Dressellian Projectile Rifle

The Dressellian Projectile Rifle was a slugthrower rifle used by the Dressellians in their resistance against the Galactic Empire's occupation of their homeworld, Dressel. A crude weapon typically built with primitive tools, some of the slugthrowers were made by the Dressellians, while others were smuggled to Dressel by Bothans. In 4 ABY, several Dressellians fought for the Alliance to Restore the Republic at the Battle of Endor, and the Dressellian Projectile Rifle was among the weapons used by the species in the battle.

Description

The Dressellian species, which utilized the eponymous Projectile Rifle

Manufactured by members of the Dressellian or Bothan species, the Dressellian Projectile Rifle was made of the planet Dressel's native woods, along with easily smelted metals. The slugthrower rifle was medium-sized, weighed 4 kilograms, and cost 300 credits. Capable of firing 20 meters, the rifle had a clip of 12 piercing shots, and had the multifire capability.^[1] For the rifle's shells,^[3] replacement 12-round clips cost 5 credits.^[1]

The rifle included a long barrel with a scope, a cartridge loader, trigger, large stock, and a carry strap.^[3] The weapon was colored brown, with a black scope, strap, cartridge loader, and trigger. The rifle also had a black ring above the strap, as well as between the barrel and scope.^[4] The rifle was a far more crude weapon which was normally hand-built with primitive tools.^[3] Typical of projectile weapons built by native species, the Dressellian Projectile Rifle was similar to the Tusken Raider species's Tusken Cycler rifles.^[1]

History

During the Dressellian resistance against the Galactic Empire, their projectile rifles were among the weapons used to drive off the Imperial presence on their homeworld. With some of the rifles made by Dressellians, others were smuggled to their world by the Bothan species.^[1] The Bothans were able to conceal their involvement, as their aid to the Dressellians was limited to delivering slugthrower rifles.^[3] Overall, the Dressellian Projectile Rifle was an excellent example of slugthrower rifles produced by low-technology societies.^[1]

By 4 ABY,^[5] several Dressellians joined the Alliance to Restore the Republic, and participated in the Battle of Endor.^[3] Orrimaarko, himself previously a Dressellian resistance fighter, was among the Dressellians at the Battle of Endor,^[5] using their species' Projectile Rifles around that time.^[2]^[6] The battle ended with an Alliance victory over the Empire.^[6]

Behind the scenes

The Dressellian Projectile Rifle first appeared in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the 1983 third film of the original trilogy. It was held by a Dressellian aboard the MC80 Home One type Star Cruiser Home One,^[6] with all of the scenes aboard the cruiser filmed throughout the week of Tuesday, February 16, 1982.^[7] In 1997, the rifle was first named as the Dresselian projectile rifle in The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology,^[3] before 2002's Arms & Equipment Guide called it the Dresselian Projectile Rifle.^[8] 2003's Ultimate Alien Anthology identified it as Dressellian Projectile Rifle.^[1] While the 2011 Star Wars: Head-to-Head Tag Teams once more referred to the weapon as the Dresselian projectile rifle,^[9] and the 2013 Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook once more called it the Dresselian Projectile Rifle,^[10] this article treats Dressellian Projectile Rifle as the proper name.

A Dressellian Projectile Rifle's appearance for the Kenner *Star Wars: Return of the Jedi* toy line

A number of other inconsistencies exist with the rifle. The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology lists the weapon's maximum range as 300 meters, with an optimum range of 150 meters, while listing it as carrying 6 shells in its clip.^[3] This is contradicted by Arms & Eqipment Guide and Ultimate Alien Anthology, which list the 20 meter range and 12 shells statistics that are presented in the article.^[1]^[8] The rifle's appearance is also inconsistent. While the way the article describes its appearance is matching with the prop's design,^[4]^[11] Orrimaarko's figure for the 1984 Kenner Products Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line showed the entire rifle as brown,^[2] and his 2012 Star Wars: The Vintage Collection figure does not include the black ring between the barrel and scope or above the carry strap.^[12]