The Ultimate Obi-Wan Kenobi E1 saber?

[CeSquared]

I know this has been up for debate for years. With the 10 year anniversary of Episode 1 coming up, what better time to renew that debate.
I have all of the "most accurate" Obi-Wan Kenobi E1 sabers ever made. The Larbel "Super-Accurate" stainless-steel, The Zenkai "Z", and the Master Replicas Elite Edition. Though, I don't think MR ever claimed that the EE was the most accurate. Personally, I don't really care. I like the design. Always have. So I like the "unique-ness" of each.

Note the Larbel "Super Accurate" SS O is MUCH older than the rest (5 years? Give or take?) and there are allegedly only 2 in existence. I have #2 (though, I have a feeling there are probably more that are unnumbered out there).

Anyway, I got around to taking pictures so here you go.

From top to bottom: Larbel "Super Accurate", "Z", MR EE

From left to right: MR EE, "Z", Larbel

From left to right: Larbel, "Z", MR EE"

Now here is one to really throw you off.
From left to right: MR EE, "Z", Larbel "SA", standard Larbel, standard "******* Replicas", chromed "******* Replicas".

 

[DivineHeresy]

Great collection! I think i like the Larbel the most

 

[Hez]

I have all of the "most accurate" Obi-Wan Kenobi E1 sabers ever made.

Well, almost all of them.

Nice collection, I actually really like the MR version, although I wish it wasn't so shiny. While they may not have claimed it was the most accurate, having access to the original prop should imply that it is.

It would be nice to know how many of the larbels are actually out there as well! I know there were only 2 made initially, but I think other people asked for the same thing, and Larry was an accommodating guy. I think you're probably guessing about right on its age...I would have said 5-6 years.

I've never seen the '******* replicas' version before...how old are those, and who produced them?

 

[CeSquared]

Well, almost all of them.

Nice collection, I actually really like the MR version, although I wish it wasn't so shiny. While they may not have claimed it was the most accurate, having access to the original prop should imply that it is.

It would be nice to know how many of the larbels are actually out there as well! I know there were only 2 made initially, but I think other people asked for the same thing, and Larry was an accommodating guy. I think you're probably guessing about right on its age...I would have said 5-6 years.

I've never seen the '******* replicas' version before...how old are those, and who produced them?

Dammit! There is something out there I missed?

I actually like the finish on the MR EE. I love the color of the Larbel SS, but the shiny steel brings out a whole new look. Definitely a big difference between steel and aluminum.

Yes, true about the licensed props, but I also heard some creative "liberty" was taken on some. I don't know on which ones and how much though.

My guesstimate is at least 10. The cost wouldn't be worth the return for 2. Unless he had resources I wasn't aware of. Still, it's my favorite piece. I sold my #23 of the initial SS run and picked up this to replace it.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Why is the BR so small?

I have one and it's the exact same size as the MR EP2 Saber.

 

[AnubisGuard]

I've never seen the '******* replicas' version before...how old are those, and who produced them?

I'll second this; are these something that are still being produced?

 

[CeSquared]

I'll second this; are these something that are still being produced?

I just dug through my PM's to find out more. I guess they are a couple of years old. I was told they were made privately when MR still had the license which is why they never were sold publicly. I don't know if that is true or not. I just saw a couple pop up in the junkyard within the last year. The chromed one was done by an individual owner so there was never a run. Supposedly this is the only one ever chromed. They are nice replicas, but definitely shorter and fatter than the others (Larbel, Zenkai, MR).

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I have a BR, none are for sale publicly anymore.

 

[Hecubus114]

Hmmm... makes me wonder which version I have... it orignally had hex screws instead of the LED bezels... that ring a bell to anyone?

BTW - Awesome collection! Do you have as many versions of every saber you can, or just the OWK EP1?

 

[Hez]

Hmmm... makes me wonder which version I have... it orignally had hex screws instead of the LED bezels... that ring a bell to anyone?

It's a Parks. If anything has random hex screws where it should have something else, or nothing at all...it's almost always a Parks!

About the larbel, I believe all of them were machined by hand, so I'm not sure if there was any need to make a certain number for it to be worth it. You got that one from JD Pilot, I'd guess? I do wish I still had mine.

 

[CeSquared]

Hmmm... makes me wonder which version I have... it orignally had hex screws instead of the LED bezels... that ring a bell to anyone?

BTW - Awesome collection! Do you have as many versions of every saber you can, or just the OWK EP1?

Hex screws is a Park's. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is one of his tell-tale signs. I've never owned a Parks nor a Hez. In fact, I've never even seen a Hez.

