A gun used by Han Solo in The Return of the Jedi has sold for $US550,000 ($738,708) at auction to the museum chain Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, Julien’s Auctions says.

The hero prop blaster gun used by Harrison Ford’s character in the 1983 movie, a BlasTech DL-44, is one of the best-known weapons in the Star Wars universe.

The prop, which does not actually fire a powerful bolt of energy as depicted in the film, was made for the movie by the US art director on Return of the Jedi, James L. Schoppe.

He was given the gun after filming ended, along with other mementoes that he has kept for 35 years.

He put about 40 other items up for auction, including an Ewok axe, which went for $US11,250 ($15,125), another blaster for $US90,624 ($121,845) and the plans for Jabba the Hutt’s ship.

James L. Schoppe’s Star Wars collection on sale. Photo: Getty

The prop had a pre-sale estimate price of between $US300,000 ($A402,931) and $US500,000 ($A671,552) ahead of Saturday’s auction in Las Vegas, which Mr Schoppe attended, Julien’s Auctions said.

Star Wars memorabilia is among the most sought-after of pop culture collectibles. Luke Skywalker’s original lightsaber prop sold for $US450,000 ($A604,397) last year and an R2-D2 droid used in several films sold for $US2.7 million ($A3.6 million).

-AAP