Saber Forum

This is my eighth order from Ultra Sabers, constituting Ultra Sabers #10 and 11, with an entry in the Winter Raffle, which earned me Ultra Saber #12. Here's a group shot of my order and winning sabers, then we'll break down everything into a review:

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Left to right: Dominix LE V4 in Guardian Blue, Dominix LE V2 in Adegan Silver, Lost Gray in Consular Green

Saber #1: The Lost Gray

For my first entry saber, I chose the Lost Gray, based on Ahsoka Tano's off hand weapon, which was introduced in the third season of Clone Wars, where they decided to give her a more mature look and a second weapon.  What for her was an off hand weapon, is in fact a quite large saber from Ultra Sabers, large enough to use as a two handed main weapon.  With this one, I went with the Consular Green LED color, to match what she had on the show.  (plus, it's an awesome color)  I went with a 36-inch heavy grade blade, to offset what I figured was a heavy hilt, and I was correct.  With that blade, it makes the saber quite comfortable to spin, whereas a mid grade blade would be too hilt heavy.  It's just a stunt saber, as I wasn't able to afford sound at this time.  However, I'll add sound to it myself a bit later on.

Now for some pictures:

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0128.jpg?w=600) (https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0128.jpg)

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0130.jpg?w=600) (https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0130.jpg)

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As I said, it's big.  Over 12 inches long, probably about 12.5, according to my 12" ruler.  It's thick too, 1.6 inches wide.  The construction is quite impressive.  The body appears to be two pieces, the inner black part is one piece, and is what the blade and pommel attach to. The silver outer part appears to be a shell.  I don't believe it's removable, nor would I really want to, as the point of buying this is the complete look.  I love the detail on the hilt, with the cut-outs that allow you to see through to the black part.  The bronze and black buttons are also nice, and I love that it comes with an AV switch standard.  And, of course, the Covertec is a great option for belt hanging.  The pommel is nice and heavy and very sturdy feeling, it's one beautifully machined piece.

Here are some more pics of it, this time on a stand with the blade lit:

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0137.jpg?w=600) (https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0137.jpg)

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0138.jpg?w=600) (https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0138.jpg)

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Pictures just don't do this thing justice, especially my pictures. ;) It is just beautiful in person, and truly a joy to handle.  I'm so glad I purchased this, I think it may be my most beautiful Ultra Saber, and I own an Electrum Wind. :D  I'm really looking forward to completing it by adding sound, when I can afford to.

My hilt didn't come unmarked.  I did have some black marks on it when I got it:

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By the way, it was hard to get these pics because it's so shiny.  The marks kept not showing up due to reflections.  Anyway, it took me about two seconds of looking at these to figure out why they aren't an issue.  I realized right away that they are marker, probably something like a Sharpie.  Likely, the machinist put them on there to mark where holes for the switch and bronze buttons went.  In a rush to get the saber done, this wasn't removed.  The marker is easy to remove, though.  I dipped a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol (fortunately, I have these on hand for cleaning video games) and took it right off.  Now it's perfect.  I'm so happy with this purchase and that I was able to add this beauty to my collection.

Saber #2: The Dominix LE V2

To fill out my order, I needed to spend $71.  In Ultra Sabers, there are a lot of sabers in that range.  I chose the Dominix LE V2 because I love my Aeon V2s and I've been wanting a black and silver hilt for some time.  That saber is $69.99, which didn't quite get me to that $71 mark.  So, I chose Adegan Silver with color discs for my blade color.  I really like the silver, I think it completes the look, as the entire hilt and even the switch are black and silver.  The color discs are fun, but not super or anything.  They're a cheap color change option, but not for vibrant colors.  The red looks pink, the pink filters look even lighter pink.  The greens, blues and purples are very light, though that's not necessarily a bad thing.  I have vibrant blues and greens already, so I didn't need more of those.  I also have a red bladed saber.  Plus, one of the greens gives you a pale green that reminds me of the Viridian blades in the game Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.  The purples are actually quite nice, similar to the color of Mace Windu's blade.  The orange and yellows are the most vibrant colors.  The orange is only a bit more pale than Fire Orange, and there are two yellows.  One yellow is straight yellow, the other is more of an amber color.  Both work great.  All said, I'd say the filters are worth $2, even if you're not trying to get into a raffle.

