Ummm...what saber is this...?

[ob1al]

May I draw attention to this thread by AnsonJames in 'Costumes': http://www.therpf.com/index.php?showtopic=127198

What the hell saber is that? It looks like a Graflex with the top painted (to resemble the Vader saber) and the clamp replaced with something else. It appears to have one red button and either a hole where the glass eye should be, or a glass eye. A stunt saber? Something cobbled together for the show?

:confused

 

[ob1al]

The more I look at it, the more I think it looks like a forerunner to the Vader ROTJ lightsaber. Lose the ears, add a few greeblies...a ROTJ, right?

 

[Mr_Creepy]

Hmm..note the dark "L" shape just above the "clamp"

Looks like the locking slots (or whatever they're called) for a real Graflex clamp, which would mean this had to have something else holding it to whatever the grip is made from....Graf bottom, pipe, etc.

 

[Jedi-72]

I think that it is a Vader stunt saber. When Vader and Luke are dueling in the freezing chamber you get a few good angles of the sabers emitter, and it seems to have that distinctive Graflex curve to it. There is also the production still of the filming of Luke's hand being cut off. The saber flying out of his hand is a Graflex with a black clamp, and it's hard to say, but it looks as though the top of the flash could be painted black as well. Definitely the precursor to the Vader ROTJ. The films are famous for recycling parts and props. I say that's the ROTJ saber before it "grew up".

Also, looking that other shots of the saber in that thread...the black stuff in the clamp area just looks like electrical tape or something put there just to hold it together. It certainly isn't a clamp. It's about as wide as a pice of electrical tape, and the clamp grooves in the handle are completely visible, so...no locking clamp.

 

[kurtyboy]

Probably just one of many stunt sabers they used. The 'Barbican' is another.

There was also the one that was auctioned as an original Vader lightsaber. Again looked cobbled together to resemble the Vader saber we know.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

It's really hard to tell, but from the way the prop is being gripped, it looks like it doesn't have any grips on it. Or if there are grips, the might be shorter than the type generally seen. Can you post the video itself or a clip from the video so we can see the prop in the original shot?

Dan Stokes

 

[Darth Detroit]

To me it doesnt look like there is a bottom.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Detroit @ Mar 23 2007, 03:56 PM) [snapback]1446571[/snapback]</div>

To me it doesnt look like there is a bottom.
[/b]

Well there has to be some sort of bottom or Prowes would have nothing to grasp and I don't think it would make much sence for the clamp to appear anywhere if it was not in its natural position.

Dan

 

[Coz]

Shot in the dark here, but there's what looks like a 'collar' below the locking slots on the Graflex top section.

Could it simply be that there's a kobold flash stuffed into the bottom? Would that be about the right size?

C.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Coz @ Mar 23 2007, 06:34 PM) [snapback]1446678[/snapback]</div>

Shot in the dark here, but there's what looks like a 'collar' below the locking slots on the Graflex top section.

Could it simply be that there's a kobold flash stuffed into the bottom? Would that be about the right size?

C.
[/b]

You know, that's a really interesting idea. The picture is really bad, so w/o furthur info I don't know if we could ever really tell, but from what I can make out your idea definately sounds plausable.

And yes, a kobold/linhof flash would be about the right size.

Dan

 

[Coz]

Cheers Dan - wondered if they were the same diameter.

Forgive the bad 'shopping (and apologies for bogarting the pics.):

The black band from the Han Kobold could match up too.

C.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Coz @ Mar 23 2007, 08:12 PM) [snapback]1446745[/snapback]</div>

Cheers Dan - wondered if they were the same diameter.

Forgive the bad 'shopping (and apologies for bogarting the pics.):

The black band from the Han Kobold could match up too.

C.
[/b]

Both the graflex and kobold/linhof have an OD of 1.5" if I'm not mistaken.

Dan

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Well, I just watched the clapperboard special, and I could see the bottom of this lightsaber did not have any grips and it was metal, not black. Also, there appears to be a belt attachment (probably a d-ring about halfway down the side of the lightsaber). I think that the linhof idea is very plausable (although it would be a linhof flash whose bottom is aluminum not black plastic) also, I think it is possible that the prop makers attached a d-ring to the flash shoe on the linhof flash and used that to hang the saber from Vader's belt.

Also, there is no red button or glass eye on this prop, just open holes.

Dan

 

[kurtyboy]

What about this ESB stunt saber? It has a strange looking base.

 

[mgoob]

[attachmentid=13264]

I don't see a Kobold, but rather the same bottom as shown the Dagobah battle.

No red button, but "beer tab" still there.

The slot shown is where the Graflex band would be,
and it looks to me like the top half was shoved
into something with a bead of glue seeping out.

 

[OdiWan72]

The kobold has an O.D. of 40 mm vs. 38 mm on the graflex

Anyway...the kobold does the job (AND it also exists with silver body, not black only).
Saber identified IMHO

Markus

 

[ob1al]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Anakin Starkiller @ Mar 24 2007, 06:09 AM) [snapback]1446887[/snapback]</div>

Well, I just watched the clapperboard special, and I could see the bottom of this lightsaber did not have any grips and it was metal, not black. Also, there appears to be a belt attachment (probably a d-ring about halfway down the side of the lightsaber). I think that the linhof idea is very plausable (although it would be a linhof flash whose bottom is aluminum not black plastic) also, I think it is possible that the prop makers attached a d-ring to the flash shoe on the linhof flash and used that to hang the saber from Vader's belt.

Also, there is no red button or glass eye on this prop, just open holes.

Dan
[/b]

Dan are you able to post some screengrabs?

On the Dagobah stunt pictured above the 'control box' appears to run the length of the bottom half of the handle.

 

[OdiWan72]

edited

Markus

 

[mgoob]

From Markus' photo, it looks like it's been identified positively.

The photoshopping by Coz just didn't convince me, but he had the right idea.

Bravo to you both.

 

[ob1al]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mgoob @ Mar 25 2007, 04:05 AM) [snapback]1447471[/snapback]</div>

From Markus' photo, it looks like it's been identified positively.

The photoshopping by Coz just didn't convince me, but he had the right idea.

Bravo to you both.
[/b]

What am I missing - the photo seems to have gone?