The bowcaster is a crossbow-like weapon carried by Chewbacca. Several of the Star Wars films' fictional weapons are modified from real-life blank-firing prop guns: Han Solo's pistol is a customized Mauser C96, while the stormtroopers carry Sterling submachine guns or the World War II-era German MG34 general purpose machine gun, most easily seen in the detention center break-in in Episode IV. One of the most common and well-known blasters is the E-11 blaster rifle, the standard weapon of Imperial stormtroopers. For example, Princess Leia Organa wielded a sporting blaster when her ship was boarded by Darth Vader's forces, while Han Solo prefers his heavily modified blaster pistol (a BlasTech DL-44). There are many variations of blasters: pistols, carbines, cannons, assault rifles and even machine guns. The ray gun, the standard weapon of classic science fiction, is also the most common weapon in the Star Wars universe under the name 'blaster'.
Main article: List of Star Wars ranged weapons
