Saber Forum

Happened to think of posting this comparison yesterday, and I just now saw the comparison between the Electrum Wind and Hasbro saber. I figured now would be a good time to do some quick comparisons of the Graflex CE that I just got, next to a Graflex replica that I intend to transplant the CE's electronics into.

Not sure if a certain MHS supplier can be mentioned here when it concerns a product they sell made by a certain individual, but searching for Graflex replica should pretty quickly bring you to the product I'm comparing.

It should be noted that the Graflex CE isn't inaccurate because it's not similar to the Graflex replica, it's actually very accurate, but to the ROTS version of the Graflex. The US Graflex is based on the MR Anakin saber, very accurately so, which makes the Graflex CE a great episode III replica.

This comparison is perhaps meant to show the impressive dimensional similarities between US's and a replica of the original saber.

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/EA993BB7-07F4-4CDA-A9E5-26116F2B0F0F_zpsupg5le52.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/EA993BB7-07F4-4CDA-A9E5-26116F2B0F0F_zpsupg5le52.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/40153081-EF90-43F0-A0E6-2C3F99E8B0A2_zpstbpkp4vf.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/40153081-EF90-43F0-A0E6-2C3F99E8B0A2_zpstbpkp4vf.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/6D144692-0A7B-49A3-B94F-9737820EB58A_zpsilrv6nbn.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/6D144692-0A7B-49A3-B94F-9737820EB58A_zpsilrv6nbn.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/22706DC8-D74A-4631-86FF-E156B1348AC0_zpstvdrwkvc.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/22706DC8-D74A-4631-86FF-E156B1348AC0_zpstvdrwkvc.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/FA4ACDF8-CA1B-440A-A4C4-6DFA4499CE8B_zpsmpjxwmkz.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/FA4ACDF8-CA1B-440A-A4C4-6DFA4499CE8B_zpsmpjxwmkz.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/6D144692-0A7B-49A3-B94F-9737820EB58A_zpsilrv6nbn.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/6D144692-0A7B-49A3-B94F-9737820EB58A_zpsilrv6nbn.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e150/anthony_silvestri1/2623E2B8-200A-4ED3-8B70-1A3445038206_zpsnzsuxaz2.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/anthony_silvestri1/media/2623E2B8-200A-4ED3-8B70-1A3445038206_zpsnzsuxaz2.jpg.html)

Thanks now I want me both even more :P Am wondering though, if you want it totally ROTS looking, how does mylar tape hold onto aluminum hilts? Pretty good? I heard not to try it though. I like to collect regular movie replica hilts as well so =] Replica or US's Graflex I always fanboy whenever I see either ones :P Having a duelable Graflex will also be sweet though

I like the US Graflex, but I tend to like the movie replicas a bit better. It's the one saber I want exactly like the movies. I want the TFA Graflex.

I haven't bothered with the Mylar tape, but I would imagine it would be fine. Not sure why it wouldn't be.  Those small grooves could probably be filled in with something if they were a problem.

Hopefully the Graflex replica will be able to stand up to dueling, I wouldn't trust it like I would an Apprentice V4 or the like  ::) the annoying part is that the stock blade holder is 7/8", so that presents either the option of buying a non duel worthy 7/8" blade for $30+shipping, or a 1" blade holder for $60. I stumbled across a 7/8" blade on eBay for $10 so I jumped on that, when I break it in sparring I'll get the 1" blade holder for $60...

The new speaker comes in tomorrow for the CE. Once I wire that in I'll be able to unsolder the momentary switch (which is super easy on US's Graflex to remove, since it has those two hex screws) and move the electronics to the Graflex.

I considered putting a Diamond Controller in the Graflex, but the CE was such a steal on eBay. I'll sell the hilt on eBay and some of my many excess blades. The seller included a blade from another large scale saber manufacturer, so i think I'll keep that rather than sell it

(http://i.imgur.com/b4Pk9yv.gif)



That's how I have my Graflex (as I'm sure you've noticed), ever since I did a bunch of research on the Graflex 3 cell that originated the prop, it's somewhat funny when I see an ESB with two activation (red) buttons. I like it, but I like the streamlined look of the glass eye more, and the look of the rivets on the grips and the gold circuit card.

We usually don't talk about personal sales on here so. why not just keep both? One for dueling and one for show? That's what I'd do anyway. Make the replica Graflex more to your likings then keep the US's one as is. Just an idea though =] Might take awhile but it'll get there. Its taking me for forever to get a saber that I really like. Up next will either be a Reaper or Dark Prophecy in Blazing Red. Really itching for a Dark Prophecy though just for a certain movie :P I know we have the Chosen One but yeah. I already have a replica that needs fixed anyway so. That's what I do though. when I post my custom now Guardian Blue Shock that's for show/cosplay purposes and my Dominix V4 LE is for kinda both, same with my Consular Green Standard Issue for dueling/cosplay purposes and Archon V2.1 for cosplay purposes, same with my Overlord. I don't really duel with that one much either or at all. Just a good belt hanger/convention going saber :P

Odd, I thought the rule was no selling items on the forum. Alas. The Dark Prophesy will look great in BR, definitely my favorite color and it's the color of my first two sabers (avatar and sig). Would you get Tri or FOC?

