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Have you ever wanted to wield a real lightsaber?
This is the most legendary weapon of science-fiction, and it just might be possible to fire up an actual lightsaber. Let’s take a look at how these elegant weapons from a more civilized age can actually work.
How Lightsabers Work in the Star Wars Universe
Our first stop is figuring out how the lightsaber works in the Star Wars universe.
The core of the lightsaber is its relationship to the force. While someone who is not force sensitive can wield a lightsaber, their ability to use it will be less than that of a force user.
The lightsaber features a power cell that emits energy which is channeled through one or more crystals. These crystals have mystic properties that are woven into the force. Each lightsaber has unique features as they are crafted by the Jedi, or Sith, who wields them.
There are countless varieties of lightsaber including:
- Sith Lightsaber
- Double-bladed Lightsaber
- Lightwhip
- Lightsaber Pistol
- Darksaber
The lightsaber is an iconic science-fiction weapon, but could it work in real life? As it turns out, science is getting closer and closer to making a lightsaber work.
Can You Make a Real Lightsaber?
Answering this question all depends on what you need, young jedi.
You can find a real lightsaber that looks just like the elegant weapons used in the movies. These lightsabers handle great for combat and have all the style you’d expect. They only lack the ability to slowly cut through blast doors, but thankfully most people don’t need that utility.
Let’s take a look at a few ways to make this science-fiction weapon science fact.
How Hollywood Does It
The lightsabers we see on screen were assembled from existing items. Luke’s lightsaber from the original movies was made with an old Graflex camera flash attachment while Darth Vader’s blade was based on the Micro Precision Products flash. Somewhat ironically, Obi-Wan’s lightsaber used a Browning ANM2 machine gun booster as its core.
The blades are created in post-production with special effects, but that is starting to change.
Science-Fiction Becomes Science-Fact
A combination of prop makers, hackers, and rogue engineers have built a real-life, working lightsaber. Kind of.
This lightsaber uses a plasma beam to generate a 4,000 degree blade of energy that can cut through steel. The user must wear a heavy backpack that contains fuel canisters and an onboard computer that controls the lightsaber. In short, it trades realistic looks for a realistic blade.
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