Volume 1: A Very Dark Initiation
I've been around for a little while now, but this is the first real Review I've gotten around to doing - so the format & certainly the photography are still a work in progress. So - here we go!
For my first review subject, I chose my 2nd Place Prize in the recent Summer Raffle: The Dark Initiate LE V4.
And I have to say - I seriously couldn't be happier with my prize! It would have been difficult to get a better fit than this at Random for my personal taste.
Let's not waste anymore time; Review coming up just as soon as the Blademaster, my loyal Siberian Wookie Sasha, brings me over my Dark Initiate LE . . .
OK . . . it appears my Blademaster is busy at the moment . . . I'll retrieve it myself . . .
SPECS: AS-DELIVEREDDark Initiate LE V4
- Obsidian V3 Sound
- Consular Green Blade
- No FOC
- Emitter w/ Windows
- Non-Illuminated Silver AV Switch
- Scorpion MHS Pommel
AESTHETICSOverall, this is one great looking Lightsaber.
The entire hilt is anodized Black (a far more durable & shiny finish than powdercoating which is what most other sabersmiths use) with the end of the emitter and the inner ridges machined back to Silver and given a fairly high level of polish. Not mirror-finish, but very shiny. Great contrast to the Black anodize.
This is one of my favorite Emitters in the entire UltraSabers lineup, due to the way the shape & the windows combine for a truly regal and majestic look. The Emitter on the Apprentice/Sentinel version of the V4s has a very vocal fanclub, and while I like that one a lot as well, I personally think this is the much better looking of the two.
It should be noted that the Emitter Windows on this saber are an upgrade option. While I think the version of the hilt without windows looks perfectly fine, for the visual impact you get for only $5 on an item you'll cherish for a long time to come - I think selecting the upgrade here is a no-brainer.
The body is extremely sleek, with the aforementioned 2-tone color scheme.
The Silver N-I AV Switch matches the color scheme perfectly. As of this writing - it's also a FREE upgrade! You can choose either the Silver or Black N-I AV Switch for no additional cost (as opposed to the standard plastic guarded switch that is the normal default).
And the Pommel. You sexy, Scorpion-beast, you. Love this pommel. Putting this on here not only helps give this small hilt great balance, but it also makes it look vaguely like The Guardian - Obi-Wan Kenobi's saber when he was a Padawan & young Jedi Knight.
This is the "MHS Version" of the Scorpion Pommel, which is what you want to get from the
Build Your Own Saber" section of the Store unless you are ordering yourself a replacement for your Scorpion hilt. That one has a wider diameter, so if you try to put that version on a regular MHS UltraSaber, it will certainly screw in but you'll get a lip around the entire base of your hilt because the edges flair out wider so they fit the Scorpion flush. If you're getting this as an upgrade on your V4 order - no need to worry about it; you'll get the right one by default.
WEIGHT & GRIPA lot of time people wonder about the weight & size of a hilt.
How comfortable is it to actually hold?
So this is my (potentially misguided) effort to try and offer some objective looks at it for you to try & judge how well this would work for you.
First up - weight.
The Hilt as configured - only the blade is removed - weighs in 419 Grams which is just under 15 oz.
Just for comparison sake - I took it's Big Brother, the Dominix LE V4, put the Scorpion MHS pommel on it and weighed that as well. Only 30 Grams more or about an Ounce.
So it's a very light-weight hilt - even with the Scorpion Pommel on it!
Next up - here are some pics of my Hand Measurements so you can judge their size against yours:
Now, I know there are more scientific methods for measuring Grip - and there are specific ways to measure your hands for Golf Clubs or Tennis Rackets - but I'm just going for ballparks here.
So that said - here's how the Grip looks in my hand:
A lot of people wonder if the Initiate is big enough for an adult to use a 2-handed grip. I would say for me, personally - no. At least I would not find it comfortable.
That's what this pic is showing. Basically I did a tight 2-handed grip with the bottom of my left-hand touching the top of the Scorpion Pommel and the bottom of my right-hand touching the top of my left. I then removed my left-hand to take the picture while leaving my Right exactly where it was - that's what you see here. For me - my Right hand is up too high for me to feel comfortable.