Anyway, here are the Dominix LE V2 pics:

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0145.jpg?w=600) (https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/dscn0145.jpg)

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Not only do I love the black and silver look of this hilt, I really love the straightforward lines.  When choosing a hilt to practice saber combat or spinning, I want a hilt without a lot of extra stuff going on.  This hilt has no unnecessary details, no sharp edges and no bobs or bits to get in your way.  Just straight awesome.  It even has an advantage over my Aeon V2s, as I didn't have them put a Covertec wheel on it.  I chose a 36" mid grade blade, which gives the saber great balance for spinning.  And, unlike the blade that came with my Electrum Wind, the blade film doesn't have marks in it.  All said, I'm very happy with this purchase.

Saber #3: The Dominix LE V4

Last but certainly not least is my prize.  I won one of the 3rd place prizes in the raffle, so I won a random hilt with Li-Ion batteries.  With the way these were positioned in the box and where I opened it, this was the first hilt I found.  I knew it was a Dominix LE, but the groove sizes and spacing told me it wasn't the V2 I ordered, so I knew it was my prize and that it was a V4.  I was really happy when I saw it through the bubble wrap, as I've been wanting one of these for some time.  I was even happier when I unwrapped it and saw the blue button, as I love blue blades with dark hilts.  I fired it up and, sure enough, it's Guardian Blue.  It came with a 36" ultra edge mid grade blade, which was the only Ultra Sabers blade type I didn't already have.

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This is a gorgeous hilt.  I already had the "light side" version, the Aeon LE V4, so I knew I loved the hilt.  To me, the black and silver is even more eye catching than the silver and gold.  It didn't come with windows in the emitter, which is how I prefer this hilt. I like to grip this design up around the emitter, using the concave section as a choke point.  The windows on my Initiate LE V4 make that uncomfortable without gloves, so I'm glad I don't have them.  This hilt is really comfortable in the hands, even more so than my Aeon because, like my V2s, the Aeon LE V4 has a Covertec.  This has nothing to get in the way of me getting a good grip on the saber.  The mid grade blade gives it a good balance for spinning.  I have a feeling this is going to be one of my go-to hilts for doing fun and wacky stuff.  :D

So, that's my order and my prize.  Thank you Emory Harris and Ultra Sabers for this wonderful raffle and prize.  I'm once again floored by the generosity of this company.  As configured, my prize saber would have cost me $97.99, I got it absolutely free.  All I had to do was order two sabers that I was planning to order anyway.  8)

Great reviews and pictures, SFD. I especially appreciate your thoughts on the Lost Gray and it's hilt to blade weight ratio.

Point.

Thanks Landen.  Yeah, the Lost Gray has a nice feel to it, but I definitely wouldn't recommend a mid grade blade with a hilt that heavy.  I made that mistake with my Electrum Wind.

I always get HG blades, because I have a tendency to hit hard even when I'm not trying, but I do own a couple mid grade blades for practice or for friends who don't make such extreme contact, so I understand what you're talking about. Some hilts just feel better balanced with different blades, and it's nice to know what setup works best when comparing hilts. The information you provided does that, and it's a nice touch to read about the entire saber and not just the hilt, but you also managed to do a good job on that part, too.

Again, very well done.

Nice!

I'm thinking about getting a V2 at some point as well and switching out the standard pack with a 3.7 V Nitecore 18650 with the 3400 mAh capacity; killer battery life.

Also love the prize you got!  It's actually great it came without windows.  They look awesome on that model, but they can rub the skin a bit when you spin them.  I'd love to try a v4 Dom without them.

Landen: I like the mid grade better for lower tier hilts.  I actually always bought heavy grade, but I put my mid grade from my Electrum Wind into my Aeon V3 and found it spins much more effortlessly than with the HG that I bought for it.  (it was a grab bag blade, and they sent me HG)  But, those lighter hilts are better balanced with a lighter blade.  I definitely would switch to a HG for dueling, though.  But, for practice and spins, MG works great.  However, the heavier hilt definitely needs a heavier blade to retain balance.

Lord C: Thanks a lot, man.  I love the V2s, so great for spinning and practicing saber combat.  I hadn't thought of doing an 18650 upgrade, but that's a good idea.  I definitely love my prize.  I was thinking a bit ago that all I need is an Obsidian board, a momentary guarded switch, a speaker holder and a speaker and I can upgrade it to sound, since it came with Li-Ion batteries.  8)

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Very nice indeed. Point.  :)

Thanks. 8)

Very nice sabers. Some of my favorite designs there.

Great trio of sabers! Truly all formidable weapons of a Jedi and your pictures look great, really  👍🏼

Loved hearing your impressions and opinions of those sabers and especially your gratitude and perspective for the raffle. We all know that Emory doesn't have to do these, because we'd all buy sabers anyway because their sabers are the best in the galaxy. Very good review. Thanks for sharing - good stuff!  +1

Congrats for your new sabers and for that prize. Hope you enjoy them a lot. Point for sharing your experience and pics. They look great.

