Luke Skywalker "The Empire Strikes Back"

Here's the start of this Graflex based sabre. Normally the main tube would be made from metal, but for the trouble I always seem to have damaging the finish with the Dremel tool, and to more easliy replicate the rectangular slots on the underside, I've made it with a 1.5" PVC extension pipe. To achieve the metal finish, I used a very shiny silver spray paint, but unfortunately it picks up fingerprints like crazy, and most clear finishes tend to eliminate the shine. The best I could come up with was a water based polycryilc finish, but even that is less than ideal.

Get a grip!

Here I've attached the manufactured grips I purchased. I originally planned to make them myself, but met with less than stellar results. The grips and the "red button" assemblies, which came from two Hasbro Anakin electronic sabres, will be the only items that are not handmade.

I also completely stripped down the body of the sabre and repainted it with yet another shiny silver paint (Rustoleum metallic #7718 chrome). I didn't use any topcoat as not to dull the finish. To avoid fingerprints, I attached the clamp and grips wearing vinyl gloves and will never touch the forward part of the sabre barehanded.

Here I've added the fasteners to the grips. There is speculation that the grips on any one of the ESB sabres could have been attached with rivets. The only Graflex based sabre in Lucasfilm archives, affectionately known as the "Dagobah" or "Ranch" Sabre, features Phillips head screws. Even though the grips I aquired were supplied with round head Allen screws, which replicate the look of rivets, I went with the Phillips head screws anyway.