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It’s been over 40 years since Star Wars first introduced the world to its iconic weapon: the Lightsaber. The trademark weapon of the Jedi is a searing sword that glows with a neon-like light that has captivated millions of fans across the globe. Since then, people have been searching for the perfect lightsaber for personal use – even if that means forking over a lot of cold, hard cash.
Toy lightsabers aren’t hard to find, but in 2019 Disney launched a premium experience for Star Wars fans visiting Galaxy’s Edge. In it, park visitors can make their own custom-made saber, piece by piece. They can choose a grip, the color of the beam and customize the weapon to their liking. They can even recreate lightsabers held by Star Wars characters piece by piece, giving the experience an air of authenticity.
From a collector’s perspective, these swords are worth the price of $ 200. Most of the other lightsabers on sale in stores are mass-produced and made with cheaper plastic. Disney stocks quality components that feel heavy and make the saber look pretty enough to display in your home. But even so, fans still strive to build more impressive sabers than Disney can offer.
Nowhere is this more evident than on TikTok, where Star Wars fans show off their own versions of the saber. The “#lightsaber” hashtag on TikTok started trending in early March, and while lightsaber culture isn’t anything new, there is renewed interest in 2021. On TikTok alone, the hashtag has currently a whopping 1.9 billion views. The creations themselves are just as stunning as the number of views.
Former engineer and YouTuber James Hobson, for example, shared an amazing video in which he showed off what he calls, “the first real working lightsaber”. According to his video, the saber flows from compressed liquid propane gas and essentially looks and functions like a real lightsaber, at least in theory. The realistic lightsaber, in this case, can emit and retract a blade of light, while still being powerful enough to cut through titanium. Watching this in action is reminiscent of how Qui-Gon Jinn cuts through metal doors in The phantom menace. Of course, this saber needs to be plugged in at all times, but it’s still impressive.
Hobson’s lightsaber belongs to him – you can’t buy it. But if you’re a hobbyist with a keen eye and cash to spare, there are plenty of lightsaber options out there. Accounts that review and show custom sabers often offer side-by-side comparisons to what Disney has to offer.
Many handles made in a fan shape use a light from a company called Neopixel. These lightsabers shine brighter, with a more saturated color, than Disney’s $ 200 lightsabers. They also sparkle like the lightsabers shown in the movies. Disney will light up in small sections, while light from the Neopixel appears to flow from the handle. Neopixel models will respond faster with sounds, while Disney’s lags a bit behind.
Of course, these details come at a price. A Neopixel lightsaber inspired by Kylo Ren’s weapon sells for $ 465.97 at the Padawan Outpost, more than twice what Disney World charges.
Third-party sellers can also go further than Disney when it comes to custom sabers. Even though Disney offers fans several ways to mix and match pieces, you’re still working from the same predetermined materials. Statistically speaking, given the large number of people making lightsabers at Disney World, there’s likely someone walking around with a weapon similar to yours.
Starfall Sabers offers handcrafted lightsabers to create a completely unique grip. The maker takes orders for replicas, but many sabers demonstrate their craftsmanship and create a one-of-a-kind made-to-order hilt like this one. Starfall Sabers use synthetic materials to mimic the tooth of the fictional dragon Krayt from Tatooine, for example. Tiny details like textured leather, distressed engraving on the metal parts, and a burnished tooth, all create a distressed exterior that matches the overall dragon theme. You can’t get those kinds of minute details at Disney World.
A lightsaber like this will set you back $ 695 only for a basic grip, not counting the actual blade of the weapon.
While TikTok is full of high-end lightsabers that will break the bank, the good news is that the hashtag isn’t all about realistic replicas. You can always get tips on how to make something special and personalized if you are ready to DIY a lightsaber. Of course, it won’t have high-end features, but if the best lightsabers are the ones you’re connected with, there’s nothing more intimate than making one by hand.
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