Luke Skywalker Ep. IV Lightsaber Question...

[LandronArtifact]

I'm sure someone here can clear something up for me. And if this is an old topic visited before, my apologies.

I've noticed various replicas of Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber from Ep. IV with the activation switch on either side of the hilt, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left. In other words, if you're looking at the hilt with the blade facing left and the rabbit-ear-shaped clamps facing upward, the activation switch would be facing you in most replicas I've seen. However, if I'm not mistaken, the Elite edition by Master Replicas has it on the other side (same with the Icons replica), while all other versions they put out (.45 scaled, ForceFX, LE) have it on the left side.

Which is correct? Or are they both correct?

-AL

 

[SciFiMuseum]

Here is a photo of the screen-used prop lightsaber sold at auction in 2008.

Hope that helps.

 

[thegreatgalling]

The lever is on the right in the publicity photos:

http://www.partsofsw.com/skysab.htm

So that is how I have it:

http://www.therpf.com/f9/vintage-graflex-anh-luke-saber-too-many-107870/

A word of caution about the above photo is that the T-Track was replaced on that saber after ANH and it is not Ep 4. accurate.

 

[SciFiMuseum]

Thanks for the information about the screen-used prop being changed after filming...so if you install the T-track wrong on your replica saber it would be accurate to the condition of the original prop as it is today.

 

[thd9791]

Thanks for the information about the screen-used prop being changed after filming...so if you install the T-track wrong on your replica saber it would be accurate to the condition of the original prop as it is today.

To be honest, there really isn't any evidence that that prop was used in any movie. The T track isn't the same as whats on screen or in publicity photos. The rivets idea is used in ESB, however on screen often those were phillips head screws...Remember Flash Guns are out there, I have a feeling this was an early version of the ESB Saber, something used for stunts, or something cobbled together afterwards.

to clear some things up - the clamp/activation box...both ways are sort-of right, it's been seen in publicity photos and on screen positioned both ways, to the right is most common. These flashguns lock themselves with the clamp on either side. Think about it from the eyes of the floor effects dept, an how much they cared about consistency haha. The only thing wrong is to have the lever pointing towards the blade I think.

As for the grips, 7 glued on would be accurate for an ANH Saber
6, with sections cut out and rivets or screws, whatever, would be accurate for and ESB Saber (Don't forget to replace the glass eye with another red button, and use a circuit board card instead of calculator bubbles!)

I've atached photos of both, not sure whose they are, they're from google

ANH

ESB without textured tape around the clamp

 

[scarf man]

Here is a photo of the screen-used prop lightsaber sold at auction in 2008.

Hope that helps.

That saber is from the Kurtz/Joiner collection, and is highly suspect as to their claims of being screen used or even production made.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Here's a diagram I found explaining about the positions eventhough it is possible that both
could be seen on screen . . . now that we have blueray DVD's :

Again disregard the text on the bottom when adding a D-Ring since that text is positioned
uniquely on each vintage graflex. Use the bubbles in the clamp and then place the D-Ring
in exact alignment accordingly :wacko


-Chaim