser armament of the new Sovereign-class starship therefore comprised Type-XII phaser arrays, as did the armament of the Prometheus -class. These are the most powerful phaser beam emitters currently in use by the Federation , the pulse phaser variant not withstanding.

Type-XII Pulse Phaser Array

This was the kind of phaser arrays that the USS Theurgy had installed, where there were two firing options available. Either beam emission or phaser pulse, depending on the situation. See Type-U below for more info on the pulse phaser kind of setting.

Type-U Pulse Phaser Cannon

A relatively new development in phaser technology , the Type-U pulse phaser was the most combat-focused development of the phaser to date. It combined large, nearly flawless emitter crystals with rapid-discharge EPS banks and high-speed beam focusing coils. The system allowed the charge to be stored in the coils for a few nanoseconds, then released it as a layered pulse. Due to its nature, shields and armour had a harder time dispersing the pulse, resulting in more damage to the target. Pulse phasers were first deployed on the USS Defiant , where they managed to cause significant damage to Jem'Hadar fighters in a short space of time.

Type-U+ Pulse Phaser Cannon

This weapon worked on the same principles as the Type-U but at a much smaller scale as well as 40 % of the yield. It was an armament commonly found on the Federation 's fleet of fighters and a number of auxiliary craft. The first iteration of the U+ could be seen on either side of the AC-307 Mk II Valkyrie fighter, but a second version was made to be wing-mounted on the AC-409 Mk III Valkyrie . It was the same technology in both versions of the U+ cannons, only on the Mk III , the entire weapon system was mounted on the wings instead of being inside the fuselage of the fighter (as it is in the Mk II ). Furthermore, while the technology was the same, as an upgrade from the Mk II , the warp drive plasma conduit ran through the primary phaser coupling to increase the power of the Mk III ’s phaser cannons, giving it 50 % yield compared to the Type-U.

There were pulse or beam firing options available. Bolts had a firing rate of 5 per second. The beam setting had lower yield but longer range.

Type-I Rawley Heavy Pulse Phaser Cannon

Like the AC-409 Mk III Valkyrie 's wing-mounted pulse phaser cannons, the first and only iteration of the heavy Rawley cannon was also wing-mounted, and it demanded that the warp drive plasma conduit ran through the primary phaser coupling. Unlike the Type-U+, the Rawley cannon had a tendency to overheat during prolonged engagements, instead made for quick strikes and a mandatory cool-down period between such strikes. The benefit was that its yield was higher than the Mk III 's phaser cannons, at the lower firing rate of 3 bolts per second. Their yield was approximately 60 % of the Type-U pulse phaser cannons.

The Rawley cannons did not have a beam firing option available, and they were mounted as standard armament on the AC-347 Knight-class Interceptor . After the refit of the SS Sabine NX-59846 , it also had two of these cannons mounted underneath its wings.

Disclaimer Notice

Some info on Vessel-mounted Phasers used with permission of USS Wolff CO - granted Jan 30, 2017

• Technical Specifications
• Starfleet Information

Bajoran phaser rifle

• View history

A Bajoran phaser rifle (2371)

The Bajoran phaser rifle was a type of Bajoran phaser weapon used by the Bajoran Militia during the mid- to late- 24th century . ( DS9 : " Ties of Blood and Water ", " The Way of the Warrior ")

• 2.1 Background information
• 2.2 Apocrypha
• 2.3 External links

History [ ]

A Bajoran trooper with a Bajoran phaser rifle (2371)

Iden with a Bajoran phaser rifle (2377)

In the mid-24th century, the Shakaar resistance cell used these phaser rifles to protect their camps during the Occupation of Bajor . ( DS9 : " Ties of Blood and Water ")

In 2356 , at the age of just thirteen, Kira Nerys knew how to operate a Bajoran phaser rifle and became involved in an ambush of Cardassian soldiers. She later recalled that during the mission, she continued firing until the power cell was completely discharged. ( DS9 : " The Darkness and the Light ")

In 2371 , several Bajoran troopers were armed with these phaser rifles while tracking Shakaar Edon and supporters of his resistance cell in the Dahkur Hills . ( DS9 : " Shakaar ")

In 2372 , during the First Battle of Deep Space 9 , several of Constable Odo 's Bajoran deputies used these phaser rifles to defend the station from Klingon boarders. ( DS9 : " The Way of the Warrior ")

Later that year, Major Kira equipped herself with a Bajoran phaser rifle during a mission to locate the crashed Cardassian freighter Ravinok , that was carrying Bajoran prisoners. ( DS9 : " Indiscretion ")

