A blaster used by Harrison Ford's Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy is to go on sale for at least $200,000 via an online auction.

Based on the German Mauser C96 handgun, Solo's modified "DL-44" blaster was used in 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi. It will be auctioned on 21 December via invaluable.com.

"This non-firing blaster was created for The Empire Strikes Back and was also used in Return of the Jedi," reads the lot description. "It would have been used in the majority of scenes that feature Han, with the heavier, live-fire weapon being used for close-up shots. Particularly noteworthy scenes requiring this lighter version are when Darth Vader uses the force to lasso the blaster out of Han's hand in Empire, and in Jedi when Han wrestles with a stormtrooper to regain possession of his blaster during the Rebels' encounter with Imperial forces on Endor."

Solo's weapon was custom made in resin from a cast of the blaster used in 1977's Star Wars, and features the same serial number as the lost original. Its barrel sight was removed to ensure a quicker draw.

The blaster's guide price of $200,000 to $300,000 (£121,890 to £182,835) compares favourably with the cost of a lightsabre used by Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. That lot, sold by producer Gary Kurtz, went for $240,000 (£146,277) in 2008.