Star Trek Phaser Gun Auctioned For \$231,000

• View PhotoStar Trek Phaser Gun Auctioned For \$231,000

A phaser gun made for Star Trek's Captain Kirk to fire in a pilot of the hit television show has sold at auction for \$231,000 (£151,000).

The rifle - used to stun or obliterate enemies in the sci-fi show - fetched nearly five times its \$50,000 (£33,000) estimate at Julien's Auction in Los Angeles, California.
Used by William Shatner, it was made by toy inventor Reuben Klamer at the request of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, after NBC rejected an initial pilot and demanded a more action-packed adventure.
The rifle - built from wood and finished with blue metallic paint - was handed back to Mr Klamer when the now familiar pistol design was introduced for the remaining three seasons of the first series.
It was sold at auction inside its original custom-made case and came with a signed letter from Mr Roddenberry to Mr Klamer, dated March 16, 1966.
A number of black and white Polaroid photographs and sketches of the phaser gun accompanied the lot.
Other highlights at the two-day Hollywood Legends auction included a bra worn by Marilyn Monroe in the film Some Like It Hot, which sold for nearly \$29,000 (£18,900), and a cocktail dress worn by the actress, which fetched \$25,000 (£16,300).
A Superman suit worn by Christopher Reeve sold for \$25,600 (£16,700), while a 1966 Imperial Crown car nicknamed the Black Beauty, which featured in the 2011 production of The Green Hornet, fetched \$47,000 (£30,600).
Other lots included a Wizard Of Oz munchkin flower pot hat, which attracted a winning bid of \$15,000 (£9,800).