So... a Monarch, eh?
This nickel-plated Monarch was my prize in one of the summer raffles last year, when I bought my Overlord. It was my favourite kind of prize – something I never would have chosen myself, so it gave me the chance to try out something completely new.
I like the appearance of the Monarch. It has flowing lines with definite flair, and an organic feel you don’t typically get with worked metal, and certainly not with lightsabres.
In spite of that, it wasn’t a hilt I’d likely ever have chosen. Those few reviews of the hilt have tended to pick up on the size of the upper bulb making it difficult to grip, which I think is a fair comment. This is going to be more of a ‘show’ than a ‘go’ for a lot of people.
Once I had it in hand, though, I realised that the Monarch wasn’t at all an uncomfortable hilt – for me, at least. The curve of the upper part of the hilt fits nicely into the palm of my hand, and it’s not so bulbous that it’s difficult to keep a grip on.
Part of this, to be clear, is likely because I have pretty big hands. While this – sadly – does not help me when playing the guitar, I do have a pretty big handspan and that seems to make the Monarch sit more comfortably in my hands.
The nickel finish looks great, as it generally does when applied across the whole body of a hilt. I also have the nickel finish on my Guardian, and think it works best that way, rather than just as a highlight feature the way it’s applied to the Consular shroud, for example.
I don’t know if I’ll change anyone else’s mind about the Monarch, as it’s such a different design to anything else out there. Still, should anyone be thinking about a Monarch, I have a feeling it’d look pretty amazing as the top of a sceptre.
Throw a Yari or two on there, and you have something as regal as the name suggests.
Nickel and black may not be the most convincing combination to sell that idea
