A sword wielded by Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan the Barbarian has sold for $176,400 at auction.
The Atlantean Blade, from the movie Conan the Barbarian (1982), went into PropStore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction: Los Angeles Spring 2025 with a $75,000 to $150,000 estimate.
The blade was forged in resin, with a paint job to give it a realistic steel look, complete with battle damage. Atlantean runes decorate the weapon.
The prop was designed by Ron Cobb who worked on a slew of big sci-fi films including Star Wars, Alien, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Total Recall. It was made by Jody Samson, a master bladesmith.
Replicas of the swords are still made today using Cobb’s drawings. The prop was given to a driver who worked with Schwarzenegger during the filming of Conan in Spain.
Behind the scenes photos were included in the sale.
The item was one of a huge collection of props for offer in the sale.
They included a large set of items from the Star Wars films. A storyboard drawing from Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) went for $15,120 against an estimate of $8,000.
A pair of boots worn by Charlie Chaplin in character as a Jewish Barber (a variant of his Little Tramp character) in 1940’s The Great Dictator sold for $157,500.
Will Ferrell’s suit worn as the character Ron Burgundy realised $10,080 against a low estimate of $8,000.
Director Zack Snyder contributed items from the film 300. A Spartan shield sold for $6,300, and a helmet worn on screen by Michael Fassbender realised $7,650.
Movie props are enduringly popular and the market is strong.
Science fiction films in particular have dedicated fanbases with the money to spend on their passions. Star Wars is the most collectible series in history and set a record last year with the $3.1 million sale of a 20-inch X-wing rebel space ship.
The sale continues this week, closing on Friday, March 28 when items from The Matrix, the Superman series of movies and Starship Troopers are eye-catching lots.
