The OT stunt lightsaber blades research thread

[Propdude113]

So the blades had to have been a thin walled fiberglass tube. I'm starting to think fiberglass antenna poles and composite
Ski poles are our best bet.if Mr Brandon Is correct they HAD to have broken blades on set. Is the inner collar is a solid rod or metal tube? Glued in or screwed into the blade? I wonder how the 2 collars attached together were they a single machined piece?

 

[thd9791]

I believe I figured that out in my rehearsal saber, two round tube pieces of the correct diameters... set screwed together. It's a tight fit, though a bit crude

 

[thd9791]

Here are some interesting images. The ANH stunt sabers fitted for fighting. Same blades as the bespin duel flashes but uncoated? Different?

and now (thank you.... tumblr...) ROTJ Blades, much whippier than ESB i think, but both are whippy

ROTJ Throne Room Gif

maybe tougher tensile strength near the tip (I'm sorry for my phrasing)
Throme Room Gif 2

 

[thd9791]

Wondering if they put wooden sticks in after ANH for the warehouse rehearsal, and they stayed. Wooden with black paint for rehearsal and then the special composite blades for filming.

I've been thinking about this.


In 'Empire of Dreams' you see Mark and Bob practicing on-set and off-set with the ANH stunt sabers and you can still hear the sound of wood hitting wood.

I don't know, something to chew on.

Over in the Barbican/ANH Vader discussion, brandon was kind enough to chime in and this is what he said regarding ROTJ and maybe ESB stunt blades, ones he helped dig out one day

"
The blades are definitely tapered. These would be from ROJ and maybe ESB - I doubt they're ANH blades. They are light weight. I believe they are hollow, and on the base of them there's an aluminum collar inside the blade shaft, and another aluminum collar outside of it. A set screw passes through both and then would tighten down onto the post mounted in the handle -- presumably these collars were added to the hollw tubes in order to give the set screw something to "bite" into. The tube wall itself would not be enough.

The blades may be a composite material."

 

[Propdude113]

They are swinging pretty hard at each other in that video would wood be that durable?

Wondering if they put wooden sticks in after ANH for the warehouse rehearsal, and they stayed. Wooden with black paint for rehearsal and then the special composite blades for filming.

 

[Mouse Vader]

I expect to find this out as part of my ANH saber/blade experiments.

 

[thd9791]

I want to try and find these

Amazing work sofar Seth ... perhaps you wish to add one of these pictures in your next revision ... it's the rehearsal between Dave Prowse and Alec Guinness with the earliest lightsaber props available. Sorry I have no clue what they are made off, yet I suspect wooden handles coated with reflective movie screen material ...

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Chaïm

maybe the source will have other information on sparring and resources. Maybe We will accidentally make the same logical decisions they did on set. I've done this before. "crap, this won't work. best/easiest work around is this. Oops, looks like the prop!"

 

[Mouse Vader]

Maybe We will accidentally make the same logical decisions they did on set. I've done this before. "crap, this won't work. best/easiest work around is this. Oops, looks like the prop!"

Been getting that in my ANH sabers experiments - you end up with something you wouldn't have otherwise thought of.

I want to try and find these

I'm interested in what you can find on these too. I was also thinking of knocking one up. Shouldn't be that hard.

 

[thd9791]

I thought they were cut down jousting posts. I think I am incorrect.

They look like wasters, or kids fencing foils/toys. Maybe there were adult practice fencing foils that were thick like this. They also appear to be painted with reflective paint so they're thinner than they look. Their hands are gripping a rather skinny small handle, so that fits with fencing foil size ratios. Can't find a practice foil or waster sword that looks like that though.

If this is the case, it may have influenced sword props, coming from the fencing side and then martial arts side, rather than just what will not break when struck. Bob Anderson was a master fencing person right?

 

[Mouse Vader]

I fenced for about 18months, Interested in swords from all historical periods, I don't recognise these, other than the vague resemblance you pointed out to jousting lances - which are much bigger all round.

Construction wise have a look at this video clip (VC1) on my thread :
The ANH LightSaber Blade Reference Thread

Handles are way bigger than any fencing blades, round, turned wood (?). They are fabric covered & appear to be made in 3 peices, given how that one breaks apart. I'd say purpose made & not found part, simple enough construction.

 

[Mouse Vader]

I don't know who the guy is on the left in that video clip but he is also in the other clip (on the right) where they are testing blades The ANH LightSaber Blade Reference Thread VC3 (good job I made these as the ytube video has been removed.)

Put me in mind of this

Bert Hamilton was the main responsible guy for the construction of the SPFX lightsabers.

Anyone know if he's still with us or how to reach him if he is ?

 

[Propdude113]

I did more investigation into fiberglass today I'm starting to believe that more durable high end fishing pole blanks could have been a possibility. A medium- heavy pole is got some decent flex while still being fairly rigid. They seem like they can take a good whack. Especially the heavy gauge if you look closely at the red portion that extends into the grip foam/plastic they are near perfect diameter for most of the blades we have seen from the v3 to the flashguns. Let me know what you guys think

 

[Mouse Vader]

I'm with you on this - fishing rod is the only fiberglass I can find that's tapered, the solid & short sea rods look real tough. I'm also keeping my eyes open for cheap examples (solid / hollow) to test.
Keep in mind there may well be something else we just haven't come up with & keep in mind they may well have used several different types depending on what they're filming.

 

[Propdude113]

The color and texture seem to match the BTS images of the uncoated blades

 

[Mouse Vader]

That's quite thick walled. Certainly a very good ESB contender. How expensive?

edit: just looked these up & can't find a price but did notice these latest gen carbon fiber... Tough stick & solid glass (esp latter's diam) look more promising.
It's noticeable that the heavy poundage spec stuff is all GRP.

 

[Propdude113]

Would these carbon fiber rods have been around in 1979? Or something similar?.I know carbon fiber was in its infancy but it was around . I just have a hard time seeing Lucasfilm forking out the money for carbon fiber since 20th century fox was all over him about time and budgets for ESB

That's quite thick walled. Certainly a very good ESB contender. How expensive?

edit: just looked these up & can't find a price but did notice these latest gen carbon fiber... Tough stick & solid glass (esp latter's diam) look more promising.
It's noticeable that the heavy poundage spec stuff is all GRP.

 

[thd9791]

do you have links my propdude?

 

[thd9791]

Mouse, in VC7, your clip, i can literally see vader holding the blade of the barbican. I can see the scuffed emitter block between his hands.

 

[Propdude113]

I was just pulling the pictures i forgot to bookmark the sites ! haha. Hold on a few I'll go back through my browser history

do you have links my propdude?

 

[Propdude113]

Can only post one source since the other images came from auctions. I've talked to these guys they seem to be the number one source online for blanks they recommend the heavy grade which is kinda pricey. After what MouseVader said I looked at a graphite rod. Probably alot more durable but not much flex . I believe we are on the right track gotta be fiberglass or graphite antennas or pole blanks or both!

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