In 2374 , as part of the Federation Alliance mission to retake Deep Space 9 from Dominion forces, Constable Odo assembled a security team comprising deputies with phaser rifles to combat Cardassian and Jem'Hadar troops on the station. During one engagement, his team rescued Major Kira and Rom after they had been pinned down by weapons fire, much to their welcome surprise. ( DS9 : " Sacrifice of Angels ")

In 2377 , the USS Voyager encountered an Hirogen outpost that had been modified using holographic technology given to them by Captain Kathryn Janeway three years prior. The outpost served as a "hunting ground" where Hirogen hunters could seek out holographic programs to satisfy their desire to kill. As the holographic technology given to them was of Federation origin, it was capable of simulating many Alpha Quadrant species. Iden , a Bajoran hologram, used the Bajoran phaser rifle during a fight against Hirogen hunters. ( VOY : " Flesh and Blood ")

In 2378 , as a part of The Doctor 's holo-novel Photons Be Free , Captain Jenkins had a Bajoran phaser rifle mounted on the wall behind her desk in the ready room of the fictional USS Vortex . ( VOY : " Author, Author ")

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

An initial sketch of the rifle by Jim Martin

The Bajoran phaser rifle was designed by illustrator Jim Martin . [2] [3] When designing the rifle, the prop department wanted to give it its own distinctive form so viewers could easily recognize it as Bajoran, a race who, at that point, were fairly new to the Star Trek universe. ( Star Trek: Aliens & Artifacts , p.144)

The rifle itself was first seen on-screen in the episode "Shakaar" and featured prominently throughout Deep Space Nine' s run.

In the script for "Ties of Blood and Water", the weapon is referred to as a "disruptor rifle" though it has always been referred to as a "phaser rifle" on-screen. [4]

The Bajoran phaser rifles were 25 inches long and made from solid cast resin with open shoulder stocks and straps. Many of the props were later resprayed and used for a variety of alien weaponry throughout Star Trek . Three of them were sold off in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction at a price of $2,400 (including premium). [5] [6]

The weapon is featured in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual , which states it uses a rechargeable isotolinium ampule as a power battery, although some units were retrofitted with sarium krellide energy cells in order to be used with Starfleet chargers. Furthermore, the technical manual reveals that early models of the weapon utilized a sensor which could differentiate between Cardassian and non-Cardassian lifesigns, though this fell into disuse after the Occupation of Bajor. It also mentions that the computer on Deep Space 9 regulated all rifles to setting 3 (heavy stun), in order to avoid fatalities and damage to the station's hull.

Apocrypha [ ]

The phaser rifle variation as seen in "Turn of the Tide

A variation of the Bajoran phaser rifle was used by security at Prison Complex 187 in the Deep Space Nine comic Turn of the Tide ", set in 2368 . In one scene, a Bajoran firing squad used them to shoot fleeing war criminals as they attempt to steal a Bajoran prison shuttle. The rifles themselves had extended upper barrels and are grey as opposed to the rust color as seen on-screen.

The Bajoran phaser rifle is available for use by the player in the video game Star Trek Online as a "rare ground weapon" capable of stunning enemies. It can also be crafted in Star Trek Timelines .

External links [ ]

• Bajoran phaser rifle at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Bajoran Phaser Rifle at the Star Trek Online Wiki
• Bajoran Phaser Rifle  at the Star Trek Timelines Wiki

Hasbro's Next Wild Nerf Gun Is a Star Trek Phaser

Hasbro's next wild nerf gun is a star trek phaser, set those phasers to... small foam dart is that even a setting.

Hasbro’s Nerf “LMTD” crossover has given us foam dart versions of everything from the Aliens pulse rifle to The Mandalorian ’s rifle —and now it’s boldly going into a very peculiar collaboration with Star Trek .

Hasbro has revealed that its next project in the crossover lineup is a Star Trek mashup to give us not one, but two of the franchise’s most iconic hand- held weapons—the Starf leet Type 3 (that’s the phaser rifle) and Type 2 (the standard phaser seen in TNG , DS9 , and Voyager ) phasers.

The dual set is loosely inspired by Star Trek: First Contact , which seems mostly like an excuse to give the larger rifle—which is not in its traditional Starfleet silver colors, but a more toyetic Nerf scheme that almost makes it look like it ’d be more at home in the hands of Buzz Lightyear than Captain Picard—a “B org-ified, ” partially assimilated design. The rifle itself has sound and light effects, both for the assimilated part of the weapon and phaser sounds from First Contact , while being able to hold a five -dart clip that fires a single projectile at a time.

