Introducing Project M (Maul saber)

[Saberz]

Just a quick-n-dirty assembly and paint application. This is NOT YET PRODUCTION, still a few things to tweak here and there. But it's getting VERY CLOSE. Once I have a final-final-final production sample, and photos/videos to demonstrate everything that is awesome about it, THEN the run will be open and I'll ask for money. It will also be very close to delivery at that point! But until then, these are just fun teasers

 

[Eruonen]

Wizard!

 

[PhantomPickle]

Interested. Also interested in the other hilts as well but this looks amazing!

 

[Saberz]

Ok, painting is finished and we are nearly ready to take orders. Here are just a couple teaser images, from our photo shoot next to an ORIGINAL Maul saber prop so you can see just how detailed and accurate we got with both the parts and the finish.

Note, we didn't replicate the red paint on the LED bulb, as this is the only example of Maul prop that I have seen which has that detail. This example seems to have been a very early pull from the mold, since all the molding details are crisp and more intact than on later examples (where knurling details get smoothed away, etc).

There will be options to buy the saber clean, or with this level of finish. And as shown in the last image, we are also going to sell the STUNT version, without the red buttons or the corresponding holes for them. Video and more photos coming soon.

 

[BubbaFett]

Ok, painting is finished and we are nearly ready to take orders. Here are just a couple teaser images, from our photo shoot next to an ORIGINAL Maul saber prop so you can see just how detailed and accurate we got with both the parts and the finish.

Note, we didn't replicate the red paint on the LED bulb, as this is the only example of Maul prop that I have seen which has that detail. This example seems to have been a very early pull from the mold, since all the molding details are crisp and more intact than on later examples (where knurling details get smoothed away, etc).

There will be options to buy the saber clean, or with this level of finish. And as shown in the last image, we are also going to sell the STUNT version, without the red buttons or the corresponding holes for them. Video and more photos coming soon.

View attachment 1541021

What price would we be looking at?

 

[mountainjedi]

Love it! Will the flat emitter plug shown on the stunt version also be available with the hero?

 

[Saberz]

Yes, the emitter plug comes with both versions. The version you see up there isn't final yet, which is why I didn't show it off in much detail. The final version will be a perfect match to the originals, in both material and finish.

Final pricing is TBD. The hero is made from close to 100 separate parts, and the cost of production is higher than for typical sabers.

 

[TheSaberTrade]

Yes, the emitter plug comes with both versions. The version you see up there isn't final yet, which is why I didn't show it off in much detail. The final version will be a perfect match to the originals, in both material and finish.

Final pricing is TBD. The hero is made from close to 100 separate parts, and the cost of production is higher than for typical sabers.

Been seeing this teased for a while. Always looking for the “best” maul out there.

This certainly looks accurate, but how is it internally? These hilts have always suffered from poor sound venting and limited speaker space.

 

[Saberz]

Been seeing this teased for a while. Always looking for the “best” maul out there.

This certainly looks accurate, but how is it internally? These hilts have always suffered from poor sound venting and limited speaker space.

I'm so glad you asked. The internal engineering was a MASSIVE task on this saber. I tried to make the thoughtfulness of the internals on par with the accuracy of the hilt. The main cavity is a 28mm bore. Towards the center of the hilt that reduces to 25mm. Each switch is a 5-piece spring-loaded assembly which maintains 100% accurate appearance without having to be raised or lowered compared to the original switches. Yet they have up to 1mm of travel for use with internal tact switches. The blade cavity is for 7/8" blades, and runs nearly the full depth of the emitter. And no visible set screw, no visible sound vents, no visible extra hardware or changes of any kind. The end cap screws on over the set screw, so that it becomes hidden. Here's a little diagram to illustrate. Note, I did not develop any internal chassis yet, but it should be extremely straightforward. The lower rivet can double as a recharge port/kill key.

The sound venting solution is really neat, allows for VERY LOUD builds, and will be shown off in the video demo to come soon. I won't say anything about it just yet, other than to say that's why the internal diameter reduces to 25mm towards the center.

 

[TheSaberTrade]

I'm so glad you asked. The internal engineering was a MASSIVE task on this saber. I tried to make the thoughtfulness of the internals on par with the accuracy of the hilt. The main cavity is a 28mm bore. Towards the center of the hilt that reduces to 25mm. Each switch is a 5-piece spring-loaded assembly which maintains 100% accurate appearance without having to be raised or lowered compared to the original switches. Yet they have up to 1mm of travel for use with internal tact switches. The blade cavity is for 7/8" blades, and runs nearly the full depth of the emitter. And no visible set screw, no visible sound vents, no visible extra hardware or changes of any kind. The end cap screws on over the set screw, so that it becomes hidden. Here's a little diagram to illustrate. Note, I did not develop any internal chassis yet, but it should be extremely straightforward. The lower rivet can double as a recharge port/kill key.

