Enquire Now

Bidding for this lot will end onThursday, September 4th. The auction will begin at 10:00AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, September 5th or Saturday, September 6th.

This is Darth Vader's original screen-matched, hero dueling lightsaber prop, used extensively in Irvin Kershner's The Empire Strikes Back and Richard Marquand's Return of the Jedi. Among the most iconic artifacts in the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader's lightsaber was prominently featured throughout the original trilogy and appears in several subsequent films. Wielded by both David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson, this is the primary dueling prop created for Vader's character in both Empire and Jedi. It saw extensive use during the filming of both movies and is one of the most memorable film props from the original trilogy.

Constructed from a Micro Precision Products (M.P.P.) Microflash - an English camera flash bulb attachment manufactured in the 1950s - this piece was expertly modified by the production team into a lightsaber. The flash's front name plaque was removed, but the black shroud, center band, and clamp were retained and integrated into the final design. Additional custom elements were added, including plastic "T-track" grips, magnification bubbles (sourced from a period digital calculator and inserted into the clamp), a D-ring to allow the lightsaber to hang from Vader's belt, and decorative wiring.

Lightsabers were central to George Lucas' earliest concepts for Star Wars and were originally referred to as laser (or in some drafts, "lazer") swords. Lucas envisioned a weapon that was elegant and defensive, symbolic of honor and the romantic ideals of combat. The first visualizations were by concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, whose 1975 production painting titled "Laser Duel" featured lightsabers resembling flashlight handles of the period.

In the opening scenes of Star Wars: A New Hope, Darth Vader's lightsaber was clipped prominently to his belt during his dramatic introduction aboard the Rebel blockade runner, providing the first-ever onscreen look at the now-iconic prop. Two versions of lightsaber props were made for Vader, as well as for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness): a bladeless hilt for non-combat scenes and a dueling version with an attached blade. In the original film, these dueling lightsabers featured spinning blades coated in highly reflective Scotchlite material, designed to bounce light back toward the camera. This practical in-camera effect, though striking, was later augmented with hand-drawn animation to achieve the desired glowing effect.

For The Empire Strikes Back, the same approach was taken with lightsaber props: the piece offered in this lot was created as a bladed dueling version of Vader's lightsaber, and a separate bladeless hilt was also created. The two were not interchangeable - the hilt could not accept a blade, and the bladed version could not be filmed without one. Both were made from M.P.P. Microflash units, though it remains unclear whether they were repurposed from the original film or newly created for Empire. The design closely followed that of A New Hope, with subtle enhancements such as additional wiring near the shrouds.

The key distinction between this bladed dueling lightsaber and the bladeless hilt is the structural modification made to facilitate attaching a blade. An upper and lower cylinder, both solid aluminum, were installed in the handle, with the lower cylinder anchored to the body via large-headed allen-head bolts - visible in certain production photographs, though often concealed by the actor's grip. A smaller rod made of steel was mounted directly into these cylinders and served as the base for attaching a prop blade. The blades themselves were made from wood with an aluminum collar at the base and were secured to the steel rod in the handle via allen-head set screws. Multiple blades were used throughout the shooting of the duels: earlier in the Empire duel, they were still coated with high-reflective Scotchlite material, which produced a clean and bright line for animators to reference. This was later deemed unnecessary, and the blades were finished with simple white paint. No blade is included with this lot and no original prop blades are known to exist in private collections today.

Far more complex than the original film's duel between Vader and Obi-Wan, the duel in Empire was the one of the film's major action sequences, and actors Hamill and Anderson underwent extensive duel choreography training under stunt coordinator Peter Diamond. The intensity of these scenes proved challenging for the props: grips originally affixed with glue often detached during combat and were subsequently reinforced with small screws.

This hero dueling lightsaber was again utilized in the filming of Return of the Jedi, along with the original bladeless hilt from Empire. It served as Darth Vader's primary dueling weapon in both films. Although backup versions were also used, those were not constructed from M.P.P. flash units and differed slightly in visual appearance.

The lightsaber duels between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are among the most pivotal moments in the Star Wars saga. More than battles, they are turning points that reveal deep personal and thematic stakes. In Empire, Luke confronts not only Vader but the shocking truth of his own lineage, setting up an internal struggle between destiny and choice. In Jedi, their final duel becomes a test of morality - Luke comes close to falling to anger but ultimately chooses compassion, offering his father redemption. These duels encapsulate the core themes of Star Wars: the tension between light and dark, the importance of legacy, and the enduring power of hope and forgiveness.

This hero dueling lightsaber is photo-matched to a production still from The Empire Strikes Back, identifiable by a distinctive curvature in the D-ring attached to the back of the shroud. It also screen-matches to a close-up shot from Return of the Jedi, in which a prominent dent is visible on the edge of the lower endcap. In comparing the piece today to production photos from Star Wars: A New Hope, there are some compelling similarities in the visible wear on the shroud, but not enough to state definitively that the piece was also used in the first film. Many props did carry over from A New Hope to Empire and it is possible this dueling lightsaber was first used in A New Hope, but it cannot be proven.

As expected from a prop that saw extensive usage, the piece bears authentic signs of wear. A section of the top shroud is cut away - likely removed after a breakage to eliminate a potential hazard. The back of the shroud has a visible crack, and one of the seven grips is partially broken away and missing. Surface wear and scratches are present throughout. Far from diminishing its value, these marks serve as compelling evidence of the lightsaber's direct involvement in the action - testament to its film-used authenticity.

Darth Vader's hero dueling lightsaber stands as one of the most historically significant Star Wars artifacts ever presented at auction. The piece has been in a collection for decades and is now becoming available for the first time, representing a unique opportunity for serious collectors. This is the weapon of the most recognizable character in science fiction history, featured in the most critically acclaimed film of the franchise, The Empire Strikes Back, and in the trilogy's epic conclusion, Return of the Jedi. The lightsaber has become the most iconic sci-fi weapon of all time - instantly recognizable and unmatched in cinematic legacy. This is the finest example of a genuine film-used lightsaber from the original trilogy ever offered at public auction. It is more than a film prop - it is a piece of cinema history. Dimensions: 12.5" x 2.5" x 2" (32 cm x 6.5 cm x 5.5 cm)

Estimate: $1,000,000 - 3,000,000
See PDF below for a comprehensive study of this lot.