Thanks a lot, Taegin Roan, Lord Bladewraith and Lord Japarco.  :)

Very nice review. Great saber choices. The Lost Gray is one of my favorites. I use a 30'' ultra edge standard myself but I like the weight in the hilt for spinning personally. I find I can get it going faster than a more balanced approach. Also easier for palm spins ( for me ). One thing for sure, using a heavy grade will increase your strength and control very quickly.

Thanks a lot, RyanG83Jkd.  When I speak of spinning, I mean my rudimentary attempts at doing orbits, not the spinning you do. (I'm trying to get better at it so I can move on to some more advanced stuff) If I spun like you, I may like a different blade.  But then, I have 24 and 32 inch HG blades too, so I could easily swap it out if necessary.

Nice. I might actually grab some 24'' HG myself for my saber staff. ThAt being said do you have a quick release coupler yet? Man they are fun..

Im starting to feel like the quick release coupler ambassador....lol..

I think you were the first person to post a video actually using the QR coupler in a spin routine, weren't you?  I can't even imagine getting there.  ;)  Yeah, I have one.  I cashed in some reward points right after it came out and got it for free.  :D  (have I said lately how much I love this company?)

Im not sure if I was the first, maybe. I know right when they became available I immediately ordered one. You'll get there. Time + Consistency = Success. ( and I agree. I send everyone from my club here. )

Yeah, my issue is time and not being extremely tired from the work I do.  That was what made me lapse in my attempts to learn saber combat.  Well, that and not having a sparring partner.  I guess, if I want one of those, I need to give some of my friends some of the sabers I have.  ;)  That's one reason I've been looking more at orbits/spinning.  It's entirely a solo thing and you can easily practice for just a few minutes here and there.  All you need is a saber and a bit of open space.  :D

SFD, I'm just seeing this (real life sucks right now)  :P

Those look AWESOME!

+1 for sure. ;D  

(add sound to that Fulcrum :))

Thanks Lord Rapine.  Dude, I know you have a lot going on right now.  I wish there was some way I could help, but alas I can't.


(it's a Lost Gray, but that's OK ;))

D'OH!  Of course it is....lol

I just need to figure things out here.  This week's pretty much a write-off. 

I'll get there - always do...

I have faith that you will, you're a fighter.

Is that what it's called?  I thought it was shell magnet. :P

Thanks for the well wishes BTW, and sorry I screwed up the name of your raffle entry...BAH!

What a well written review - points for sure! Thx for making my wait harder lol.

You've got me thinking about the weight and balance of the Lost Gray compared to blade type. I got a 32" mid grade coming - but I think a low pro pommel would help even things out if need be.

I do have 36" to swap out or a HG 32" - looking fwd to playing around with the options that's for sure.

That's an awesome attitude and great example for us all, LR.  Even so, still sorry life's not so great right now. We all love ya here!

Thanks LB. :)

I'm trying not to make so much of it on here, but it's tough.  I'm in a much better mood today, but still pretty down.

I'll be fine - just need time.

Sabers help. :)

Indeed the Force must be with them, because life really is better with sabers.

Thanks a lot.  :)

Blade choice could vary by person.  I really need to check just how balanced it really is when I get home.

Yes, there is a lot of truth in that. There is a lot of personal preference that goes into blade type choice.

I also think you need to consider what you're going for. I can spin my mid grades much faster, because they are so much lighter, but that is not always my goal. I'm usually about 70-80% as far as speed goes, because I like to focus more on control and direction than on speed.

The same goes for sparring. I like to clear my opponents blade out of the way to create openings. The extra rigidity and weight of the HG blades allow me to do that much easier.

Well, with the stunt setup, it balances right at the end of the hilt with a 36-inch HG blade.  With sound and all that, I'm sure it would still be hilt heavy.  But, that's to be expected.  It's so heavy because it's all metal, which is more than you can say for some sabers.  ;)  The pommel really adds a lot of weight to the back end, which is fine with me.  I like a saber with good heft to it.  It feels really nice to wield.

When I'm doing anything, either practicing combat moves or trying to spin, I go for precision more than speed.  I'm still very much a novice and what I call spinning is rudimentary compared to what some of you guys do, but I'm learning.  A couple weeks ago, I was spinning around one of my Aeons and got going too fast and whacked myself in the left shin with a heavy grade blade.  :-[