After the purchase of my Phantom LE V3 Initiate Staff, I had been wanting to get an Emerald Saber. The Manticore has always caught my eye and I like the look of the hilt and the holes in the emitter portion. So a few days after ordering my staff, I decided to go ahead and order the Manticore and take advantage of the US promo of the free Grab Bag, since I would meet it with this purchase as well.
As most of you are aware the Emerald driver gives you various blade color options and customization between the blade pulse, adjustment for you Flash on Clash, and much more. For those of you new to US, the Emerald driver is AWESOME! If you are like me I like having the ability to change the blade color of my saber. This driver allows for so much customization that it takes an already awesome saber to a whole other level. I am still playing around with changing my saber color and combinations around, but thus far it is great. I love that the blade can pulse now, looks very realistic.
I will keep this short about the hilt itself. As with all of my US made sabers, they are constructed well and have a great look and feel to them. I got the low profile pommel, and did not get much else than that for the hilt. Although the hilt is eye catching the Emerald driver and Obsidian 3.0 soundboard really makes it come alive. The only minor issue I have with the Manticore hilt is that is slips in my hand a bit while spinning. It does not have the grooves some of my other saber hilts do and with the black anodizing on the main body of the hilt, make sit feel more slick or slippery to me. I almost forgot, I did not want the AV switch on all the time so I got it wired in series to the Channel 4 White LED. If I do not have that white LED on at all the switch does not light up. Not a big issue for me.
After having this Manticore with Emerald, I wish I had it in my Bellicose, Guardian, and Raven. I know I have probably talked more about the driver than the hilt itself, but I would recommend the hilt to all that like the look of it. I may have to wrap something around the main body of the hilt but that is the only minor issue I find with it.
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As the grab bag I got with this purchase was the Dark Standard Issue Saber with the vertical grooves in Guardian Blue. I love the look of this hilt and it has a great feel and grip to it. For now my second stunt saber, it is great for spinning and not having sound when you do not want it. The Guardian Blue does not necessarily go with the Dark Standard in my opinion but I am not complaining. Great hilt and I can always change the color if I feel the need.
