Type 1 phaseredit

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

A type-1 phaser is the smallest, most basic weapon carried by Starfleet and other Federation personnel. Type-1 phasers are typically carried when it would be inappropriate to carry a larger weapon, such as on diplomatic missions, or "undercover" work.

The type-1 has eight adjustable settings, ranging from stun to heat through disruption to disintegration. The 23rd century type-1 in use in the 2260s incorporated a small flip-up sight and was fired by a trigger on the bottom front of the unit. Several versions of the type-2 phaser incorporated a type-1 phaser into their design.

A 23rd century type-1 phaser did not possess sufficient power to harm a silicon-based lifeform such as a Horta. (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark")

24th century type-1s could be programmed to fire automatically at set intervals. (TNG: "The Game")

Type-1 phaser circa 2268

Type-1 phaser circa 2367

Phaser technology
Tools: phaser bore • phaser drill
Weapons: Bajoran phaser • compression phaser rifle • Galor-class phaser bank • hand phaser • Kzinti phaser • particle phaser • phaser array • phaser bank • phaser cannon • phaser emitter • phaser pulse • phaser type-1 • phaser type-2 • phaser type-3 • phaser type-4 • phaser type-8 • plasma phaser • Regalian phaser rifle • regenerative phaser
Other: phaser coil • phaser coolant • phaser coupling • phaser range • phaser relay • phaser room • phaser sweep

[edit] Background

The Original Series type-1 phaser was designed and built (or the construction supervised by him at the Desilu prop shop)by Matt Jefferies and later modified by Wah Chang at Gene Roddenberry's request. It is a common misconception that Mr Chang, the builder of both the tricorders and communicators, also built the phasers but this is not so. The phasers were built at the Desilu prop shop but Rodenberry was unhappy with how the Black and White phasers registered on screen and so asked Mr Chang to give them a new paint scheme and add some detail. The new grey paint scheme and details on the HERO phasers were seen in the episode "Dagger of the Mind". These facts are based on interviews with Mr Jeffires brother and an interview by propmaster Alan Sims (HMS) with Mr Chang and backed by copies of the invoices Mr Chang submitted to Desilu for his work of 'refurbishing' the phasers.

The sight is not immediately apparent in most episodes, but a detailed physical examination of one of the surviving "hero" phasers has documented its presence, as well as the location of the trigger. (TOS Season 3, Disc 7 "A Star Trek Collector's Dream Come True") (Star Trek: Communicator magazine)

The Next Generation type-1 phaser was designed by Rick Sternbach. A design patent was issued for Sternbach's design in which he was identified as the "inventor" of it. Nicknamed the "Cricket", the type-1 was rarely used after the first season of The Next Generation because Gene Roddenberry felt it was so minuscule that it was hardly visible on screen (Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission); nonetheless, it appeared in "The Mind's Eye" and "In the Flesh". The latter appearance was the first time the designation "type-1 phaser" was ever stated on-screen.