Correct D-ring for a Luke ANH Graflex Saber?
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Sym-Cha
Master Member
Should you get the urge ... you can always convert your Graflite into Luke's Holiday Special lightsaber 
http://www.therpf.com/f79/tis-season-lukes-holiday-special-lightsaber-202206/
Chaim
http://www.therpf.com/f79/tis-season-lukes-holiday-special-lightsaber-202206/
Chaim
Congrats on finding one, read your theory on my other thread, enjoyed it!
Well unfortunately I haven't yet been able to find a case with the correct ring and bracket like yours and Sym-Cha's. I thought I had a serious contender in a case I purchased on ebay a few months back, however the clasps are far too thick and painted black, bummer, the actual d ring itself does appear to fit the bill so that's what I have residing in my vintage kobold bracket waiting to be installed on my esb build. I can't even tell you at this ppint how many people I've sent messages to on ebay asking for a closer up shot of the carrying handle on their graflex cases.
Longshot here but seeing as you presumably have 2 rings with the proper clasp from your case is there a dollar amount or item you would accept in trade for one of them? I am currently waiting to pull the trigger on converting 2 folmer, no patent 3 cells into luke anh and esb sabers at the same time, using all known/highly likely vintage parts. This is the last piece before I begin, and document accordingly
My case was the same as SymCha's, but the D ring was painted black as were the clasps, they are thin however. When I folded my clasp around it only just makes it and the D ring moves around ok but not without some friction.
As for my second D ring, well it was my first, I had a theory that the clasp on the lightsaber also may have been the clasp on the graflex camera, so I opened it up and could not get it on, so I cut a little bit off the D ring and then got it on, and then realised this was not the clasp used, I then looked at the D rings original clasp and figured, well this must have been used and folded back, I did that then realised it looked better and more likely than my other theory. I was upset for cutting and deforming it the other one. I have tried to restore that D ring back to shape, but it is still a bit out. So my good ring is in my ANH and the other one waiting for a better repair.
The D ring itself I believe could have been the one/type used, it is logical and available to them at the time. I am still not 100% sure about the D ring being used on the ESB promo saber with the rivets, that looks like another D ring that is 1" that I scaled to the circuit board, I used a 1" Strapworks one stretched to the dimensions on my ESB. However on the Ranch saber that D ring does not look like the D ring in the promo shots, but looks more like one of these D rings stretched out, even in some photos there looks like there may be black paint, but that could just be lighting as well. The Ranch saber D ring does look more deformed as if it had been stretched out.
Here is a scaled picture of the D ring. Roys D ring is very close to its dimensions, these ones are only slightly thicker gauge wire and the bottom elbows have more of a soft curve in.
I do want to make a jig so I can wrap around some wire and make some D rings to spec to open up and test out the ESB Ranch idea. If I do this I would be happy to send u one. I paid over $200 usd on a camera with that case just for the D rings, so I can't imagine selling the one I got and being damaged as well. As for the clasp. I might flatten my spare one out and make a template at some point for people who may want this option. Not all people support that this is the exact D ring used either.
b5historyman
New Member
The ANH D ring and bracket I thought came from the outer spine of an old foolscap paper box file. I have a couple kicking round in a cupboard in my junk room. If I can find them I will post pictures
b5historyman
New Member
Photos of the D ring and bracket from the foolscap box file. These were wooden cloth covered file boxes for storing papers foolscap was a UK paper size. The boxes around the time (mid 70's) had a metal plate with a D ring to enable you to pull the box from a shelf. Having bent the flat plate over it certainly matches the dimensions of the assembly on the ANH hilt. Modern box files have plastic tabs of metal rimmed holes in the spines.
b5historyman
New Member
I will sort some pictures out just as soon as I can put my hands on a ruler, they have a habit of falling through wormholes in my house!
b5historyman
New Member
A picture with a ruler for scale and measurements in millimetres. the way the plate was bent over wasn't ideal and will look to reshape it slightly. As you can see from the pictures posted above it wouldn't sit flush on the bottom of the handle. Either way I hope they are useful. I will post a picture of the D ring next to my ESB graflex ring soon.
Last edited:
Sym-Cha
Master Member
Here's the measurements of my idealized D-ring and clip again :
however what's most important is when you attach it to your
G R A F L E X ... the D sits in the center of the bottom plate, so
with 26 mm yours is way over the center when placed on the
inner edge of the bottom plate, if I'm not mistaken. Correct?
Chaim
however what's most important is when you attach it to your
G R A F L E X ... the D sits in the center of the bottom plate, so
with 26 mm yours is way over the center when placed on the
inner edge of the bottom plate, if I'm not mistaken. Correct?
Chaim
b5historyman
New Member
Thanks Chaim, this was just my speculation as to the origins of the base plate. Thought it would be interesting to share. I assume that these have been measured against the MR ANH Saber?
This is my take on it.
Reverse engineered in 3D CAD from the famous toe-pic:
Only the thickness is a bit less than 3mm.
This is the one I have in Wannawanga.com
Roy
Reverse engineered in 3D CAD from the famous toe-pic:
Only the thickness is a bit less than 3mm.
This is the one I have in Wannawanga.com
Roy
Sym-Cha
Master Member
Well it's possible they used one of those and just trimmed them here and there to suit their needs ... so I for one am glad you shared
The MR sabers are not the ones to use to compare for accuracy ... they are idealized version too. And indeed what Roy did comes a lot closer to the truth. That said I can see how you could alter your clip in way so that it will have the D sit in the center comfortably
Chaim
b5historyman
New Member
Nice work Roy, probably the most accurate D ring and plate. With the known dimensios of a real graflex it would be easy to calculate them from the picture. The D ring I have is the same size as the D ring on the Kobold plate on my ESB Saber
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