What is this ominous green glow in the distance? Is it aliens? Yup, it's aliens.
No wait, it's an UltraSaber! Yes, the Sentinel v4!
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my current collection of combat sabers: the silver Sentinel v4 and black Dark Sentinel v4. Here are the specs for each saber:
Item Name: Sentinel v4 (stunt)
Options:
Blade LED Color: TRI Consular Green
Battery Configuration: Standard Setup
Recharge Port: No Recharge Port
Blade Length: 36" Standard Size
Blade Option: Heavy Grade
Windows: No Windows in Emitter
Pommel: Regular Solid Pommel (No Sound) [Recommended]
Switch Type: *SILVER* NON-ILLUMINATED AV SWITCH
Blade Tip: Round Tip
Include Retention Screw Wrench: No Thanks
Include Blade Plug: Yes, Include Standard Plug
Include Saber Stand: No Thanks
Include Covertec Clip: Yes!
Install Covertec Wheel: Yes ($10 install + $4 covertec)
Item Name: Dark Sentinel v4 (Grab Bag Saber, stunt)
Options:
Blade LED Color: Blazing Red
Battery Configuration: Standard Setup
Recharge Port: No Recharge Port
Blade Length: 36" Standard Size
Blade Option: Heavy Grade
Windows: No Windows in Emitter
Pommel: Regular Solid Pommel (No Sound) [Recommended]
Switch Type: *BLACK* NON-ILLUMINATED AV SWITCH
Blade Tip: Round Tip
Include Retention Screw Wrench: Sure!
Include Blade Plug: Yes, Include Standard Plug
Include Saber Stand: No Thanks
Include Covertec Clip: Yes!
Install Covertec Wheel: Yes ($10 install + $4 covertec)
Also included in the above picture is the Quick Release Coupler, together as one piece. Not having any prior experience with couplers from US, I thought this was a rather normal size.... until I went out to meet a local saber group with both sabers coupled together. I'll get to how that first meeting went in a moment; for now, my review of both sabers, starting with my first one.
This is my first
love saber, the Dark Sentinel v4. When I put in the order for a Grab Bag saber, I had no idea what to expect, except maybe a few blemishes or small nicks in the hilt. At the time, UltraSabers was offering free shipping for orders over $100, so I had to add the Heavy Grade blade, blade plug, blade retention screw wrench, and Covertec wheel & clip to get it there. I was hoping for a saber in Guardian Blue, so you can imagine my surprise when I find that my saber turned out in Blazing Red. Even better, the hilt was totally clean, not even smudges or dirt anywhere to be found.
The hilt itself is really comfortable with one hand or two thanks to the choke points above and below the AV switch. With a 36" Heavy Grade blade, it's incredibly light and easy to maneuver for spins and other flashy tricks, yet strong enough to handle moderate dueling. Shortly after the arrival of this saber, I took it out to meet with a local saber group and immediately put it through its paces. I was thoroughly impressed with how well this saber held up in combat. The blade didn't bend, despite all the nicks in it from battle. The hilt does have a few imperfections from contact with opponents, which was a little heartbreaking at first since it's such a gorgeous saber. I was quickly reminded that these sabers can handle the punishment and dish it out, too. I enjoyed this saber so much that I had to get a second one.
After much debate and deliberation (as chronicled here
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=32376.0 ), I decided to order the silver Sentinel v4 in TRI-Consular Green. As happy I was with the Dark Sentinel when it arrived, my jaw practically unhinged itself and fell to the floor when I unboxed the Sentinel. The silvery sheen of the Heavy Grade blade with the silver hilt matches perfectly. The Tri-Cree LEDs create an incredibly bright blade, and not even a blade plug can hope to contain it.
Staring directly into that light is difficult NOT to do, for it's too pretty to look away
These two pictures above are comparisons of the brightness of each saber, with and without the flash on my phone's camera. To my own eye, obviously, the green is notably brighter, which now makes me consider upgrading the Dark Sentinel to TRI-Blazing Red. Here are a couple pictures down the hilts of my sabers, looking at the LEDs; I'm sure everyone can guess which one is which
Now I come to the part of the program where the spotlight shifts from the sabers to the one piece few people really know about: the Quick Release Coupler. Here it is in its separate parts.
As you can see, this coupler is held together with ball bearings (4 of them) in the female end, just like the disconnects from air compressors. It comes apart with two hands, one on the female end to slide it back, and the other on the male end to pull the coupler apart. While Emory demonstrated putting the coupler back together by just pulling on the slide of the female end, it actually can be pressed together with a bit of a push'n'shove. However, after a few times doing this with both sabers attached, it does get a little tougher to force together. Perhaps a bit of WD-40 on a paper towel could be used to lubricate both ends of the coupler, maybe even on the threads going into the sabers since after awhile they do thread a little roughly.
The pieces of the coupler by themselves look really good as alternate pommel options, but they look the best as one piece with both sabers attached.
Finally, the real reason everyone is here reading this. I present to you a mixed Sentinel staff paired with the Quick Release Coupler. This thing is massive, you have been warned.
I haven't measured the total length of this monster, but it stands at least a whole foot taller than I am, and I'm 6'1". To continue the story about the first group outing with this saberstaff, there were two other staff wielders in attendance, and my saber was the biggest. One fellow had a flush coupler, the other had a vented coupler, and they were both more than a couple inches shorter than my saber with the Quick Release. Once the shock and awe over my new toys subsided, it was time to battle. In combat with many different Jedi and Sith, my sabers and coupler endured very admirably. Even though I did slide my hand along the coupler, it never came apart unless I pulled it apart myself. Yes, it did spin around during combat, but it wasn't detrimental or distracting. It is really balanced well in the center, and the choke points below the emitters of the Sentinels seems to be the optimal gripping points for this staff. Having previous training with quarterstaves, making the transition to this saberstaff has been rather easy going; the difference in just normal pole-arm/staff work is adjusting and compensating for the second blade. All I need to do now is adapt my own style with this Quick Release Coupler and make quick work switching from staff to dual-blade
In conclusion to this review, I am extremely happy with my purchases, and I'm already considering a third stunt saber in TRI-Guardian Blue. Maybe I'll get myself one for Christmas
Many thanks to the UltraSabers staff for creating such an awesome line of affordable, fully combat ready lightsabers that are much more than just heavy flashlights. Additional thanks goes out to the folks that helped me choose my second saber; there are too many of them to list here, but they're appreciated all the same. Now I think it's time to put the red light on this one and wrap this one up.
Dude, I'm totally telling you it's freaking aliens, man.
