Lightsaber Australia
The lightsaber AU is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Star Wars. A blade of hilted plasma erupts from the holder’s hand, allowing them to duel.
Aspiring Jedi are learning the art of lightsaber combat at a warehouse in Tuggerah, Sydney. It’s the Southern Hemisphere’s first dedicated lightsaber academy.
What is a Lightsaber?
A lightsaber is a sabre-like weapon Jedi and Sith warriors use to slice through their enemies. In the Star Wars universe, it is also used by Force-sensitive non-warriors as a weapon and a tool. It is a hilted weapon powered by kyber crystals tuned to the Force and emitting bladed plasma on command.
The crystals that power the Jedi’s swords come in several colours, including blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow. Each colour represents a different element of the Force. Green and blue represent the light side of the Force, while red is associated with the dark side. Purple combines blue and red, symbolizing the Jedi’s journey from light to dark and back again.
Jedi sabres can be modified with a variety of attachments and accessories. For example, they can be fitted with a blade for cutting through armour. They can also be shortened to make it easier to carry or store. There are even cyber pikes, long blades used like a whip or gun. These can be seen in Star Wars animations and are now available at the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge attraction.
Other bladed weapons include broad sabres, the size of traditional swords. Jedi use them in the First Order and have two cutting edges. Unlike regular lightsabers, they cannot be used in the Force Fist discipline. Broadsabers can be used in the Juyo form of fighting, which is less reckless than the acrobatic Force Fist style.
Among the rarer-bladed weapons seen in the Star Wars movies and television series is a crossguard lightsaber with three blades. It is seen in the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Legends TV series and is wielded by Cal Kestis, Yaddle, and one of the former assassins of Emperor Palpatine. It is a double-bladed design that represents the balance between the powers of the Jedi and those of the Force.
Another rare variant is a crossguard lightsaber AU with physical quillons that can be lowered for defence or raised to engage in duels. The design is reminiscent of the ninja swords used by real-life Japanese Shinobi (ninja). A variation seen recently is the crossguard lightsaber, which Kylo Ren uses and features two unstable blades to varying degrees.
What is a Replica Lightsaber?
A Replica Lightsaber is a movie prop replica that recreates the version of the weapon used in Star Wars. Its main features are a hilt and blade, with a grip usually designed to emit light and sound effects when activated. Replica sabres also have LEDs installed in the edge that simulate power on and off products, with different clash and swing sounds played depending on the configuration. They are often much more expensive than toy lightsabers and are typically intended for cosplay rather than general play.
One of the most popular Star Wars replicas is a Force FX lightsaber, which is built to look like the real thing. The hilt is made from polycarbonate, while the blade comes in various colours and textures, including a unique crackling texture that resembles the distorted plasma seen on screen. It is not designed to withstand much use and may break or become damaged if subjected to too much abuse, so it is best suited for display.
Another option is a Master Replicas FX-Lightsaber, produced between 2002 and 2007. These are no longer commercially available, but some collectors still have them, and they can be worth a multiple of their original retail price. The Sabres are configured using a software application and can change colours at will, with a soundboard that plays different clash and swing sounds. However, these sabres are fragile and only suitable for rehearsed show fighting.
Mark Hamill’s lightsaber in Return of the Jedi is arguably the most iconic sci-fi weapon ever created, and several manufacturers have replicated it. The most accurate versions come from Michigan-based Solo’s Hold, which uses a vintage Graflex camera flash for the chassis and has an exclusive crystal chamber reveal feature. Their starting price is around $15,000, which can quickly rise to several times that for high-end variants.