Dooku & Sidious Sabers

[MojaveTrooper]

I don't know how this completely missed the site's attention but, apparently, we've all been wrong about the Sidious/Palpatine Hero hilt: there is indeed a metal copy. It doesn't say what the background and from who's collection this came from, but Propstore's pretty good about authenticating their wares, so this is a pretty special piece because that means this is the only metal copy. Beyond this, there are no other known metal hilts for Palpatine in RotS. Everything else must've been cast from this piece.


Taken from the Propstore auction page:



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Some quick observation and speculation to how they made this piece: if this is all aluminium, and there are definite seams separating the wrapping to the ergonomic grip, how I would approach making this would be to have the main exposed grip bar alu and the wrapping come from a tube. I would do the basic cut-outs of the exposed grip area underneath, slide that over the bar, and then grind out the ergonomic/organic shapes from there. The brass is cut on the lathe, even the "nipple" endcap. The nipple is angled on one side after it's fastened to the end of the hilt to point down rather than outward. In fact, judging from how off center it is, the piece was likely shaped together with the rest of the hilt. The copper cylinder might just be for decoration but that screw is likely functional in keeping the wrapping and grip together.

I've been wanting to remake my Hero Palpy hilt ever since I made it, but now with this dropping, I may have the actual incentive to try and make it as they might've done for this during production of RotS. Maybe even better, using real metal they tried to replicate the finish in paint here.

I’m not too familiar with Palp’s prop, other than the MR pink one. Is this the famous “black” version that everyone talks about? That is what appears in CW, and is apparently the one in the Arrest Scene?

 

[MojaveTrooper]

Does anyone know if this is still happening?

Thanks

It’s still happening, I assume after the OWK run

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

I’m not too familiar with Palp’s prop, other than the MR pink one. Is this the famous “black” version that everyone talks about? That is what appears in CW, and is apparently the one in the Arrest Scene?

This metal hero is the one he uses during the fight with Windu during the arrest (used only for inserts). Until now, it was assumed that there were only resin copies made as that was all there were in private collections and through anecdotal reference from production staff. Now, we know the original hero was metal and currently the only one made for Palpatine in this way.

The "black" one you're referring to is probably this (a little more photos in this thread here):

This is the one commonly referred to as the "V2," but now looking at it after seeing the metal hero, it seems to be trying to replicate the colors on the hero closer than imagined before. It's just darker, more matte in finish than the metal hero, and there's a clearer color difference with the alternating color scheme of dark bronze and brass/gold. This is also the one with the Covertec wheel on the back.

 

[molasses flood]

Big fan of the darker colors on that Palpatine hilt, wow.

 

[TravisT]

I'm not sure if this is the exact same hilt as the recent auction prop as usually hero's are sold as that, with no blade etc, like the recent auctioned prop. But this one would be for example sold with a blade and probably would separate without the blade attached like the Ani and Obi stunts but I don't think I've seen anything other than this photo and then when all the stunts are in the drawer in the "This weapon is your life" documentary. I am a fan of the Alternate finish style that was also listed with like a burnished look to it

 

[TravisT]

The one recently just posted looks like Lot#345 with the sort of aluminium looking finish body but just upon refreshing my search there's also this one which is from the 2018 catalogue (don't see a lot#) but certainly a different hilt with the chrome body https://propstoreauction.com/lot-de...8603?url=/search?key=Darth+sidious&xclosed=no

 

[TravisT]

In my opinion the alternate finish style is just gorgeous to me I can't say this is what Ian holds in the scene with the Mace fight that's anyone's debate but damn is this version gorgeous https://propstoreauction.com/lot-de...9078?url=/search?key=Darth+sidious&xclosed=no

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

I'm not sure if this is the exact same hilt as the recent auction prop as usually hero's are sold as that, with no blade etc, like the recent auctioned prop. But this one would be for example sold with a blade and probably would separate without the blade attached like the Ani and Obi stunts but I don't think I've seen anything other than this photo and then when all the stunts are in the drawer in the "This weapon is your life" documentary. I am a fan of the Alternate finish style that was also listed with like a burnished look to it

Yeah, this is one of the fencing stunts and was likely made for use for the Senate duel with "Yoda." The entirety of the Windu arrest duel sequence was done with the Anakin skinny-flex stunt and his hero hilt was literally made for inserts for this shot, and used to make resin copies off from.

Like you say, at this point, who knows which versions were ultimately used where. The really reflective surfaces on the metal hero and the Gillard "hero" don't make it easy to tell which was which in the one close-up in Palpatine's hand. This hilt isn't very well documented nor is it seen a lot in close-ups to really say. We do know that the darker, more matte versions of the stunt hilts (resin and paint) were used for the Yoda senate sequence, seen here:

There must've been a great number of these resin copies made to test final paint and color schemes for this hilt. The Propstore auctions of the Gillard "hero," and now the metal hero, along with the burnished color test copy, the "Reddit" copy seen here (the original post is now deleted along with a few extra photos of it) by a user whose grandfather was responsible for chroming the resin hilts:

The Wookieepedia/StarWars.com copy from unknown origins (this was my favorite color scheme for the longest time):

So, there are a number of these things floating around, it seems. Though scant, I'm really glad for all the stuff that's been recently discovered and released about these things. The only thing I'm certain of is that I want to remake the hilts I made based on what we have now.

 

[Benjo]

Rumors say that hilt was a last minute prop made in a rush. I'm surprised though to realize they put a lot of care to create it, building it out of metal and trying different color schemes. I guess the Palpatine VS Yoda sequence was meant to be done initialy with Palpatine having his own lightsaber hilt.
I always loved that prop.

 

[Halliwax]

I’m not too familiar with Palp’s prop, other than the MR pink one. Is this the famous “black” version that everyone talks about? That is what appears in CW, and is apparently the one in the Arrest Scene?

Never heard of the black one