The smaller Type 2 pistol doesn’t have lights and sounds, and can also only fire a single dart at a time, through a pull-back priming handle. You know, for when you’ve fired your five rifle darts and still need to land a kill shot before the Borg modulate their shields against foam.

The Nerf LMTD Phasers are available to pre-order until October 2, ahead of an estimated release in late 2023, and will cost $120. Click through to see more of the two blasters!

Nerf LMTD Star Trek Starfleet Type 3 and Type 2 Phaser Blasters Gallery

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power .

Screen Rant

Star trek: captain kirk’s phaser rifle used in one episode sells for $615k.

Captain Kirk's vintage, one-of-a-kind Phaser Rifle from his debut on Star Trek: The Original Series recently sells at auction for $615,000.

Captain Kirk's vintage original Phaser Rifle from his debut appearance on Star Trek  reportedly sells at auction for $615,000. The science-fiction franchise has earned itself legendary status over the years, first airing in the United States on NBC in September 1966. Created by Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek: The Original Series follows the intergalactic travels of the USS Enterprise as they search the vacuum of space for new civilizations. Star Trek: The Original Series ran for three seasons and has since been transformed into a multitude of spinoff shows, film franchises, and a legion of other media.

Over the years, Star Trek has been no stranger to the world of collectibles, locking down retail space wherever seems feasible. Trekkies can get their fill of these franchise items anywhere from lines of toys and figurines to board games, backpacks, and lunch boxes. For mega-fans who yearn to build a closer relationship with the show, memorabilia from the set have been auctioned off over the years as well. In 2002, the original  Star Trek  TV series "command chair" and "platform" were auctioned off for an astounding $304,750.

Related: Why Enterprise Is Canon In Both Star Trek Timelines

Now,  Heritage Auctions reportedly sells Captain Kirk's vintage original Phaser Rifle from  Star Trek: The Original Series  for $615,000. The Phaser Rifle was used in the second pilot episode, entitled "Where No Man Has Gone Before," which effectively launched the show as fans know it. And, because the episode was the first to replace Christopher Pike with James T. Kirk, the prop accompanied Shatner as he made his  Star Trek debut.

The sci-fi franchise has auctioned off its fair share of memorabilia over the years, with Kirk's Phaser Rifle seemingly the latest in a long line of sales. In 2006, a spacesuit that Dr. McCoy wore in the episode "The Tholian Web" was auctioned off for over $120,000. In 2016, Kirk's Starfleet tunic and pants from the original series earned the winning bid of $72,000. The list goes on for these highly sought-after pieces of TV history, and as far as Star Trek memorabilia is concerned , it will likely only keep growing.

However, although this is an astonishing transaction, it is not the first time that Captain Kirk's Phaser Rifle has been successfully sold. In 2013, the same  Star Trek  item sold for over $231,000 at a Julien's Hollywood Legends auction, with the only differences from then to now being a new owner and about $384,000. The Phaser Rifle was clearly good for more than only protecting the legendary Captain; the famous piece of memorabilia has seemingly furnished a small fortune in regards to its return on investment. If it maintains that current value growth rate, it could hypothetically sell for well over a million dollars in another eight years, which is not too shabby for an old prop from the 1960s.

Next: Star Trek: How Old Every TOS Main Character Was At The Start & End

Source: Heritage Auctions

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Jun 15, 2018

FIRST LOOK: Discovery Phaser Rifle Prop Replica

For many of us, Star Trek is our home, someplace we enjoy spending our time. Star Trek: Discovery is like a brand-new house, and a very modern one at that. Moving into a new house can be exciting with new spaces and a whole new architecture and ascetic to explore. But any new dwelling needs a touch of the familiar, just enough to remind us that we’re home. Discovery strikes a perfect balance between the classic and new with its props.

Take the Phaser Rifle from Discovery and you’ll see precisely what I’m talking about. It’s a fully modern piece of design, but takes its inspiration from Captain Kirk’s original rifle. The shape of the prop, its dimensions and especially its Tri-Barrel body are straight from 1965 (2265?), but translates that into something our modern sensibilities can believe today. It’s no easy task riding the line between the past and future, and that’s the job of Discovery prop master Mario Moreira.

Mario and his team are tasked with creating the objects depicted in the future seen in Discovery while remaining ever cognizant of the fact that their show sits within a slice of time between “ The Cage ” and “ Where No Man Has Gone Before ,” and so can pull from both eras to create something new. The Phaser Rifle echoes this very well by using the three-point emitter from Captain Pike’s Laser Pistol and marrying it to Captain Kirk’s Phaser Rifle so that we get something fresh and cool.

