Creating staff

[Slua]

Hello, to everyone who enters this thread)

A month ago I've ordered Phantasm Initiate, but due to FedEx magic I've received my money back and no saber.

But I don't want to give up, and this time I want to make more accurate choice of the staff.

I'm a fire spinner, so I want to use the staff mostly for spinning purposes, not for duelling.

And I'm 6' 6.7" height, so it's really hard to decide the length of the staff. (yes, I've read all the topics concerning staff length on the forum)

So, basically I'd like to receive you opinions about the next "setups", and choose one of them as my order))
Here they come:

The Dark Initiate LE v2 + The Initiate LE v2 + 36" blades ~ 85.5" (black and white hilt!! but hilt can be too short for spinning)

Initiate v3 + Initiate v3 + 36" blades ~ 87" (hilt can also be too short for spinning, especially for movements with "not on the middle mark grip")

Liberator v3 + Liberator v3 + 32" blades ~ 83" (awesome holes in the hilt!!! the switch can get in the way when spinning?)


After the purchase I plan to cover them (partly) in overgrip, to enhance the holding in case I'll have a problems with it.

P.S: the calculations were done as hilt*2 + (2" for coupler) + 2*bladelength - 2*(3" for blade part in the hilt)

[James Casey]

That calculation sounds accurate.

Given your height, it doesn't seem like you'll have much trouble spinning a staff with full-length blades. I suppose you could go for shorter blades to be on the safe side.

Would you want sound with the 'sabres? If so, it might be worth considering the AV switches, as they seem to be smoother and easier for your hand to pass over.

Another possibility might be the Standard Issue staff. It has a slanted emitter, and if you go for the Dark SI, you could have the grooves in the hilt, which could also look cool. However, I seem to recall someone saying that they had quite sharp edges so might not be great for spinning. If you're covering them anyway then it may not be an issue, of course.

Have you considered the Aeon/Dominix 'sabres? They're basically extended Initiates, are both available in v2 and v3 versions and are relatively smooth and easy to handle. The v3 comes with choke points and is slightly longer, the v2 has a simpler hilt and may be better for spinning.

If you're set on one of the three you've mentioned, however, I'd say the Liberator staff would look great, and the hilts have a slight inward curve designed to make handling them easier - although I'm not sure how that'll impact on your spinning and the use of overgrip.

[Slua]

Dominix/Aeon are also kinda good idea, but they are just long Initiates, with no extra features ... they are the option if I'll want simple, but long  hilts.

Standard issue are also quite simple (but best choice for staff-without-grooves).

I can't find the images of all sabers with AV switches, so can't say anything about it's usefulness (even by impression of the picture)

Overgrip is just a backup option, the looks of the metal hilts can be so awesome, I'll get used to spinning them without any coverings))

[Slua]

*upd for the AV switches on the staff - It would be so damn expensive, that I don't consider this as an option))

[Master Bluespike74]

Here is a pic of my staff:  





It is 2 Archon sabers connected by a flush coupler and 32" blades.  I changed out the necks in the pics with additiona couplers but the length of the staff stays the same if you keep the original necks.  The total length is 6' 5".  I am 5'11" and it is perfect for me to do staff moves and sturdy enough for fighting.  

I am very broad chested so shorter hilts would never work for me.  The Archon naturally consumes 4" of the blades so I have a staff the length I want with hilts that I can comfortably grab.  At your height, you could even go with the 36" blades if you liked.  

[eerockk]

I'm 6'1", have little to no training on a staff, and I'm LOVING the 36" blades on it. 32" blades might work better for me, but I'm going to stick with the full length for the challenge.

Here's a video of a Bellicose/Archon staff in BR with 36" blades. (Staff part begins at 1:50)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX_9DN41G30" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX_9DN41G30</a>

[kagemusha shin]

This is my staff a phantom I'm 6'2 and I have a 36" blade and a 24" makes it appear more of a javelin which is why I call it kage's javelin. At my height its a very easy to control saber.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfpxIEQCWsg" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfpxIEQCWsg</a>