Saber Forum

I don't get why Anakin's lightsabers had an emitter that was like a traffic light in shape. It seems unnecessary.

I'm sorry, what?

I second this

You mean the top part of the shaft that goes higher than the emitter ?
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/8/8e/Lightsaber_anakin_rots.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/240?cb=20060115213707 (https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/8/8e/Lightsaber_anakin_rots.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/240?cb=20060115213707)
If yes, then, it's not the emitter per se but rather the shaft going higher.
And why? Estethics? or maybe a practical reason when they built the prop?
I mean... If you have to ask why... Have you ever held a graflex before? I hate it. It's awful to my hand. So I don't understand WHY they'd put those t bars on it. But that gave it a distinct look and maybe they enjoyed holding it?

It’s because it came from a Graflex flash gun... and that’s what it looks like with the big reflector removed.  They added nothing— they just removed the huge reflector that was behind the flashbulb.

Look up images of Graflex flash, and you’ll clearly see this.

I see. Well it doesn't seem too practical.

Why wouldn't it be? It's a tube. The emitter is plugged in it somehow...

The lip extending over the blade is what is confusing me (https://i.imgur.com/5qdtE4A.jpg)

Yeah as I said, it's a tube. The prop was already shaped that way, they did not cut it. The emitter is lower, why would that be a problem?
I mean dooku has a claw on his hilt. What's the point? If it's not lightsaber resistant? It's for esthetics purposes.

You got to remember my friend...this is the first lightsaber ever created.  There was no real design thought put into it like there would be later.  Vader and Luke/Anakin's were just old Graflex Camera pieces with bits and bobs glued to them...and Obi-Wans was an old WWII Grenade prop. 

Ok true. So they are bound to be kinda weird.

As others have said, it’s literally what the Graflex flash unit that was used as the hilt looks like. It wasn’t something they intentionally added for a purpose, it was just on the prop they thought would look good as a lightsaber hilt:
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ce/ea/ff/ceeaff0b2a14cd58f29e629f12899852.png)

I see. Thanks for the visual

And they were right. It's kinda cool to look at. Though I'm not a huge fan of the graflex hilts.
At the very least, you can tell it's a graflex hilt when you see one. They became iconic.

Hmm I think I prefer a different type of hilt.

Many people do... look how many other designs are out there!

I'd like an emitter that had a crosstree like that of a katana. And basically one with as little buttons as possible like the intiate hilt.