Editorial: ‘Crafting a Lightsaber’ – An Interview With KR Sabers
“An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age.” Arguably the most iconic movie prop in history, the lightsaber has ignited the wonder of audiences since the first Star Wars arrived in 1977. Whether it was Luke discovering his father’s saber in Obi-Wan’s hut during A New Hope, or an unnamed villain thrashing open unstable crossguard blades in The Force Awakens teaser, we can all recall our first experience in front of a lightsaber.
Just as mesmerizing as the weapon itself is the lore that surrounds it. To obtain a lightsaber, a Jedi is tasked with personally building one. This rite of passage called “The Gathering” takes place during a Younglings course of training by traveling to the ceremonial ice caves of the planet Ilum in search of the heart of any lightsaber, a kyber crystal. In this quest, the young Jedi must overcome a maze of mental trials and physical obstacles in order to become attuned to the crystal that is calling to them. It is around this deeply personal source that their saber is constructed (see Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episode 6 “The Gathering”).
While traveling to Ilum may be out of the cards for fans, constructing a personalized lightsaber is not. The Star Wars fandom is a community that celebrates big and connects small. Social media groups and web forums have become the meeting places for cosplayers, book enthusiasts, prop collectors, and yes, even saber builders.
Well before Savi’s Workshop, came a community of engineers determined to fabricate their versions of the beloved laser sword. Through nomadic engineering and multiple minor garage fires, these pioneers have built what is now a genre-specific industry. Companies like Park, Korbanth, Vader’s Vault, and KR Sabers have merged ingenuity and artistry by crafting both movie-accurate and original lightsabers. While the market has become more crowded recently with much larger distributors, the specialized work of these OG builders is unrivaled.
And as far OG’s go, it’s hard to find a more innovative builder than Khal, the owner and operator of KR Sabers. I had the chance to sit down and chat with him about his company, saber tech, lore, and much more. See the interview below:
Zak is a musician and professor of music in Columbus, Ohio. He and his family share a love for Star Wars and can often be found printing 3d helmets, building lightsabers or watching their favorite show, The Mandalorian.
