Saber Forum

My Initiate V3 came today, and i must say that I am absolutely impressed with this hilt style. The first stand out feature of this hilt is, that compared to the Initiate V2, this saber has a fuller hilt to grip onto. The button has been placed higher up on the hilt which gives plenty of room for a low grip, plus there are 2 choke points above and below the switch which give more options on how you can grip the saber.

Choke Points Close Up
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00264.jpg)

Low Grip
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00265.jpg)

Low Choke Grip
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00266.jpg)

High Choke Grip
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00267.jpg)

The overall length of this saber, with blade is 38 and 1/2 inches. The Hilt itself is 9 and 3/4 inches. The emitter is 2 inches deep to the LED.

Full length saber lit up.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00254.jpg)

Hilt Close Up
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00251.jpg)

Emitter Close Up.
I really love the look of this emitter. It reminds me of a precision machined piston head when viewed from the side.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00263.jpg)

Emitter Reverse Side. When you turn the emitter over you'll notice that there is only one set screw hole on this version, and it is placed higher up on the emitter. I really like the placement of this set screw as opposed to earlier versions which were placed low on the emitter and held the blade close to the end.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00269.jpg)


The size difference between the V2 and V3 is small but substantially noticeable when held. The V2 seems to only offer 2 types of grip, high or low, while the V3 offers at least 3 points of grip.

Initiate V3 vs Dark Initiate V2 LE
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00252.jpg)

The size difference between the Initiate V3 and the Aeon LE is substantial, but not overwhelmingly noticeable when held. Both hilts offer a good range for grip styles.

Initiate V3 vs Aeon LE
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00256.jpg)

Here is a look at some of the parts of the Initiate V3

First off, the Initiate V3 has a wider diameter then it's predecessor the V2. The difference is easily seen when comparing pommel sizes against the Initiate V2 or or Aeon V2
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00257.jpg)

Looking down into the battery compartment there is about a half inch of empty space which would have been taken up if I had sound installed.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00258.jpg)

The battery pack itself holds 4 AAA batteries and is secured with a small velcro strap which takes up the extra diameter inside the hilt and prevents rattling, or sliding up and down during spinning.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/Initiate%20V3/DSC00260.jpg)

Overall, I give this new Initiate V3 a 10 out of 10. This hilt is as functional as it is beautiful. There is absolutely nothing I would change about this hilt, it is perfect just as it is. I highly recommend this saber to anyone and everyone.

Nice hilt. I'm getting the Dominix V3 LE with the works next month. Blazing Red Heavy Grade blade, Obsidian with red lighted button and li-ion batteries, and normal vented pommel. I agree the new V3 has the best looking emitter. Has a pre-quel era style look to it. And the Adegan Silver looks amazing on your hilt too.Hope to see more Non sound sabers made for sound later on. Really looking forward to a Standard Issue with sound.

Nice Pictures, Very Helpful especially the ones where you show the possible different ways in holding the saber.

I was thinking of getting the Dominix V3 set up mostly like you described except with mid grade blade and Dark Catalyst pommel.

Thanks Shyguy, I try to think through every possible shot before I go on to posting. The written info usually comes from the pictures I take, so it's important to me to make sure I cover every possibility.

Nice review as usual.  Any reason why getting the regular Initiate V3 as opposed to the LE model?

I actually ordered this before the LE model was released.

@Jersey. Nice. The Dominix V3 would look good with a Catalyst pommel. But I more like the original pommel. I thought about a Mid Grade blade again but when I get my bro his sounded saber we will be fighting alot. xp Don't want the Mid Grade blades to be ruined or anything. I will tell you how the new Dominix V3 is in person when I get it either later this month or early next month. =]

The midgrade blade is super durable, it holds up to a LOT of dueling.  I haven't broken one yet.  Personally, I think they're a little better weighted too.  Just my two cents.

Great review Jersey, can't wait to get my own V3 - gonna go for the Dark version though.

Great review! So much so I will be ordering a Dark Initiate V3 LE  AS led within the next two weeks, I'm going to match Lee Filter it with my Dark Initiate V2 LE for dual wielding ! That saber looks great , and thanks fir showing the different grips!

