How goes it, friends and neighbors?
No video on this one; I didn't have time to set up and do one, but I was able to at least open up and check out this saber, which I ordered as a Christmas present for my brother.
First, the backstory: I ordered this on June 23, and around week 7 of waiting, I was given the heads up that the hilt was on backorder; since I wasn't expecting to receive it until at least week 6, I took it in stride. They told me it would be an estimated 3-5 more weeks. So I waited until week 12 and emailed to check on it, and got the report that there were unforseen delays with a lot of hilts, and this was one of the ones affected. After that, I checked in weekly; they were good about getting back to me quickly, and offered me alternatives to try and make things right. But, since I had time on my side and really wanted this one, I opted to wait. Finally, 17 weeks after ordering it, faith and patience were rewarded and it shipped out.
The short story: This is the last of eleven sabers I've ordered from Ultrasabers this year, and just like the previous ten, it's flawless. No blemishes on the hilt, no imperfections on the blade, no faults in the electronics. It's perfect.
The long story: Physically, it's identical to the Dominix V5, which in turn is the same as the Aeon V5s. The difference is in the silver (or gold, depending on your tastes) rings on the hilt as well as the claws on the emitter and pommel. The hilt is long enough to hold comfortably with two hands, yet the weight is light enough, and the hilt skinny enough, to handle with a one-handed grip. To put it in perspective; my mother, who's in her mid-70s, was able to hold and swing it easily. As far as spinning and twirling go, the claws on the emitter point downward, and while they aren't sharp, they will rub against your hand as you spin if you grip the saber just under the emitter. Gloves might not be a bad idea. Or, a popular fix that I've seen on YouTube involves gently popping the claws off and turning them upside down so the points are up.
This particular saber was equipped with a 36" midgrade blade in Tri-cree green, with Obsidian v4 sound and charging port. It was actually the hilt that I was going to order for myself as a Christmas gift before I saw The Fallen, but to be honest, I think I'll end up getting one of these eventually.
Bottom line: If you're looking for a decently priced hilt that has some flair to it, but want to save some money and not go with the premium sabers, you might want to give this one some consideration.