Telescoping Lightsaber
The Telescoping Lightsaber was usually released with the following combinations of colour to figure:
Red Lightsaber:
- Darth Vader
- Darth Vader (Lili Ledy, Glasslite, Top Toys, PBP, Takara)
Yellow Lightsaber:
Blue Lightsaber:
- Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
- Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (Lili Ledy)
There are 10 main mould variations plus subvariants. More subvariants may exist. As a result of the fact that these were shot on a sprue tree in numbers of probably 10 each shot the subvariants may vary heavily depending on the steel mould used.
M1 in example does exist with 40 cavity numbers, which may be the result of 4 moulds used which each 10 sabers on a sprue tree.
We have letters stamped alternating from left to right: AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM, NN as well as A, B, C, D, E, F, H, I, I., J, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z and one with three dots (only missing G and K, therefore there is the “three dots” and “I.”)
We have other examples of accessories in the vintage Kenner line where the cavity numbers are in a row through the different Asian factories (see i.e. Bib Fortuna belt or Leia Boushh helmet).
On DT-sabers the four moulds were probably tooled at one place and thought to be sent to all four factories, Kader, Smile, Unitoy and Taiwan at a later point. Before this happened the production of the double-telescoping lightsaber was pulled. The retooling of the moulds to single telescoping sabers were executed. Still on all four moulds to deliver to the four Asian factories.
That theory is an explanation for lettered sabers found on Smile, Kader, Unitoy and Taiwan 12A-backs. Regarding Luke Skywalker, the figures are noticeable already made by their resident factories with their typical mould and paint differences and completed with lettered sabers (M1). The M1 can be found mainly on 12A-backs, but some made it even to 12B-back (Kader and Smile) and 12C-back (Kader).
The factories changed to their own moulds in different stages and at their own pace. Taiwan M7 already came on 12A-backs, followed up by Unitoy with M2 on 12B-back and Smile and Kader with M5 on 12C-back.
It is important to note that all observation exclude the white footer 12A-backs that are thought to be salesman samples. Those are possibly not relevant in their combination figure to saber so they are not counted into the results.
Above you can see all 10 moulds used for Vader plus 2 additional factory variants from Lili Ledy and PBP. From left to right:
- M1, flat transition, lettered hilt (used for early KADER, UNITOY, SMILE and TAIWAN figures)
- M2, flat transition, unlettered hilt (UNITOY till 21-back)
- M3, flat transition, thin tip (UNITOY since 21-back)
- M3, flat transition, thin tip, LILI LEDY (early RETORNO Variant)
- M4, flat transition, short shaft, TAKARA
- M5, round transition, wide shaft (KADER and SMILE since 12c-back)
- M5, round transition, wide shaft, PBP
- M6, round transition, thin shaft, PBP (so called “blobbed-out variant”)
- M7, smooth transition, EPM to the handle (backside), TAIWAN
- M10, smooth transition, EPM to the shaft, TOP TOYS
- M8, smooth transition, fat tip and long shaft, GLASSLITE
- M9, smooth transition, fat tip and short shaft, LILI LEDY (REGRESO Variant)
M1 was produced by an unknown company for all four Asian factories. They were packed with KADER (12A/B/C), UNITOY (12A), SMILE (12A/B) and TAIWAN (12A) figures on 12-backs .The following colours are known:
- pale mid blue
- pale blue
- pale light blue
- pale dark red
- pale red
- pale light red
- pale light yellow
- pale yellow
- pale reddish yellow
- pale dark yellow
M2 was produced by UNITOY in Hong Kong. They were packed on UNITOY cards from 12B- till 21-backs. The following colours are known:
- dark blue
- red
- light yellow (translucent)
- metallic yellow (very translucent)
M3 was produced by UNITOY in Hong Kong. They were packed on UNITOY cards not before 21-backs. The moulds were also used by LILI LEDY in Mexico for an early release of Darth Vader (“Retorno Variant”). The following colours are known:
- blue
- orange red
- translucent red (Lili Ledy)
- yellow
- bright yellow
M4 was produced by TAKARA in Japan. It only appeared with Darth Vader made by Takara which is also stamped “Japan”. The following colours are known:
- orange red
M5 was produced by a KADER/SMILE in Hong Kong. They were packed on SMILE and KADER cards not before 12C-backs. The moulds were also used by PBP in Spain for Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker and probably also Ben Kenobi. The following colours are known:
- dark blue
- blue
- pale blue
- turquoise
- orange
- orange red (Missing in gallery below)
- dark red (PBP)
- red (lots of flashing, came with a POCH Darth Vader)
- bright yellow
- yellow
- yellow (lots of flashing, came with a PBP Luke Skywalker)
ENTRY IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW!
Yellow and blue saber will be added soon.
M6 was produced by PBP in Spain. It only appeared with the “blobbed out Hong Kong” COO Darth Vader. The following colours are known:
- orange red
M7 was produced by an unknown factory in Taiwan. They were packed right after the M1 on 12A-backs. They appeared with Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker also marked with “Taiwan” on the legs. All colours do exist with large (M7a/M7b) or small (M7c/M7d) EPMs on the hilt. The smaller ones seem to be an earlier version which was retooled at some point in the Taiwanese factory.
The following colours are known:
- pale red
- pale orange red
- light orange –> faded red saber!
- bright yellow
- pale yellow
M7a
M7b
M7c
M7d
M9 was produced by LILI LEDY in Mexico. They appeared with Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader (later Regreso version). Both versions can be lettered or unlettered. The following colours are known::
- dark blue
- translucent orange red
- red
M10 was produced by TOP TOYS in Argentina. It appeared with Darth Vader released on TOP TOYS cards. The following colours are known:
- translucent orange red
REISSUE “Classic Edition 4-Pack” 1995
Coming soon
REISSUE “Retro Collection” 2019
Coming soon
Coming soon
Coming soon
Double Telescoping Lightsaber Guide
Luke Skywalker Figure Guide
Glasslite Luke Skywalker Figure Guide
Poch Glasslite Luke Skywalker Figure Guide
Darth Vader Figure Guide
Lili Ledy Darth Vader Guide
Poch Darth Vader Figure Guide
Glasslite Darth Vader Figure Guide
Top Toys Darth Vader Figure Guide
Ben Kenobi Figure Guide
Lili Ledy Ben Kenobi Figure Guide
Poch Ben Kenobi Figure Guide