Awesome review, makes me want one of these for myself. Easy... easy.... you just got the Bellicose... can't buy another one yet... lol

Anyways, point for you on the most detailed review. Putting in the bits about the grip options was great, I always forget about things like that when I'm showing off or reviewing a saber, and it's a darned important feature! :)

Looks good.

Just ordered an AS saber for my buddy.

You sound like a pretty good buddy!  Haha I've been contemplating getting my brother a saber for Christmas.  I totally would drop the money to get one, but I'm not sure he would be QUITE as into it as I am (actually I know he won't be lol).

damn beat me to the punch, and i thought i was gonna be the first to review it.  i waited just long enough and the day before payday the LEs came out.  so i got a Dark Initiate V3 LE comin.  That actually looks really sweet with AS in a Silver hilt.  very continuous.  i gotta get me a silver hilt one of these days, other than my prophecy.

He's my best man and my wife got something special for her Maid of honor. ;D

She should have gotten her a saber too hahahaha

We just might.

Get a Grab bag for her with a VA or CG LED and a blade.

She's not uber geeky about star wars like we are but she still loves everything about it.

Good Call Master.

Point!

great review! i will probably get the dark version in the same color but with sound

Thanks for all the great feedback guys. There's something I wanted to add now that the review is out of the way. When the package arrived it looked as though someone tried to tear it in half literally. I stopped the driver and made him wait while I opened the box to insure my saber was not broken in any way. He patiently waited as I opened the box and tested the saber. Everyone should do this when a package arrives in this condition. Don't be afraid to speak up to the driver. Here are pictures of my package as it arrived.

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/WreckedPackaging/DSC00272.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/WreckedPackaging/DSC00271.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Greywulf2112/SaberForum/WreckedPackaging/DSC00270.jpg)

GOOD LORD!

Was ace Ventura working in the shipping department?

It looks like some one drop kicked it,

Glad ur saber is ok though DJ.

I'm thankful that US started using bubble wrap as an extra precaution in shipping. I don't know if the saber would have been in good working condition if they hadn't bubble wrapped it.

I sympathize with you DJ. Yesterday my Archon Pommel and Bronze Button showed up.... it was a miracle the bubblewrapped pommel was still inside the box. In fact the bubblewrap is probably the only reason I even GOT my stuff! The UPS guy tossed it on my porch, hit the doorbell, ran to his truck and floored it. Literally gone when I got to the door. There was a big tear in one end of the box, and a giant hole big enough I could tug my stuff out through it at the other end.  >:(

I sent UPS a complaint and all they said was essentially 'sorry, but the condition of the shipping container is not our responsibility and we do not garuntee the container to arrive undamaged, only the item.' Nevermind the item could have fallen out of the box the way they delivered it! Heck! The peanuts all did!

Not to have stolen your thread with a UPS rant, but I just wanted to share your.... dissatisfaction, with a sub-par shipper. I think next time I buy I'll email US and see if a special request will get my stuff shipped FedEx.  :P

Luckily I've only had one that came that damaged and that was over 1 1/2 months ago, but everything was fine inside.  (knocking on wood) I got one coming today sometime.

Superb rewiev!

Only thing i would change on my V3 is the battery setup.

I cant belive how mutch brighter the blade lits up with Li-Ion setup! I got a mid grade, UEHG and a HG blade and the Li-ion is a champ !

First off, nice job on the review DJ. Second, that is crap. UPS should take better care of stuff THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR!


Not their responsibility? Then whose responsibility is it!? And that's BS anyway, since the condition of the container often has a direct effect on the CONDITION OF THE ITEM(S).  I'm gonna stop now, before I go on a huge rant.

it looks like something ripped into it. Jeezus

I concur with TJ. Anyone who wants to storm UPS HQ, give me a heads up. I'm in  ;)

@Nero. I would go for it anyway. He will probably be excited first ignite. xp I thought I wouldn't be too much into the saber thing but look at me now. My bro wants one too.

This looks really great, nice review!
I have been thinking about getting a phantasm, but now with these, and with having held one in your hand (as far as length) do you think it would be better to get an initiate phantasm so I could wield it in closed areas or do you think it would be too short?

By "Closed Areas" I am assuming you mean spinning indoors, is that right?