Even color can add a lot to the feel of pieces like this, and when we recently talked to Mario about the Discovery Rifle, additional touches were deliberately mirrored into the final prop: “The orange foil was a last-minute addition to ours. When we received the mock-up I realized it was too distant from the TOS version, so we took apart the cowling, and painted it to match the foil. In the end it was a subtle addition that helped tie in the design.”

Something just that subtle can make or break a good prop, and that’s always on our mind when creating our replicas.

Replicating props, we start with the 3D files that the originals were created from. We also work closely with people like Mario who created them to begin with, to ensure that we capture every nuance of the original piece. Then we do what we can to bring what started out life as a prop for a show into the real world. That task falls to people like John Eblan at KorbenFX, who take all the information anyone could want about a particular piece to recreate one from the ground up.

In this case, all that work ensured that our replica Phaser Rifle can function just as the screen-used prop did on the show: with a retractable butt-stock that locks, light-up setting selector, light-up emitters (which change color based on how the emitter nozzle is turned), functional tactical lights, and then amazingly improve upon that by adding enhanced features such as incorporating a functional OLED screen for the targeting scope that features an interactive playback element as a Heads-Up Display (H.U.D.).

Finally, having ensured that each replica looks and feels “right,” it is packaged with a Certificate of Authenticity, a display stand inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge (yet another touch of the familiar), as well as the Phaser Rifle itself. And the reason to go to such lengths to get what amounts to a make-believe artifact feel so real? So, we can bring a piece of the future into our homes… now.

Get Updates By Email

• Items that Bind on Pickup
• Discovery Content

Section 31 Heavy Phaser Rifle

• VisualEditor
• View history

The Section 31 Heavy Phaser Rifle is a type of Rifle weapon based on the rifle used by Leland in Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery .

The Sweeping Beam Setting in action

• 1 Game Description
• 2 Obtaining

Game Description [ | ]

This distinctive weapon was developed with the direct oversight of a high-ranking operative within the now-defunct intelligence organization known as "Section 31." The operative in question is known only as "Leland" in design documentation, without indication of further identifying names, or rank. This operative designed the weapon with the specific purpose of weakening and piercing through personal-scale shielding technology, even though such technology was rare in the time period from which it originates (believed to be the late-23rd century).

This rifle's primary fire will fire an additional bolt that seeks out a random target near the primary foe's location, while its secondary fire channels a high-intensity sweeping beam designed to lay waste to a large area in a short amount of time.

Obtaining [ | ]

The Section 31 Heavy Phaser Rifle could be obtained by completing the Arena of Sompek Featured Task Force Operation, which ran from August 8th, 2019 to August 29th, 2019. Completing this event unlocked the Section 31 Heavy Phaser Rifle allowing it to be reclaimed on any character on that account.

Upgrades [ | ]

Ground weapons can be upgraded using the Ground Gear Tech Upgrades or assorted Universal Tech Upgrades. This item will receive an additional modifier on successful quality improvement:

10 Star Trek Legends Who Starred In Horror Movies

Posted: April 26, 2024 | Last updated: April 26, 2024

Set phasers to scream! Star Trek icons in horror movies.

More for You

Megan Fox Signs With UTA

NFL draft grades: Every team's pick in 2024 first round broken down

Trump campaign accused of breaking federal law by hiding millions in legal payments

28 celebrities you probably did not know are nonbinary

America's Abrams Tanks Are Failing the Ukraine Test

20 Loyal Dog Breeds That Will Never Leave Your Side

"GMA" Fans Congratulate Robin Roberts as She Announces Major Career Achievement

John Jacob Astor IV was one of the richest men in the world when he died on the Titanic. Here's a look at his life.

I’m a Bank Teller: 3 Times You Should Never Ask For $100 Bills at the Bank

The films everyone should see at least once before they die, according to critics

Young Sheldon star criticises decision to end series: ‘Such a stupid business move’

How Do I Know If My Dog Is Happy? 12 Signs of a Happy Dog

Ranking the 21 'American Idol' winners

Ghosts of the USA: The Most Haunted Places in America

HMS Diamond has just taught our enemies an important lesson. Don’t underestimate the Royal Navy

Peanuts by Charles Schulz

10 things you need to watch before they leave US Netflix next month

15 of the richest self-made teenagers in the US

What does 'Sapphic' mean? An ancient term is having a modern moment

Baking Soda Makes a Great DIY Weed Killer—Here's How to Use It