The OWK E1 was my very first replica back in 1998. A Larbel first gen with a resin button. I kept it for 3 years I think. Since then, I've owned probably close to 15 different OWK E1s. I've had 4 Larbel SS Os, a Larbel EL O, probably 4 or more regular Os, the Z, I have 2 MR EEs, and the 2 BRs. I also have the MR OWK E2. I just love the look of it.

But I have 4 Darth Maul sabers, 2 (going on 3) OWK ANH sabers, 1 Luke ANH, 2 Luke ESBs, 2 Luke ROTJs, and 1 Vader ROTJ so I guess I kinda collect individual saber designs. The sad thing is I don't have display space for most of them so they sit in boxes.

 

[CeSquared]

About the larbel, I believe all of them were machined by hand, so I'm not sure if there was any need to make a certain number for it to be worth it. You got that one from JD Pilot, I'd guess? I do wish I still had mine.

Yup, JD. I'd guess 4 years ago or so. Maybe even more.

Mmmm, he machined them himself? If that's true, there might be less than we think. That's an awful lot of work considering how many different generations he released. Not to mention, all the other hilts he offered. I know of at least 3 different generations of his regular aluminum O. Then I know of his first run of 24 numbered SS Os, another run of 24 unnumbered Os, and the 2 "super accurate". The reason I guessed he had them outsourced is his turnaround time on orders was fast. I received my very first O in 2 days. So I assumed the machine shop would crank out a few extras. But I honestly don't know. I haven't spoken to him since he first joined MR. I asked him if he could do a SS M with a matte body and polished emitters like his EL M for me and he said no.

 

[Hez]

Mine had a couple of things I'd like to fix, but not much. One machine shop error that I didn't catch at the time, in particular. Don't you have one of my weathered Mauls?

As far as I know, Larry did some of the machining himself, but not all of it. He had a machine shop doing a lot of stuff for him, but when he announced the SS O, I asked him if he'd make a couple of changes to it for me, and he agreed. JD heard about it and asked for the same. I guess word got out and he ended up making a few more, at least that was what I always figured. I'd have to see one of the 'others' to see if they have everything that was asked for in the first place.

I remember people asking for the SS M. I'm not surprised he said no...it would have cost a fortune to make, and probably would have weighed about 7lbs. On the other hand, it would have looked awesome.

EDIT: Oh yeah..here's mine, if you're interested...

 

[Crimsonnaire]

It's a pity that Vic's couldn't be in any of those pictures. As a testament to the quality and history of his custom replica, he had it since I first met him in '99. If I recall correctly, even The Phantom Menace was still in theaters. I had made an error in the past in saying that the HK O's were directly based off of Vic's and was corrected. The HK design was partially referenced from Vic's through pictures while Larry added his own improvements. I don't know if this was at the start of the HK run or some time later. Either way, this exalted Vic's because it made an influence on the multitude of what was (and is still today by many) considered the best available, and when Larry went with MR, one of the last of the O's was publicly displayed and advertised for the upcoming Obi-Wan AOTC. At the end, both works of art were not only the first leap in progress on this saber, but were also ones that were competent enough to hold their own against those made a decade later.

Is that Zenkai's or one from the "static" run? I believe that HK SS O was made for Hez. Truly a magnificent piece.

 

[cayman shen]

So why aren't you making sabers anymore Hez? I like the SS core in yours.

 

[cayman shen]

I'd have to say it' a toss-up between the MR EE and the Zenkai in terms of my preference. The Z looks a *hint* less chunky, but you can't beat the finish on the EE. Even the color of the button is gorgeous. I miss mine Getting a good finish on a custom saber is something I've never seen anyone do that rivals what comes out of the factories.

 

[Darklighter]

Impressive Collection, The OWK E1 really has a beautiful design. Im a big fan of the "Z"

 

[CeSquared]

Mine had a couple of things I'd like to fix, but not much. One machine shop error that I didn't catch at the time, in particular. Don't you have one of my weathered Mauls?

EDIT: Oh yeah..here's mine, if you're interested...

Yup, I had one of your weathered Mauls. Still one of my favorites. And I've never seen one hit the secondary market.

Mmmm, Well HELLO there my pretty pretty....

Is that Zenkai's or one from the "static" run? I believe that HK SS O was made for Hez. Truly a magnificent piece.

The "Z" is one of the luxeon sabers.

 

[Hez]

So why aren't you making sabers anymore Hez? I like the SS core in yours.

Too much hassle, pure and simple. Waiting on machine shops to complete something which isn't a priority job for them, collecting money on high-ticket items from people...just not worth the effort, honestly.

 

[Jedifather]

It would be nice to know how many of the larbels are actually out there as well! I know there were only 2 made initially, but I think other people asked for the same thing, and Larry was an accommodating guy. I think you're probably guessing about right on its age...I would have said 5-6 years.

Pretty sure there were 24 SS ones made(I have #24).