Yeah, not sure if that will be possible even with initiate hilts, but im hoping, lol. I have high ceilings.

If you have a room where there's not a lot of breakable stuff, and high ceilings, then you could get away with spinning an initiate staff with 24 inch blades. You should still be careful though. I spin my staff in my bedroom but I have lower ceilings so I have to be mindful of that. Otherwise if I had higher ceilings I could spin the Phantasm easily in my room.

this saber looks awesome with the adegan silver. i cant imagine the possibilities of blade colors you could get with the lee filter. i dont have any initiate hilts soooooo this will be my next purchase. thanks for the great review.

I'm looking to buy my first ultrasaber, and I'm trying to decide between the Phantom V2 and V3.  One of the main things I'm concerned about is grip size.  I'm used to wielding a MR Darth Maul double bladed, and I didn't want the V2 to be oddly thin in my hands.  I'd love to hear more detailed opinions you have on the differences in size and grip for the V2 and V3 hilts, especially if you could compare them to an MR or Hasbro hilt.

I haven't held a V3 myself, so I can't say how that is.  However, coming from a guy with pretty big hands, the Dominix V2 may be thin but it's very good to wield.  I have one in Blazing Red, and it's legitimately one of my favorite sabers.

go for the V3 the hilt width will be much closer to your MR than the V2 , and without all the lil knobs to get i the way.

I have both the Phantom V2 and the V3 so I can say without a doubt that the V3 feels much fuller in the hands. Even though the V2 has an exceptionally nice feel to it(for a thinner hilt), the V3 gives you the "Full" hand feeling that you are looking for. I have a few MRs and Hasbros, and I think that the V3 is much closer to that type of feel in the hands. Plus, you have the option for sound in the V3. Even if you get the non-sound version, you can send it in later to add sound. Those are my 2 cents.

I wanted to ask you how you like the hilt length from both ends.  Does it feel a little short for a two-hand grip or is it nice?

I'm more of a two-hand grip practitioner and I have future intentions of purchasing the Phantom or Phantasm Initiate V3, but one thing that I enjoy having is two single sabers as opposed to one saber staff, or even one saber with a longer hilt and pommel.

Do you think a two-hand grip would be better suited for the Phantom or Phantasm V3 as opposed to the Initiate V3's or do you think it feels okay?
It just seems like both hands would be uncomfortably close to one another.

Do you have a preference for wielding either the V2 or V3?  Like, even though the V3 is closer to an MR, is that necessarily better?  I've never used a thinner hilt before (closest I've gotten is using a long cardboard tube a rug was wrapped around, but weight was a huge confounding variable for determining if thickness mattered) so I'm just trying to figure out which I'd be happiest with.  Thanks for answering my questions.

I don't have the Phantom Or Phantasm V3, I only have the Initiate V3s. I can say though, that the Initiate V3s are well suited for 2 handed wielding. If you go with the low grip on the hilt, and the high choke grip, it should suit your need well. The hands stay separated by the lower choke section.

As far as the Phantom or Phantasm V3, I would think that with the longer hilt you would have more space between your hands that you would on the Initiates.

I bought the V2s before the V3s were even available, so I had a lot of time to get use to the feel of the thinner V2s. I really love the feel of the V2s, but with the V3 it kind of feels as though you've upgraded from fighting with a stick, to fighting with a sword. I don't know if that makes much sense, but to me there is a definite difference in feel. The V3s are comparable to the V2s in weight(depending whether you have sound or not), since they are made from lightweight Aircraft Metal. The V3s are not much heavier at all. The difference is very slight. I guess I would have to say that I prefer the V3s only for the fact they are bigger round and fit better in my hand. With the V2, my fingers wrap all the way around and my finger tips touch my palm, where on the V3s they don't. I hope that answers your question. If you need more info, please feel free to ask.

I agree with this COMPLETELY.

I will make note of it during my review DJ.

The Liberator V2 to the V3 is a step up for sure in terms of weight and feel.

Thank you for the superb review, Dirty Jersey. You've helped me make up my mind on which saber to buy next. I've decide on the Phantom Initiate V3 staff. The pictures were awesome, well done!

Nice color choice.