For this hilt - that's not really a problem. I had planned on buying 2 of these to use as a single hand grip for wielding 2 at a time. So as far as I'm concerned - it's perfect. It may be quite a while from now - much longer than I'd like - but eventually I'm going to buy it's twin!
ELECTRONICS: AS-DELIVEREDAs previously mentioned, my Lightsaber came equipped with a Consular Green Blade and Obsidian V3 Sound.
The latter of course means it was also equipped with 2 Li-Ion Batteries for Power and a BuckPuck instead of a resistor.
Note: Just as UltraSabers do in the Store - I highly recommend getting the new VP1 charger with a future purchase (assuming you don't buy recharge ports on all your sabers). I both the old TrustFire charger and the new VP1 and I really love the new one. In fact - I never even use the old one anymore. It's just there as a backup.
So the Blade - I'll just let the pics speak for themselves if you're wondering how bright an UltraSaber is.
The Obsidian V3 only holds 1 sound font at a time as opposed to the 8 that the new V4 can hold.
I'm personally fine with the single font. I've experimented with a ton of them and in the end I usually migrate back to the default Obsidian font. It's a very solid, good all-around sound font.
My only beef with the V3, after being spoiled by the V4 for a while now, is the inability to mute the speaker on the fly. I've often wanted to fire this up after my Princess is asleep in her crib - but it's just too darn loud and the Lady Canterbury would crown me with one of my hilts if I woke the baby up after she finally got her to sleep.
Which is probably a good transition to discussing how loud this is.
It's loud. Like - really loud.
Just watch this.
"Hey Sasha! Listen to this and tell me if you think it's loud."
SNAP-HISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep - it's clearly loud.
MHS FUNThe Dark Initiate LE (and it's brethren) are MHS compatible for the Pommel, but the Emitter & are a single unit. But given how great the Emitter looks with the Windows - I don't really consider that a drawback.
If you're actually still reading this - I thought it might be useful for you to see how this looks with the various Pommels I currently own on it.
Sound good? Good. And here . . . we . . . go!
CatalystDark CatalystManticore - LowConsularRaven - PlainArchonDark War GlaiveRECOMMENDATIONS FOR POTENTIAL BUYERSOverall - this really is a great saber on every level. I've actually been looking for something constructively negative to say in order to sound balanced & objective but honestly - I really don't see a negative here. Sure - I'd definitely recommend you pay the $10 to upgrade to V4 if you are getting sound, but that is not a flaw inherent to the design.
Here's a scenario though some people may encounter if buying this Saber with Sound - but not Emerald.
You're buying your Dark Initiate LE V4 and you've already sprung for the Windows & V4 Upgrades.
You have money for 1 more upgrade - just 1.
Should you get . . .
FOC?
A covertec wheel & clip?
An upgraded Pommel?
In my opinion - the most bang you are going to get for your buck here is with the upgraded Pommel. No. Question.
An upgraded Pommel can totally change the character of your Saber and make it look like it's worth a lot more than what you paid.
Now I know many of you are big into CosPlay, but I have faith you'll be able to put your MacGuyver caps on and figure out a way to clip that Awesome Saber & Sweet Pommel to your belt. (Free Hint: All the upgraded Pommels are Vented for sound . . .)
What color should you get?
Speaking from experience, this Hilt looks amazing in both Consular Green & Guardian Blue.
Guardian Blue?
Oh yeah - I've been multi-tasking and while you've been reading, I added some connectors and put in a Guardian Blue LED unit . . . love it!
But honestly - I think this hilt truly would look incredible in any color. It's definitely versatile in that manner.
So that's it for now. Thanks for sticking with it to the end and I hope you found it helpful in some way! If you have questions - either post in the thread or PM me and I'll get back to you ASAP!
Lastly - another very, very heartfelt thank you to Emory & UltraSabers for sending me this awesome prize. I absolutely love it!!!!
