Saber Concept

[tanzanlinnear]

I'm planning on making a new saber for my new costume, and wanted to use up some of the spare parts I had from the Obi-Wan-esque sabers I've made recently. Although I love my curved hilt saber, I have to go back to a traditional straight hilt for this saber as that's the parts I have... Using parts from pics, I've cobbled together this concept of what it should look like Thoughts? Opinions?

[Starkindler (The Naked Jedi)]

HMMM.
Nice look to it....
I'd either place the rear grip farther forward or move both a bit closer together. It looks like it might be difficult to grip solidly as it is.

[tanzanlinnear]

Thanks The central section is slightly too long, it wouldn't really need to be any longer than the activation plate... Essentially, I'd be gripping the ridged sections with the ring and little fingers of each hand, with the middle and index fingers covering the sections above
[Edit to add]
If you look at my signature bar, you'll see I have a fairly wide grip on my curved saber (although that was a case of purchasing a fixed item and making the best of it rather than custom fitting it to my hand )

[Starkindler (The Naked Jedi)]

the wider grips seem to fit a curved saber better. the style is a bit more one handed and the grips being farther apart would not be an impediment I think.

[tanzanlinnear]

Yes, that's very true, even if a curved saber is long enough for a two handed grip, it really is only ever used one handed (Dooku's saber being the ultimate example of this)
I don't like a grip being too close, as I am used to a wide grip from my kenjutsu training, but the concept pic is definitely too long. If you look at the middle section, you will see it's from 3 pics I pasted together. The final length of the section will be about 2 and a half sections rather than the current ratio.

[Solinbeb Newau]

tanzanlinnear said:

Yes, that's very true, even if a curved saber is long enough for a two handed grip, it really is only ever used one handed (Dooku's saber being the ultimate example of this)
I don't like a grip being too close, as I am used to a wide grip from my kenjutsu training, but the concept pic is definitely too long.

I think the only sabers I've done that were long enough for a two handed grip were the one for my wife (Joey-Saber) and the mace one I did for the Sith C.

I've always fought more with one hand (per weapon if needed) in more a western sword style/fencing...which is why I was glad to see Dooku's lightsaber...esepcially after someone (I won't name) told me that it wouldn't work.

[tanzanlinnear]

solinbeb said:

I think the only sabers I've done that were long enough for a two handed grip were the one for my wife (Joey-Saber) and the mace one I did for the Sith C.

I've always fought more with one hand (per weapon if needed) in more a western sword style/fencing...which is why I was glad to see Dooku's lightsaber...

I think it really is a matter of personal style and training. I've been trained to fence in the European style as well as the Japanese, which was why I wanted to create a curved hilt, after the benefits of them were explained. My only reason for setting it asside now, is that I want a new saber for my new costume (marking a new era for my character), and the only reason for not making another curved saber is that the only parts I have (which I'm trying to use up) can only produce a straight hilt That said, I might take up my Wookie saber instead, that not only has a curved hilt, but an ergonomic one that fits my hands perfectly

solinbeb said:

esepcially after someone (I won't name) told me that it wouldn't work.

Someone actually said that? I wonder who it was ;D

[Solinbeb Newau]

tanzanlinnear said:

solinbeb said:

esepcially after someone (I won't name) told me that it wouldn't work.

Someone actually said that? I wonder who it was ;D

It was a long time ago, in an RPG chatroom far far away.

Or, the Pre-Disney invasion version of Webchat Broadcasting System (WBS)'s Star Wars Cantina.

Anyway, if you look at the picture of my current saber



You can guess where my thumb rests...and the base of my hand stops just short of leaving the leather wrapping.

That, and the end piece, I forgot to mention that the piece is from a Gretag MacBeth belt drive...yet another "replaced" piece from a photolab I worked at. I worked.

[tanzanlinnear]

You've definitely improved the saber since I last saw a pic of it If it was mine, my next alterations would be an LED lens rather than the button, and a covertec knob, but it really is a nice saber, a classic example for Form II elegance

[Solinbeb Newau]

The button's actually for the EL eletronics I have in it.

[tanzanlinnear]

Ahh, that's fair enough then I didn't realize it had the electronics in it ;D

[Solinbeb Newau]

Yeah...back when I had some extra money I invested in two sets of the EL equipment, one for my saber and one I was making for my wife.

Unfortunately, the driver unit was too big for mine...and there's not enough room in my wife's for a switch (yet).

But, once again out of free funds, I'm having to wait again.

[tanzanlinnear]

Ahh, so will you be able to install the EL equipment in yours? I've never made a saber that had electronics (Or even been suitable to hold a duelling rod) as I prefer them to be 'complete' when worn on the belt, if that makes any sense? If you can't install the EL driver in yours, might you construct a new saber but continue to modify your current one?

[Solinbeb Newau]

If I can ever get the money I'll try to put in a smaller driver, seeing as I went the 8 foot of wire route, I don't need a larger once...I just have to find one that will fit in about two inches of 1 1/4 inch diameter curved tubing. ;D

[tanzanlinnear]

That's an even better idea As a thought, would it be possible (not to mention safe) to disassemble the driver down to it's bare components and insert those instead of a solid item? (That is assuming it is a solid item to start with, as I don't really know )