First photo of phaser prop...for real this time.

[Devon]

I was going to suggest that this might be the trigger:

 

[DaveyNY]

I think USS Mariner means its a reflection of the table on the phaser handle. And I'm inclined to agree. Notice how the gray patch near the underside of the pistol (the "trigger") curves slightly right before the dividing line, then under the dividing line, a similar gray line matches up and goes down the length of the handle.

The only problem with that, is that the Brightest Light Source is coming from Above and to the Right.

The area that I'm saying is the Trigger is in shadow.

Also, the Trigger has a slight outward buldge to it that doesn't match the area of the grip where it sits. (like it sticks out further.)

But... After staring at it for awhile, I can also see how it might look like a reflection.

 

[DaveyNY]

I was going to suggest that this might be the trigger:

Hell, Maybe I'm wrong. (have been many times before.)

I could see a mechanism whereby you'd press the silver button with your thumb to release the lock and then squeeze the handle with the rest of your fingers.

Like some sort of Safety Override.

God Help Ya if yer a South-Paw like me though!

 

[shapeshifter]

I was going to suggest that this might be the trigger:

I suggested that way up thread.

 

[Mad Jack Wolfe]

Re: Fisrt photo of phaser prop...for real this time.

I'm reposting this cause people ...keep missing the target....

The WHOLE SILVER HANDLE IS NOT THE TRIGGER...

Look at it closer....

Just to the left of the shiny silver button (which is on the SIDE OF THE HANDLE), ...you'll see on the forward-facing part of the handle, there is a very small area of gray...

That, I would guess, is the actual trigger.

It makes no sense for a firearm to have a massive trigger. Too many opportunities for disasters of red-shirt proportions. The small light gray patch that lies suspiciously where a trigger on a pistol would usually lurk is without a doubt the trigger itself. There is no good reason for them to suddenly go against centuries of proven firearm design and turn the handle into a trigger mechanism.

 

[DaveyNY]

Re: Fisrt photo of phaser prop...for real this time.

http://img.trekmovie.com/images/merchandise/pmst09/Phaser_HiRes_v2.jpg

Looking at the toy, you can see there is a small Trigger at a lower location... guess that kinda suggests that the lower handle is the mechanism.

 

[DredZed]

The "small light gray patch" near the top of the handgrip is simply a reflection, seemingly of the grey table the phaser is resting on.

If you look closely, a strip of reflection of the exact same shade goes all the way down the front of the handle. That reflection is simply thinner because the front of the handle has a sharper curved edge than the bulge above it.

I'm not sure whether the whole front of the handle is the actual trigger, or if it's the button on the side. Either one would seem somewhat silly, but oddly enough, the trigger definitely isn't in the typical position.

 

[Captain Robert April]

The button is probably for swinging the barrels around.

Still a stupid design.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

I was going to suggest that this might be the trigger:

I believe that this is the case. Full-length "triggers" of this sort have been seen in industrial/tool applications. Generally, they're not so good for a firearm (where you want to hold the thing steady) but based upon what I've seen in this film so far, I think that someone (who's probably never fired a weapon in real life) saw this approach for, say, a power tool and thought "what a cool idea!"

 

[ancient]

Having the long trigger may make it easier to use for crewmen without four fingers and a thumb. Since phasers are a weapon that would need a press-and-hold trigger, unlike most weapons today, it's not really a terrible idea.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Having the long trigger may make it easier to use for crewmen without four fingers and a thumb. Since phasers are a weapon that would need a press-and-hold trigger, unlike most weapons today, it's not really a terrible idea.

Well, let's say that the phaser isn't a pull-and-shoot weapon at all.

Suppose that when you pull the trigger, there is a momentary "laser target dot" beam that comes out... put the dot on the target, then a second later or so the full-power beam follows on.

This would eliminate the problem with your point-of-aim changing (along with the shape of your hand) as you contract your grip. Still not as good as a single-finger trigger, but if they did it this way it MIGHT work.

 

[ancient]

Having the long trigger may make it easier to use for crewmen without four fingers and a thumb. Since phasers are a weapon that would need a press-and-hold trigger, unlike most weapons today, it's not really a terrible idea.

Well, let's say that the phaser isn't a pull-and-shoot weapon at all.

Suppose that when you pull the trigger, there is a momentary "laser target dot" beam that comes out... put the dot on the target, then a second later or so the full-power beam follows on.

This would eliminate the problem with your point-of-aim changing (along with the shape of your hand) as you contract your grip. Still not as good as a single-finger trigger, but if they did it this way it MIGHT work.

I had a similar thought. It would solve the problem of there being no sights too. But you'd never win the quick-draw competition...

