Yoda? Sidious? Dooku?

[StarWarsForce]

Grandmaster Yoda, Darth Sidious, and Count Dooku are arguably the most skilled lightsaber duelists from the Star Wars movies.

Does anybody know why none of the major custom lightsaber companies (as far as I know) haven't made replicas or their take on these characters' lightsabers, characters known for their lightsaber abilities? I know Yoda's and Sidious's lightsabers are small, and Count Dooku's is curved (which adds some challenges), but I think if done well, a company (oh, let's just say Ultrasabers ) could make a small fortune from these designs. Thoughts, and anybody want to join me for hoping this day will come (the Sidious saber in particular for me!)?

[Isola815]

US don't make replicas, but some people would tell you that some existing US models are "based on" those hilts, which I personally don't agree with. Anymore than that from US... well you'll just have to wait and see what they release over the years to come.

Other companies have done replicas. That's all I can say as per forum rules.

[scifidude79]

The short answer for why you don't see those sabers:  Size and shape.

Yoda's lightsaber is tiny, easily the smallest lightsaber at around 5.5 inches long.  It would take extreme cram fu to get electronics in there, especially sound.  Sidious' lightsabers are short, around 7.5 inches long, but that's not the only issue.  The shape of the emitter would make attaching a dueling blade extremely difficult. With Dooku's saber, it's all about the shape.  It has a bend in the back and a more subtle curve up front, making electronics and inserting a dueling blade difficult.  It also can't be turned on a lathe, like most of the designs UltraSabers does.  (yes, they do other machining, but all of their sabers start on a lathe)

That's pretty much it, aside from the obvious answer of licensing, etc.  Plus, as Isola815 said, UltraSabers doesn't make replicas.  They make similar and inspired hilts, but not replicas.  I have a Consular, and it looks significantly different from Qui-Gon's lightsaber, but not in a bad way.  It's a wonderful hilt, but not a replica.

[projectno253]

Another reason is that there is only a small demand for high end replica dueling hilts. Most of US's sales are stunt sabers for mild Star Wars enthusiasts. There are already smaller companies that pump out occasional runs of Yoda's saber, Dooku's and Sidious', at relatively high prices for empty hilts. Most people looking for sabers just want a saber-esque aluminum tube that is duelable.

[scifidude79]

Another reason is that there is only a small demand for high end replica dueling hilts. Most of US's sales are stunt sabers for mild Star Wars enthusiasts. There are already smaller companies that pump out occasional runs of Yoda's saber, Dooku's and Sidious', at relatively high prices for empty hilts. Most people looking for sabers just want a saber-esque aluminum tube that is duelable.

Yeah, definitely.  For straight heavy dueling, I'd be willing to bet UltraSabers sells way more of the lower end one piece designs, the "beaters" if you will, than they do the higher tier sabers.  Those are more for "cool, look at that."  But, you can still duel with them, which is a mandatory design point for US to release a hilt, it has to be dueling worthy.

[BatMike90]

Yeah, definitely.  For straight heavy dueling, I'd be willing to bet UltraSabers sells way more of the lower end one piece designs, the "beaters" if you will, than they do the higher tier sabers.  Those are more for "cool, look at that."  But, you can still duel with them, which is a mandatory design point for US to release a hilt, it has to be dueling worthy.

This. All of it.

[Vivectius]

Does anybody know why none of the major custom lightsaber companies (as far as I know) haven't made replicas or their take on these characters' lightsabers, characters known for their lightsaber abilities?

1) Because Disney hasn't licensed the rights to make replicas and US would rather stay in business than make a replica and get sued into oblivion.

2) Forum rules prevent me from telling you that they're out there if you know where to look, or who to talk to.

[StarWarsForce]

I would just like to clarify that I wrote replicas or their take on these characters lightsabers. What I meant by that was the inspired by hilts that US makes. Seems to be a lot of discussion about that, which wasn't the point of the thread, so just wanted to clear that up.

[Darth Veilus]

I'd love a Dookuish curved Hilt. Something better then the Mantis or Curved Reaper. I love curved hilts.

[Master Nero Attoru]

I would just like to clarify that I wrote replicas or their take on these characters lightsabers. What I meant by that was the inspired by hilts that US makes. Seems to be a lot of discussion about that, which wasn't the point of the thread, so just wanted to clear that up.

Considering the replicas Ultrasabers has come out with (or at least "inspired by" hilts), such as the Chosen One and Electrum Wind, perhaps we'll see something in the future.  However, having been in this hobby a while now, I've noticed that for some reason, Yoda and Sidious seem to have the least popular lightsabers.  Perhaps this is because both characters are more well known for their other talents, rather than their swordsmanship... who knows.  At any rate, regarding the third, I can attest to the difficulty a curve provides for installation.  The unique shape of Dooku's hilt is certainly a difficult one to make producible.

[lovetadraw]

Otherguys have a very small compact Sidious saber, the issue is that there is no blade depth. Just like how Ahsoka's 6" offhand saber became 12", I don't see US doing smaller hilts like Yoda or Sidious particularly well. If nothing else, the boards that US uses are too big, plus many otherguys boards can be used with single 3.7v batteries which also frees up a LOT of space. I think US could do a Yoda saber, but it'd be Initate v4 sized at least.