This is my first non-telescoping non-plastic saber, not to mention my first Ultra Saber. I played through The Force Unleashed II too many times and decided that I needed to Dual Wield sabers (go big or go home, right?). Although there are so many attractive US hilts, I went with the Dark Prophecy and it did not disappoint! I ordered it as a staff because I wanted the option to connect them - who hasn't imagined themselves as Darth Maul - and an unexpected benefit came along with that decision , but I'll get into that below.
NOTE: I have put some black medical tape on the 2 choke points on this hilt, but other than that it is completely unmodded.
NOTE #2: I have added War Glaive claws and swapped out the Fire Orange LED for Pyrestone since this review. The link to the customization page for them is here: http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=1306.msg13792#newHilt: 9/10 This hilt is awesome - especially for dual wielding. The choke point right above the power button is the perfect balance point to do crazy spins and the bulge just below it leaves NO danger of this thing slipping out of your hands. The machining and angled emitter add a bit of edge and flair to the saber, but it is still a fairly utilitarian design that is simple, effective, and intimidating. The quality is great - flawless anodizing and not a burr, rough edge, or machining grooves anywhere. As anyone who has owned an US knows, the first time you hold an aluminum saber of this caliber in your hands you know that the search is over. You've found the sabers that you've wished all of your other saber were like since you were little. The next step up is the real thing. Period. It's beautiful, the right weight, there are no rattles, and you can beat the tar out of it with no ramifications.
There are some other unique items on the Prophecy hilt as well. There are two holes in the side that let the blade color shine through that look like small LEDs or indicators that add a cool effect to the hilt. It also has two brass knobs on the emitter - one which also acts as the blade retention screw. Here is where I took the one point off - These two knobs are just brass thumb nuts that go on over two little allen screws. When the saber came, these would constantly come loose - not a big deal unless you lose one - but a little loc-tite would prevent people from losing a cool part of their saber. Also, I wish that the bigger (lower) one which acts as the blade retention screw could be used to remove or tighten the blade, instead of having to use the allen wrench. That would be EXTREMELY convenient for blade swaps and would only require a little epoxy or something to make the thumb screws actually work as thumbscrews instead of just revealing the allen screws underneath. All in all not a big issue at all, I just think that's a point for improvement. All in all this hilt is awesome. Oh, and the covertech knob? Icing on the cake. Walking around with a saber or two on your belt is just hard to beat!
Since I ordered it as a staff, it came with a connector with threads on each end to attach the two hilts together. When you connect them into the staff, it is completely solid and leaves you just enough hand room to wield it as such. The Prophecy is on the shorter side of the US lineup - but if you want more blade without excessive length in a staff, it's your best bet. That is another reason I love this saber for dual wielding too - the 'but' of the saber doesn't get in the way! US was smart in this design though, because there is JUST enough room to comfortably hold, spin, and spar with this saber with both hands on it as well. It is compact, but has the versatility for any variation of single, dual, or staff wielding.
Color: 9/10 I'm not going to lie - for anyone who has not had an Ultra Saber before - they look better in pictures and videos most of the time. I will quickly add though, they are VERY bright, and they (among other Luxeon/Seol LED Saber) are the best out there - they are just not quite as REAL looking as most cameras portray. Until it is even slightly dark, that is. Once you hit dusk, and especially at night these things could pass as real to anyone walking by. Even under streetlights they look fantastic. Again, these sabers are the best of the best, just not the real thing... YET!
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EXPERIMENT WITH BATTERIES: I know different colors react differently to different types (not brands - types) of batteries, but just try them out. They can make your blade more vivid and bright, or even tweak your color a tiny bit. I also recommend getting rechargables of your battery of choice (NiMH, Lithiums, etc) so that you don't have any guilt about keeping your blade lit. Here is the difference I saw from the stock "Rocket Power" batteries to just regular energizers.
Blade: 10/10 I went with the UltraEdge Heavy Blade and I am not disappointed. I know the heavy blades are twice as heavy as the mediums, and I know that you sacrifice a little brightness, but it looks GREAT and they are REALLY DURABLE. I've been sparring pretty hard with these and so far I've only had a couple small scuffs I used car wax to remove. I don't have a non-UltraEdge to compare to, but the UE blade is very full and bright. I think in bright light it may wash out your color a little more, but if it is even remotely dim where you are your blade will be full, bright, and flawless.
Bonus / Tip to dual wielders As an added bonus that I didn't plan - since I ordered a staff, the blades were only 32" instead of the normal 36" length. This turned out to be PERFECT! If you're going to use your sabers and need the heavy blades, this gives you a little more agility and a little better CG for spinning and fighting. Those things are both necessary when trying to dual wield, plus you aren't risking hitting the ground, furniture, or your friends quite as much because you have more control. The length looks great in proportion to the hilt and even in my Standard Issue (a much longer hilt) it looks fine. For someone looking to dual wield or simply looking for quickness in their style you can request the 32" blade length in the comments section of your order. This was an extremely fortunate accident for me. I have some 36" UE heavy blades and they are not bad at all - just not quite as homey as the 32's for me. Also, for reference, I'm 6'1" with a fairly athletic build and the 32's still don't look short.
Also, that covertech wheel that sticks out near the pommel comes right off if you find it hinders you in handling your saber. (It doesn't bother me at all, so it stays)
Overall: 10/10 Yes, I know that my math is wrong. Two 9's and a 10 don't make an average of 10, but these sabers are awesome and they have made this 24 year old, mild to moderate Star Wars fan want to carry lightsabers everywhere I go now. If you are on the fence about dropping $100 on a 'toy' lightsaber, just do it. My SS HHR is the only other thing that I have ever bought that I have been this impressed with. Talk some friends into it, spar a little, make some videos, walk around your dark house when no one is home, your blade's color bathing the walls around you, and imagine you're the baddes jedi/sith since Starkiller - do whatever. There's no way to regret getting an Ultra Saber. Be warned though, after you get one there is also no way to NOT get another one!
Other Pictures
With my Sunrider's Destiny Standard Issue
My camera washed out the orange quite a bit, but you can see they're still pretty bright in a fully lit room.