 

[Carbon Unit]

Does it have to have a trigger at all? After all, the original TOS phaser II doesn't have a trigger. Or am I mistaken? Maybe Abrams is trying to be faithful to this part of the original design.

I have a feeling that if there were an obvious trigger, some people would be complaining about their childhood being raped (or whatever)

 

[Mad Jack Wolfe]

Every weapon can be sighted. It's called weapons familiarity. You know the way the weapon works, and its characteristics. Otherwise, nobody with a flintlock, matchlock, or wheellock would have gotten off a decent shot ever. Same for blunderbusses, scatter guns, or shotguns. If memory serves, there has been many an accurate, deadly shot from all those types of weapons.

Speaking as a black powder enthusiast, none of my weapons have a built sight. Yet I manage to be extremely accurate.

 

[Gepard]

After all, the original TOS phaser II doesn't have a trigger. Or am I mistaken? Maybe Abrams is trying to be faithful to this part of the original design.

(It's the Art Asylum toy, but it's faithful to the real deal.)

 

[ancient]

Every weapon can be sighted. It's called weapons familiarity. You know the way the weapon works, and its characteristics. Otherwise, nobody with a flintlock, matchlock, or wheellock would have gotten off a decent shot ever. Same for blunderbusses, scatter guns, or shotguns. If memory serves, there has been many an accurate, deadly shot from all those types of weapons.

Speaking as a black powder enthusiast, none of my weapons have a built sight. Yet I manage to be extremely accurate.

Those aren't pistols.

That's all well and good for those weapons, but the phaser has the obvious potential to have laser-accurate targeting. The phaser probably also has a very long range.

The phaser is a weapon that always shoots in the same place regardless of wind or rain and can shoot in a perfectly straight line without the bullet ever getting pulled to the ground by gravity. So not having a scope or other accurate targeting method is really crippling the potential of the gun. As is having a jerky trigger system.

Not that this really matters, but if you want to think of this as 'real' it isn't really ideal.

 

[Corran Horn]

Re: Fisrt photo of phaser prop...for real this time.

IWhen Gene rebooted Trek (TNG) he insisted that dudes with tentacles be able to wield a phaser.

That was the Federation's first mistake.

 

[Mad Jack Wolfe]

Those aren't pistols.

That's all well and good for those weapons, but the phaser has the obvious potential to have laser-accurate targeting. The phaser probably also has a very long range.

The phaser is a weapon that always shoots in the same place regardless of wind or rain and can shoot in a perfectly straight line without the bullet ever getting pulled to the ground by gravity. So not having a scope or other accurate targeting method is really crippling the potential of the gun. As is having a jerky trigger system.

Not that this really matters, but if you want to think of this as 'real' it isn't really ideal.

Please check your history. The flintlock, matchlock, and wheellock were pistols as well as long arms. Galileo designed the first wheellock pistol. All three of my pistols are flintlocks. And regardless of windage, firing a pistol is firing a pistol. You have to be able to aim the thing to hit your target, ballistics not withstanding. Let's not overthink this. It's a gun. You point, you shoot. If you are any good, you hit your target. Accurate aiming is a matter of proficiency, not solely mechanics.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Re: Fisrt photo of phaser prop...for real this time.

Looks a little more serious now.

Although the rotating emitter and the red emitter look kinda...crap.

Make the red emitter a dark black and we're in definite business.

Eh, everything in base colors gets bland.

It's a Phaser, it shoots "lasers", it should be colored and distinguished.

It could just as easily be bright orange polycarbonate with reflective strips like a safety vest. There's no reason why a phaser has to have any more than trace metal elements.

 

[ancient]

Those aren't pistols.

That's all well and good for those weapons, but the phaser has the obvious potential to have laser-accurate targeting. The phaser probably also has a very long range.

The phaser is a weapon that always shoots in the same place regardless of wind or rain and can shoot in a perfectly straight line without the bullet ever getting pulled to the ground by gravity. So not having a scope or other accurate targeting method is really crippling the potential of the gun. As is having a jerky trigger system.

Not that this really matters, but if you want to think of this as 'real' it isn't really ideal.

Please check your history. The flintlock, matchlock, and wheellock were pistols as well as long arms. Galileo designed the first wheellock pistol. All three of my pistols are flintlocks. And regardless of windage, firing a pistol is firing a pistol. You have to be able to aim the thing to hit your target, ballistics not withstanding. Let's not overthink this. It's a gun. You point, you shoot. If you are any good, you hit your target. Accurate aiming is a matter of proficiency, not solely mechanics.

My point was, it shouldn't be only a matter of proficiency, especially if it doesn't need to be.