Canterbury Armory: Dark Initiate LE

[Lady J]

Well I happened to check the current Deal of the Day lineup and guess what's on there . . .

I noticed that as well! If I hadn't just gotten 2 new ones I'd buy it in heart beat

[JediXIX]

Outstanding review Lord C...... +1 

I enjoy your humour and fun on the forum my friend, and great to see some digital equipment being used too, lol    I get confused sometimes if you guys over there prefer metric or imperial measurements, I thought you'd be using pounds not grams?, haha..... but the weight of hilts come up as a question sometimes so thank you for including that here....

I'll be sure to pour a scotch, put on my slippers, light a cigar, and relax in front of the crackle of an open fire while I settle in to read your next instalment, Volume II.... 

[Lord Canterbury]

Outstanding review Lord C...... +1 

I enjoy your humour and fun on the forum my friend, and great to see some digital equipment being used too, lol    I get confused sometimes if you guys over there prefer metric or imperial measurements, I thought you'd be using pounds not grams?, haha..... but the weight of hilts come up as a question sometimes so thank you for including that here....

I'll be sure to pour a scotch, put on my slippers, light a cigar, and relax in front of the crackle of an open fire while I settle in to read your next instalment, Volume II.... 

Nice - well, it might be a while before I get to post Volume II.

I'll work on it here & there, but I have a (way too) long list of stuff that has to get done this month in the boring "real world". 

I'll give you a hint though:   this next review is gonna have a lot of folks around here feeling blue . . .

[Lord Canterbury]

I forgot to post this last night: bonus tip for everyone.

In case you didn't know - UltraSabers uses a hot glue to set the AV switches in the hilt.  They are glued in real tight.

So if you want to take one out for whatever the reason, these are your two best friends for the job:

A hair dryer & welding gloves.

The dryer is obviously to melt the glue.  Gloves - because heat radiates on metal so you'll need something to keep from burning the living [NAUGHTY WORD HERE] out of your hands when you take the switch out or otherwise accidentally touch the hilt.  It will get really HOT.

[JediXIX]

I forgot to post this last night: bonus tip for everyone.

In case you didn't know - UltraSabers uses a hot glue to set the AV switches in the hilt.  They are glued in real tight.

So if you want to take one out for whatever the reason, these are your two best friends for the job:

A hair dryer & welding gloves.

The dryer is obviously to melt the glue.  Gloves - because heat radiates on metal so you'll need something to keep from burning the living [NAUGHTY WORD HERE] out of your hands when you take the switch out or otherwise accidentally touch the hilt.  It will get really HOT.

I've just used the slow pick pick pick with a sharp knife and screwdriver for the few I've done...... takes a while..... you've mentioned the use of a hair dryer before, and next time I will take your advice....... bonus points Lord C  

[Lord Canterbury]

I've just used the slow pick pick pick with a sharp knife and screwdriver for the few I've done...... takes a while..... you've mentioned the use of a hair dryer before, and next time I will take your advice....... bonus points Lord C  

You can put it back in the same way!  That's what I did here - heated the glue back up, popped the switch back in then clamped it - it cooled again and is back in just as tight. 

[Caylem]

Very good review and funny too! A point well deserved Lord C!

[shadowzeak]

I got one of these in Fire Orange at a convention a couple of months ago as my first saber, and I absolutely love it! This was a great review, and I can certainly attest to the features of this saber. It certainly is loud. The open-ended pommel lets ALL of the sound out. I'm trying to decide what to swap it out for without adding too much length because I like the look and feel of it as is, and want to use it in a dual-wield setup. I might get a dark prophecy pommel and drill some holes in it on my own.

Absolutely beautiful dog. I love Huskies 

One question though: Which LED does the V4 use? When I bought my saber I didn't get FoC but I'm considering either adding it myself or having US do it. From what I understand, if I do it myself I'll need to get a new LED unit. I looked at both the MLS and LED Module on the store website, but didn't see the Initiate V4 specifically called out, and I'm still getting used to all the terms/models of sabers. I've done a bit of soldering before and have been studying the wiring diagrams, so I'm confident I could do it myself. As long as I get the right LED 

[Thorbs]

Wow LC, awesome review! As a newbie I'll try to make my first review half of yours if possible. I liked the separate emitter, hilt, and pommel shots. I'll have to use that for my new premium GB saber tonight as all three pieces are from different US sabers and it is in GB!

Point earned and then some.

[Lord Canterbury]

Thanks everyone for chiming in on what parts you liked, etc.  Contemplating the lessons learned for Volume II.

#1 is apparently "More Sasha".   

[Drahcir]

Sasha wielding a saber.

[Lord Canterbury]

I got one of these in Fire Orange at a convention a couple of months ago as my first saber, and I absolutely love it! This was a great review, and I can certainly attest to the features of this saber. It certainly is loud. The open-ended pommel lets ALL of the sound out. I'm trying to decide what to swap it out for without adding too much length because I like the look and feel of it as is, and want to use it in a dual-wield setup. I might get a dark prophecy pommel and drill some holes in it on my own.

Absolutely beautiful dog. I love Huskies 

One question though: Which LED does the V4 use? When I bought my saber I didn't get FoC but I'm considering either adding it myself or having US do it. From what I understand, if I do it myself I'll need to get a new LED unit. I looked at both the MLS and LED Module on the store website, but didn't see the Initiate V4 specifically called out, and I'm still getting used to all the terms/models of sabers. I've done a bit of soldering before and have been studying the wiring diagrams, so I'm confident I could do it myself. As long as I get the right LED 

You should really confirm that with Emory but I assume it's the normal ones (not MLS).

To be honest - that is one area I don't totally get.  I've never had any trouble putting connectors on an LED unit and fitting it in any hilt I have - including, obviously, the Initiate!  So I don't fully understand the difference. 

I really should find that out.   

[Lord Canterbury]

Sasha wielding a saber.

She might be momentarily . . .

We're up late for a work night and she just voiced her displeasure with us in that great, throaty, wookie sounding garble that she IS NOT HAPPY we haven't gone to bed yet.  

I love Huskies . . .

So on that note  - good night all!

[JediXIX]

You should really confirm that with Emory but I assume it's the normal ones (not MLS).

To be honest - that is one area I don't totally get.  I've never had any trouble putting connectors on an LED unit and fitting it in any hilt I have - including, obviously, the Initiate!  So I don't fully understand the difference.  

I really should find that out.  

The v2, v3, v4, Liberator & Prophecy sabers all use the LED Module, and also some of the premium hilts the Guardian, Monarch, Reaper, Mantis, and Scorpion
https://www.ultrasabers.com/product-p/led%20module.htm

Most of the Premium sabers with an MHS emitter use the MLS Module that sits in the body
https://www.ultrasabers.com/product-p/mls.htm

There are exceptions like the Catalyst that has a different LED mount altogether, but mostly its as above...

Here are some pics.... An LED Module on the left and MLS Unit on the right..... the outer casing is different but both use the same heatsink and LED board, actually you can unscrew the heatsink and just swap between the two..... cheers  

[hazard502]

Here are some pics.... An LED Module on the left and MLS Unit on the right..... the outer casing is different but both use the same heatsink and LED board, actually you can unscrew the heatsink and just swap between the two..... cheers  

Unscrewing the heatsink?  That is genius!  I never would have thought of that, new doors have opened.  Thx JediXIX, +1!