The sound venting solution is really neat, allows for VERY LOUD builds, and will be shown off in the video demo to come soon. I won't say anything about it just yet, other than to say that's why the internal diameter reduces to 25mm towards the center.

View attachment 1541138

Then count me in for a set. Any saber with this much forethought and engineering is one I want in my collection.

Second question, and this may be answered already, but do they come apart and is there a crystal pommel?

 

[Saberz]

Yes they come apart. No, I didn't develop a crystal pommel, or anything that wasn't actually on the original prop.

 

[TheSweatshop]

With how it’s engineered, could the crystal bottom be made after the fact and be accurate to the MR half saber? Like in a separate run that would add value to this hilt down the line?

 

[Saberz]

Yes, something could certainly be made down the line.

 

[Saberz]

So … How do you figure out the correct number of vertical knurls on a silver button whose source part isn't known? Well ... you take a close-up photograph and count them! Sadly, most of the known examples of the Maul lightsaber props are from late in the life of the source molds, when lots of the details have been smoothed over as the mold wore down. But we were EXTREMELY fortunate to get access to such a beautiful example with all of the details crisp and intact. So it’s just a matter of shoot and count. Therefore we can tell you that there are exactly 55 knurls on each of the four silver buttons on the Maul lightsaber prop.

So of course, Project M has the same number. This is one of those little details that makes Project M different from all previous efforts. The preorder is going live soon at www.saberz.com/ProjectM

 

[Eruonen]

So … How do you figure out the correct number of vertical knurls on a silver button whose source part isn't known? Well ... you take a close-up photograph and count them! Sadly, most of the known examples of the Maul lightsaber props are from late in the life of the source molds, when lots of the details have been smoothed over as the mold wore down. But we were EXTREMELY fortunate to get access to such a beautiful example with all of the details crisp and intact. So it’s just a matter of shoot and count. Therefore we can tell you that there are exactly 55 knurls on each of the four silver buttons on the Maul lightsaber prop.

So of course, Project M has the same number. This is one of those little details that makes Project M different from all previous efforts. The preorder is going live soon at www.saberz.com/ProjectM

Details like this are why I love this community. Keep up the good work

 

[TheSweatshop]

Yes, something could certainly be made down the line.

Man I need an intervention and you are making it more apparent. I didn’t have any lightsabers before COVID and now I have around 15, and this would be my third EP1 Maul saber. The amount of good Maul runs these past couple years were too good to pass up, and this looks better then good, perfection. My bank account hates you all.

 

[Eruonen]

Man I need an intervention and you are making it more apparent. I didn’t have any lightsabers before COVID and now I have around 15, and this would be my third EP1 Maul saber. The amount of good Maul runs these past couple years were too good to pass up, and this looks better then good, perfection. My bank account hates you all.

I feel you dude. Always wanted to get into collecting, but didn’t start until the boredom of Covid lockdowns hit, and now I have 11 hilts, and I’m signed up on several more active runs

I just can’t pass up these limited runs

 

[TheSweatshop]

I feel you dude. Always wanted to get into collecting, but didn’t start until the boredom of Covid lockdowns hit, and now I have 11 hilts, and I’m signed up on several more active runs

I just can’t pass up these limited runs

I’ve gotten lucky on some preowned sabers on Fb groups, but my wishlist is been whittled down to a few left. And then people like Zenkai decide to blow the others out of the water in accuracy. never thought I’d get into this hobby and start getting doubles.

 

[Eruonen]

I’ve gotten lucky on some preowned sabers on Fb groups, but my wishlist is been whittled down to a few left. And then people like Zenkai decide to blow the others out of the water in accuracy. never thought I’d get into this hobby and start getting doubles.

Right?!

 

[Saberz]

I’ve gotten lucky on some preowned sabers on Fb groups, but my wishlist is been whittled down to a few left. And then people like Zenkai decide to blow the others out of the water in accuracy. never thought I’d get into this hobby and start getting doubles.

To be fair, this saber has always been my favorite, I’ve been working on replicas of it for twenty years, and Project M in earnest for over three years. So it didn’t come out of nowhere But I agree, this will be THE definitive replica. That was always the goal.