Icons MIB Standard Issue Alien Laser Pistol Prototype

Here's a nice one. This is THE MIB Men in Black "Standard Issue" Alien laser pistol 1:1 scale, Studio licensed, authorized and authenticated prop replica prototype #1 of 1 produced by Icons Authentic Replicas in 1996. 

This rare piece is the actual manufacturing sample submitted for product approval to Sony Studios, Columbia Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the licensors for the blockbuster hit film, MIB Men in Black. This gorgeous chrome plated beauty was never produced by Icons as a product or solicited for sale during Icons 5 years in business, from 1995 until 2000.

In 1996, after procuring the MIB Men in Black master license for all prop replicas from the movie, Icons was provided with the actual, working, screen-used hero props from the Amblin Entertainment archives. This stunt version was made by disassembling the screen-used Hero original into all of its individual pieces (which made the Icons staff extremely nervous). These individual pieces were then molded separately and then chrome-plated. Then the prototype was assembled. If you stand there looking at the prototype it looks like the Hero because of the incredible quality. It was NOT just molded and recast. Icons took apart the Hero and molded EACH part to achieve this look. It is meticulously made. 

Only 2 copies of this specific prop, the "Standard Issue" pistol, were ever produced at Icons. One, as the product sample for Studio approval and the other for permanent display at Icons. The first was submitted to the above-mentioned Studios for approval and then returned to Icons for reference, until the product was just prior to being manufactured. That is this specific piece you can see here. The other was never chrome-plated, assembled or displayed. 

This #0 MIB Men in Black prototype was on display in Icons memorabilia adorned conference room from 1996 until their closure in 2000. 

The piece was fabricated in multiple components in very high-quality resin and then chrome-plated to appear made of gleaming alien-forged metal. The handgrips are also separate components and painted black as you can see by the photograph. There are some hand painted red accents on what would have been an illuminated LED. The piece does appear to have some real metal fittings as accents. It is difficult to tell because it has so many chrome plated fittings.

This scarce prototype is displayed in a museum quality, custom fabricated Plexiglas display case with custom mounting holders, which slides open vertically for easy removal of the prop weapon. The display case is conveniently designed to either sit on a shelf, desk or mantle or hang on a wall. The case features an extremely rare glossy paper Icons "temp plaque", which was used by Icons in very early versions of their Studio replica prototypes. 

Though companies such as Unobtainium and Master Replicas obtained the Icons MIB Men in Black prop replica master license, this specific prop replica was never produced by them, which makes it even more ultra-rare.