Lightsaber Hilt Observations
Tue, 12/25/2007 - 2:53am — graydon
Notice the similarity in grip design as Obi-Wan designed his own lightsaber to resemble that of his master's.
Luke's original lightsaber in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was built by his father Anakin Skywalker (now Darth Vader), but this lightsaber he built himself imitating the design of Obi-wan's.
With Episode III, note the center ring moved down toward the grip and the simple eliptical opening at the blade emitter becomes an open end with a blade shroud. When Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader the middle ring moves back to the center and the blade emitter returns to the elipse-style opening as with his padawan lightsaber; as well as introducing much more black to the style and extending the grip. With Episode IV the grip is extended further and the D-ring added. With Episode V the grip is extended again to meet the metal ring, and with Episode VI the eliptical blade-emitter returns to the open-style with blade shroud, just like his last lightsaber as Anakin which was passed down to Luke. Especially fitting as it is in this final episode that Darth Vader redeems himself, rejects the dark side, and returns as Anakin in time for his passing.
I've been wanting to get a Master Replicas Star Wars Force FX Lightsaber, though unfortunately they don't yet make the specific lightsabers I'm interested in: Obi-Wan Kenobi's from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Kyle Katarn's from Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Between their Force FX and Scale Replicas they do carry several lightsabers from the same character but from different films which got me researching (as only a geek would) and realizing how much their lightsabers change from film to film and how they are really influence by the designs used by others such as the designs of their previous masters' lightsaber.
Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Notice the similarity in grip design as Obi-Wan designed his own lightsaber to resemble that of his master's.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith through Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Luke Skywalker's new lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Luke's original lightsaber in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was built by his father Anakin Skywalker (now Darth Vader), but this lightsaber he built himself imitating the design of Obi-wan's.
Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Anakin Skywalker's new lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith which Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi passed along to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and which Luke carried through Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Anakin Skywalker's new lightsaber hilt he recieves as Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Darth Vader's new lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Darth Vader's new lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Darth Vader's new lightsaber hilt from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
With Episode III, note the center ring moved down toward the grip and the simple eliptical opening at the blade emitter becomes an open end with a blade shroud. When Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader the middle ring moves back to the center and the blade emitter returns to the elipse-style opening as with his padawan lightsaber; as well as introducing much more black to the style and extending the grip. With Episode IV the grip is extended further and the D-ring added. With Episode V the grip is extended again to meet the metal ring, and with Episode VI the eliptical blade-emitter returns to the open-style with blade shroud, just like his last lightsaber as Anakin which was passed down to Luke. Especially fitting as it is in this final episode that Darth Vader redeems himself, rejects the dark side, and returns as Anakin in time for his passing.