Saber Forum

OK..... first up, for some reason, and I have NO idea why, I have this strange obsession with switches ? ? ? ? ? (If i went to therapy, I'm sure I'd find out it'd be something from my childhood)  ::) ...... and...... sometimes I think too much, and just want to know, lol  ;)  anyway...... moving on

We've seen the team at US update many of their hilt photos recently, and all of the premium hilts, from the Bellicose up, now have a NON-illuminated silver av switch in the main display pic...... Also, a couple of the recent Premium Grab Bag sabers have had a latching av installed (these are stunt sabers, NO sound)...... and just now looking at the US pic of a Shock saber with the blade ignited, you can clearly see the depressed LATCHING silver av switch (momentary switches don't stay pressed).....

(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah119/JediXIX/ShockFull_zpsmnnt2ytg.jpg) (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/JediXIX/media/ShockFull_zpsmnnt2ytg.jpg.html)

OK...... so (to me) this is now confirmed...... At some point, I guess really soon, we'll see NON-illuminated av switches available to stunt sabers......  WOO HOO  ;D  ;D  ;D

Time will tell, but I have questions?
Q. Will they be standard on premium stunt sabers? or a +$ option?
Q. Will they be available for v2, v3, v4, Standard Issue, Liberator or Prophecy stunt sabers for a +$ option?
Q. Will they be available for all 4 switches on RGB stunt sabers? or the 3 R+G+B switches on an RGB saber with sound?
Q. Will they be available in black?
Q. Will we be able to send our stunt sabers in to upgrade the switch? and what would that cost?

I'm probably getting ahead of myself here, but to me, when this is official, it will be a day long remembered, lol...... I personally have always preferred av switches, as they just add that extra quality to these hilts, and am really looking forward to these as an option......  :)

ALSO..... I believe that LATCHING illuminated av switches would NOT be an option any time soon, as they are too long and DO NOT fit into US hilts..... Illuminated av switches would sill ONLY be available in sabers with SOUND......

Any other questions?

Would you choose this as an option on your next stunt saber?

cheers  :)

I honestly think they should phase out the black guarded switches, it'd improve the look of their sabers.

Yes! I would choose this option on every stunt I buy. The plastic switches just don't look as good. :P

Yup. I'd have to then send in all my stunt sabers for this upgrade :P

I would nt pay to upgrade existing sabers but I certainly would for any new sabers ordered.

I'm speaking directly to Emory & team with this post.

You guys at US work so hard at creating great products for us.

The designs are incredible (and as people will eventually see in Volume II of the Canterbury Armory, in some cases, ingenious) and the machining done on the Aluminum bodies is exquisite.

A work of art!

So to put that plastic switch on that Artwork - it's like da Vinci deciding at the last second to draw a goatee on the Mona Lisa.

Please!  Forget upgrades.  NI-AV Switches need to be the DEFAULT on every Saber you ship.

You, your Customers & especially the Sabers themselves DESERVE it!!!

First of all, I LOVE the AV's. And I don't disagree with what you guys are saying so far.

Many have used/still use the guarded switch and it's been there since the beginning of saber building so it has a bit of history.
So many buyers are likely fine with the default switch.
The cost effectiveness may keep them in play, and such low starting prices are one of US major advantages.

If US used a larger bezel then the non-latching AV's could be possible.
And that Shock has its covertec wheel on the opposite side from mine, interesting. Prowl would be happy to see that.

For sure one of these switches would be a fun option on a stunt, it just won't be on my wallet :D as I'm trying to save up for my daughters own first saber. May have to weigh Li-Ion vs. switch depending on cost if US offers these.

Unless the black ones become available, I'd still prefer the guarded one on my stunt Dominix V4 cause it looks better with the all black scheme IMO.

They do make 12mm latching switches as well, so the swap wouldn't be a difficult one at all and you could even get those illuminated, since they have a much smaller profile.

Right now it's only $10 to upgrade from a plastic switch to a N-I AV switch so I don't imagine that would change, and with the lower profile metal switches, you never have to worry about this happening: 

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=21588.0

Besides - the way these things are made - _{aside from the plastic switches} - your Daughter will be watching her Granddaughter play with your Archon some day.

Considering freakin' lunch @ McDonalds costs almost $10 nowadays, I don't think that's too much for a great upgrade on something that will be probably outlast us all chatting about it.  ;)

It'll be stunt and right now the guarded switch is the only option for the Apprentice I'm considering. I also want to be prepared to upgrade to sound one day and installing Li-Ion would help. But still, if one of them shmexy switches came up I'd meditate on the decision...

Like JediXIX - I'm obsessed with the switch situation.  It was actually extremely difficult for me in ordering my Stunt Staffs from the Raffle - not because I was going to miss the Sound because I don't at all!

It was just upsetting I didn't have the option for a better switch!   :'(

I was just about to browse through the Switches on Mouser; they have 19,437 push-button options.  I'm thinking one of them has to work in a Stunt Saber.  ;)
 

Something like this is what I have been talking about. I've installed several of them into sabers and I just love them.

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Latching-Button-Switch-Threaded/dp/B00MJTY7AE (http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Latching-Button-Switch-Threaded/dp/B00MJTY7AE)

Can you PM me a pic of your install?  (Or post here; whatever. it's a switch thread from another switch-head) I bought that exact switch for the V4 Initiate I got free during the last promotion. 

It wasn't the clean fit I assumed it would be and haven't had the time yet to monkey with it; I think Jedi ran into the same thing - he bought one too.

I can't remember where he posted it and Search isn't bringing it up for me - but he actually used digital calipers to demonstrate how the hole US drills for the Guarded Switch isn't actually big enough for most after-market 12mm AV switches.


This baby is literally begging to be all silver . . .

Yea I've installed a couple of 12mm av's in US hilts too....

This is what Lord C is referring to
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24480.msg369046#msg369046

And these are the 16mm Latching switches
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24771.msg371794#msg371794

The 12mm latching switches are great, but with the current machined switch hole they don't look as nice as 16mm ones IMO.... And I have also found a 12mm illuminated latching switch that isn't too long and will fit..... I don't mind them on the v2 but all the rest deserve the 16mm ones, just my opinion.....  :)

My top preference would be if US offered a recessed machined switch hole for 16mm av's, I've done one myself and really like the low profile http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24350.msg365947#msg365947
Of course this would need to be done before anodising on black hilts, so probably won't ever be an option....

A 12mm latching switch install is fairly easy in a stunt, you could do it with one hand tied behind your back  ;)
(Just use your drill press this time, lol)

Ok.  That's right.  It wasn't the technical, I was wondering how he had it sitting.  I just looked at your thread and you had the 12mm sitting in the big hole.   :P

Wondering if he (Sarich) had worked out a Bezel system . . .

I didn't take any photos, cause it was just a quickish swap for a friend. All I really had to do was sand the hole a little bit to get the switch to fit and I was done. As far as 12mm bezels are concerned, I know where to get them, I just can't say anything about where that is.

The problem I think you'll have with this switch is it's rather long @ 1.1".   That will put the ends close to the opposing internal wall of the saber so be sure to use good shrink wrap to prevent a short.  I'd look for a shorter switch.

A couple of years ago I found a similar switch...PURPLE illuminated ring just like US illuminated AVs....only it is 1.2" long so I never attempted to install.  Still sitting in the wrapper.  Would be cool on my VA saber if I could install it.

If you don't mind the higher profile - you can buy a Tall Bezel from that other custom saber shop.

I've used them to install long AV switches on UltraSabers.

Here's an idea of how it looks for you.  I know a lot of people don't like the high profile, but depending on the Saber, I sometimes prefer it.