Fencer Archive

On a tangential but related note, I have a friend who collects prop replicas, and I've held replicas of pretty much all the main-characterlightsabers in the movies.

The first thing that stands out is they are all pretty big, or bigger than I would have expected. Most are certainly made with the intent that someone be able to put two hands on them comfortably.

Darth Maul's saber, by comparisson, is smaller than I would have expected. Both shorter and smaller in diameter. But clearly the grip that one would use on it in a two-bladed mode is more akin to a staff/polearm grip than a two-handed sword grip.

Dooku's saber, unlike any of the others, seems clearly intended for one-hand use. As I recall, the grip doesn't really give much room for more than one hand. The really striking thing about holding it is that the center of gravity is at the back of our grip, with half the weight of the thing hanging out behind your hand. What that seems to do is put the center of gravity right near the pivot point of your wrist, such that it is very easy to twist and turn the blade. I'm not sure if this really corresponds well to any real-life weapon. Of course, that mass is as much a function of the construction of the prop as of any realistic intent on how the weapon would be used.

Just some interesting tidbits.

jb