Suggested saber design blueprints for Ahsoka Tano saber

[JdiKnhtJMH]

I've been working on a saber design for some time and trying to hire a machinist to actually make it. My previous focus was on getting a shroud to go over an Initiate v3 I purchased some time ago, but I now realize that 1: my machinist is busy and 2 that adding a shroud would make it quite heavy. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with something great. Features:

Very accurate replica of Ahsoka Tano's lightsaber as seen here:

Uses already existing US parts with a few modifications to the hilt.
Still sound ready.
Obviously I cant call it the Ahsoka, so this is the Padawan



This design is workable for the initiate v3 or aeon v3. Skip the grooves on the lower hilt, add a silver Guardian pommel, and then using a lathe, taper the front half of the saber down to the thickness of the machined ridges that are already there. Add a grooved channel down each side, and beveled emitter. A small black indent plays host to two retention screws that look similar to the charge port on the Anakin or Ahsoka. Then just attach the fins from the Graflex, a few buttons and the covertec clip, and the saber ends up looking very much like Ahsoka's weapon. It's no more complex than a lot of other sabers sold, and really doesnt require any new parts.

What do you guys think? Would this be possible? And if it is, would you buy it?

[CbrS*]

That looks really cool, altho im not fond of those fins. But it looks very cool also for wielding! Keep us updated on this, and good luck with it. Im sure you will get this to perfection!

CbrS*

[Manroon]

I'd buy one.

[Kaiden Shardsbane]

Concern:

Having the front end machined down that far might make the aluminum too thin to hold up with dueling.  Especially with those machined grooves up the sides.

Maybe if they made those grooves some sort of blade holder, like on the Raven and Bellicose...  Anyways, I like the idea.  Just not sure how that width would work.

[Manroon]

Well, I'm just guessing here, but I figure the top thickness would be around that of the V2 line, and the grooves would be shallow as on the same, with the lower end of course being the thickness of the V3 line. I'd also point out, the guys would probably just want to have these hilts machined straight out, rather than put all the extra time into modifying existing V3 hilts.

[JdiKnhtJMH]

Yeah, I'm not asking for any deeper depth than the grooves that are already there, I just want it extended, since its been shown that can be done structurally. The wide groove, the V shaped indent, would be the overall plane on the saber, and the smaller groove in the middle of it would be the depth of the grooves down the sides.

[Kaiden Shardsbane]

Well, I'm just guessing here, but I figure the top thickness would be around that of the V2 line, and the grooves would be shallow as on the same, with the lower end of course being the thickness of the V3 line. I'd also point out, the guys would probably just want to have these hilts machined straight out, rather than put all the extra time into modifying existing V3 hilts.

Hmm.... that makes sense.  I keep forgetting that the V3's are that much thicker.

[JdiKnhtJMH]

Yeah thats why my original plan to put a shroud over it failed.

My only real concern with these is where to get the T shaped tabs that go on the front of the hilt. I'm thinking shelving brackets maybe if US doesnt have a part they already use for the Graflex build.

[Manroon]

I know what you mean. I miss the V2's...... Seriously, I'd have bought another SI V2 by now if they were still around. lol I liked the thinner profile.

[JdiKnhtJMH]

I honestly like the V3 a lot, its heavier and looks a bit more like a weapon, plus has the ability to add sound to a dirt cheap saber (as in price, not quality)

[Manroon]

True, but something about the look of them just.... bugs me. They feel great, but I just don't like looking at them. And they seem to be missing some level of 'saberness' to me. Of course, that's just personal taste.

[JdiKnhtJMH]

Well, hopefully this design will change that, man I hope this thread gets popular and Emory and Deep decide to use it!

[Manroon]

It's possible. Actually, when I talked to Ultra back at wondercon (gosh it's so cool being able to say I talked to him) he said they've got stacks of designs they plan to release.... it's basically just a matter of the machinist only being able to produce so many hilts and so many different designs at a time, and I imagine the guys at the shop don't want to stock TOO many different hilts at once either. You know, to keep their sales stable.

[JdiKnhtJMH]

That's a good point, you dont want to get into overstock territory, especially with the more expensive hilts. I keep forgetting that this is a business and not art... Well, not entirely art anyway lol

[JdiKnhtJMH]

Sorry to necropost, but I had to get this out: I sent the design into Emory along with one of my recent orders, and he said he liked the design and would be looking at it in the future when some of the other designs have been sorted out, so it looks like there's a possibility they'll do it if there's enough demand. Me, I know I'm buying one on day one with sound and FOC!