I think I've become a radicalized Star Wars fan, so any saber I have will get dueled with. That makes it hard to have an Archon 3.1, I think I slightly bent it the first and only time I used it, but it makes a nice open carry saber.

I suppose to answer your original question, I would rather have a saber I can duel with, display, and carry. My dark Apprentice V4s aren't my first choice for open carrying, so I might transplant their electronics to a menace staff.

I've also been looking into slimming down my collection into one MHS staff with two Diamond set ups (I'll most likely keep my Graflex transplant), but I still really enjoy the replica hilts. Curse this hobby!  ::)

Right :P I really wanna try a tri with an Ultra Edge blade to see if itd look even meaner than before :P But I was told the tri less eat the standard batteries pretty quick. Its just what I'm used to in stunts you know. My big big saber will have sound though for sure. But for the standard sabers I just want all stunts. I plan to get a standard Obsidian saber though, then Emerald, then Diamond just to have all 3 variations in a way sound wise :P

BR looks great in UE. I honestly never use standard blades. The light isn't as smooth and the dueling scuffs show up much more. UE never looks washed out to me, just nicely diffused so that it actually looks like a blade rather than light in a tube casing.

I'm glad to have gotten emerald at the price that I did, definitely a fun tool. I do like when sabers have a set color though, it makes them feel more real in terms of having a set crystal and color. If I was going to do a saber with Tri, I'd want Li-ion.

I agree with you. I have had both blades and never could understand that some people think that red looks bad in UE blades I have both standard and UE and I would rather have UE every time.

A light in s tube casing is exactly how I feel about it.

I always seem to have good luck when it comes to stunt sabers though so :P Plus I don't really have a problem with just having all standard AAA batteries

I've only handled AAA stunt sabers, and they look great to me. Not sure how much Li-ion would help brightness, if I look at it from a technical stand point.

Something I've come to enjoy about stunt sabers is how simple they are. Nothing seems to break, and if it does it's a hardware issue that I can fix. I just had an emerald board die on me a day after I bought it, second hand purchase so no warranty :/ Marlena is helpful though.

I'm tempted to get stunt sabers on account of how inexpensive they are, but then I tell myself to put that money towards a higher end saber.

Really cool comparison! It's great to do these for a number of reasons - firstly because I think US isnt known for replicas (yet) so its great to show just how good and faithful these sabers are in looks and not just in operation! Its also really great because it gives people an idea of what they're getting, the quality and what to expect, so if they're out there looking to get an exact replica, they're aware of any differences there might be. I also suspect that its nice for Emory and Deep to see people taking the time to notice the time they clearly put in to designing something that's as accurate to the canon lightsaber as possible while still being functional, durable, affordable, and chock full of great Ultrasabers features.

Thank you. I agree, the US Graflex is very comfortable to wield compared to the replica.

This is a very good comparison. Clearly showing how much better US Graflex is in looks and comfort. 

It's definitely more comfortable. Not to say I'm not used to the Graflex replica. I prefer the replica a whole lot over the CE in terms of looks. I just enjoy the history of the prop and it's made me somewhat picky about accuracy. The CE is great as an ep. III replica

Looking at the pictures, I prefer the look of the Ultrasabers version better. But then again, I don't care about movie accuracy, just the look of it. The only part that looks worse on the Ultrasabers is the activation box, but of course, the Ultrasabers design makes it way more practical, so I prefer the Ultrasabers Graflex in that regard, too. It is a surprisingly comfortable saber.

I'm seriously considering this saber as my next purchase. Do you know how deep the blade socket is? I've also read some complain that the emitter is wobbly; is that true? Anyway, I really like the look of the US grips. I wish they'd put those on a Prophecy.

I do think the blade was wobbly. Of course, the previous owner of the saber screwed the retention screw all the way in until it cracked the polycarbonate, so that may have affected my situation. I'd say the depth is around 2"

Perhaps the previous owner screwed the retention screw too far in to try to stabilize the blade... Thanks for answering my question.

Ugh. Who does that u.u The screw only needs to touch the blade slightly but snug enough as to where the blade don't fly out or anything. I do that with all new sabers before reviewing them, I'm just weird like that though :P

It just happens to be the screw they used. If I planned on using this hilt I would dremel the screw down.

projectno253, wonderful side-by-side comparison.  Having big hands, I actually like the larger dimensions of the US graflex (although I'm still trying to perfect the logistics of spinning; it's a work-in-progress  ;)).  Absolutely wonderful pics, BTW^^

Thank you for that, it's funny because they're really the same size in almost all ways.

The activation box on the Ultra Saber looks so much better IMO. 
I just can't stand the square one on the replicas with that weird looking hook on it. Ugh!

Oh I love the details and greeblie bits. Makes everything feel more functional. That hook is the clamp lever that secures the clamp section around the top and bottom of the hilt. Definitely a part of disassembling the lightsaber version of the prop to expose the internals