An iron rifle was a blaster rifle variant that discharged bolts of electrical energy. This weapon, specifically designed to neutralize droids, was part of the weaponry utilized by Captain Brutus' pirates during the New Republic Era.
These rifles, a type of blaster rifle distinguished by their three barrels, were unique in their use of electrical arcs instead of typical plasma projectiles. This feature rendered them particularly effective at disabling droids. Upon firing, the electrical arcs would surge through a droid, causing it to completely shut down.
During the New Republic Era, the group of younglings known as the Skeleton Crew, consisting of Fern, KB, Wim, and Neel, became marooned in space aboard the infamous pirate vessel Onyx Cinder. Guided by the reactivated pirate droid SM-33, the children found themselves on Borgo Prime, where they encountered a pirate crew. Overmatched by the pirates' numbers, the youngsters relied on SM-33, who defended them by repelling the enemy's assaults. As the Skeleton Crew prepared to board a dinghy to return to their starship, they were ambushed by the pirates Gunter, Vane, Brutus, Pax, and Chaelt. Brutus, then the temporary leader, utilized an ion rifle to remotely deactivate SM-33, whom his subordinates had been unable to subdue. As he approached the younglings, the Shistavanen handed the rifle to Chaelt, who struggled to handle it. While Fern argued with Brutus, Chaelt inadvertently held her at gunpoint, maintaining her aim until her captain ordered the children to be placed in a brig for interrogation.
The ion rifle made its canonical premiere in the live-action television series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, initially appearing in the debut episode, "Way, Way Out Past the Barrier," which was broadcast on December 2, 2024. The weapon's technical details were, in turn, furnished by Disney+'s audio descriptions and subtitles. Furthermore, a promotional image showcasing the ion rifle as it appeared in the episode was released by Entertainment Weekly on .