Type 1 phaser A type - 1 phaser was the smallest , most basic weapon carried by Starfleet and other Federation personnel . Type 1 phasers were typically carried when it would be inappropriate to carry a larger weapon , such as on diplomatic missions , or " undercover " work . The type 1 had 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 . ( ) 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 . ( ) 24th century type - 1s could be programmed to fire automatically at set intervals . ( ) Background information . The type 1 phaser , as the designation was first identified on screen in , was designed by Matt Jefferies and John Jefferies with input from Gene Roddenberry , and was 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 Roddenberry 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 . Jefferies ' brother and an interview by propmaster Alan Sims ( HMS ) with Mr . Chang and backed up by copies of the invoices Mr . Chang submitted to Desilu for his work of ' refurbishing ' the phasers . On Sunday , , the Art Directors Guild Film Society presented a panel discussion titled " " Star Trek " : 45 Years of Designing the Future " in which the participants were John Jefferies , Joseph R . Jennings , Herman Zimmerman , and Scott Chambliss . During this panel discussion , John Jefferies said that the design of the TOS phaser was a joint effort between himself , his brother Matt Jefferies , and Gene Roddenberry . According to John Jefferies , he was hired to work on the design of the phaser as an independent contractor , since , at the time , he was still working for Columbia Pictures , and hence was not part of the regular " Star Trek " Art Department . After discussing design ideas with Matt Jefferies and Gene Roddenberry , John drew a number of drawings ( five , by his recollection at the panel discussion in 2009 ) of possible designs for the phaser . About a week later , he showed the drawings to Matt Jefferies and Gene Roddenberry . They chose elements from each of the drawings and asked him to combine them into one , and that ' s what ended up being the design of the first phaser prop . John Jefferies also mentioned that the basic shape of the hand phaser was inspired by a remote control that Magnovox had recently released . 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 " ) ( ) In , type - 1 phasers were seen with their coloring reversed ( silver / grey phaser with trim ) . In , Starfleet personnel were equipped with a Type 1 phaser , Mk . 3 . The specifications for this phaser type were revealed at the official Star Trek : Discovery Twitter account on February 26 , 2018 . " " The " " type 1 phaser was shown as having a completed design in a series of sketches which were dated and which Andrew Probert prepared for construction bidders interested in building the props required for the show . ( " " 3rd ed . , p . 11 ) The TNG type 1 phaser was , however , 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 ( " " ) Nonetheless , it later appeared in , " The Game " and .