Telescoping Lightsaber
Wolff
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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 metal mould used.
M1 in example does exist with 40 cavity numbers, which may be due to the use of 4 molds with 10 sabers each on a sprue tree.
We have letters stamped alternating from left to right: A, B, C, D, E, F, G (=broken),H, I., I (=J?), “three dots” (=K?), L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, as well as AA, BP (=BB), CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM and NN.
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 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 and 12C-back (Kader, Unitoy and Smile).
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 12C-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. The same goes for smooth seals that are thought to be packed in the US with various pieces from Asian factories mixed. 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 (used for PBP Vader)
- 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/B/C), SMILE (12A/B/C) and TAIWAN (12A) figures on 12-backs .These sabers do sink when submerged in water.
We have 40 different letters stamped in the cavity moulds alternating from left to right: A, B, C, D, E, F, G (=broken),H, I., I (=J?), “three dots” (=K?), L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, as well as AA, BP (=BB), CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM and NN. Thanks to Oscar Fiuza (aka M4K3R1) for supporting us with pictures to make this overview:
The following colours are known:
- pale light blue (LL)
- pale blue (X)
- blue (M)
- orange red (“three dots”)
- pale red (CC)
- red (T)
- pale light yellow (N)
- pale yellow (FF)
- reddish yellow (H)
- yellow (V)
M2 was produced by UNITOY in Hong Kong. They were packed on UNITOY cards from 12C till 21-backs. These sabers float when submerged in water. The following colours are known:
- light blue
- blue
- orange red
- red
- light yellow (translucent)
- metallic yellow (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”). These sabers float when submerged in water.
There seems to be three subversions to the M3. To determine these please take note of the graphic below. However, these differences can also be due to problems with the injection. Many M3 sabers have dents that are the result of inadequate injection. Therefore, it is likely that there was a problem in the production of these sabers in general.
The following colours are known:
- light blue
- blue
- orange red
- bright red
- translucent red (Lili Ledy)
- bright yellow
- yellow
- dull yellow
M3a
M3b
M3c
M4 was produced by TAKARA in Japan. It only appeared with Darth Vader made by Takara which is also stamped “Japan”. These sabers float when submerged in water. 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, Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi. These saber sink when submerged in water.
There is an M5b version in existance which is significantly longer. This saber also floats when submerged in water. It is of great importance to keep this one in mind when comparing to reproduction sabers. For now I could only find them on Vader (orange).
The following colours are known:
- pale blue
- blue
- dark blue
- turquoise
- orange (M5b)
- orange red
- red
- dark red (PBP)
- red (lots of flashing, can come with POCH Darth Vader)
- bright yellow
- bright yellow (lots of flashing, can come with POCH Luke Skywalker)
- yellow
M6 was produced by an UNKNOWN FACTORY. The red sabers were used with late PBP Vaders on their Spanish resident cards as well as on Trilogo cards. The blue saber was released with No Coo KADER Ben (white hair, Fam3) on Trilogo cards. The yellow saber was released with No Coo SMILE Luke (brown hair, Fam3) also on Trilogo cards. Reagrding this it seems likely that this saber was produced by Palitoy and used for Trilogos plus, in case of Vader, exported to Spain. These sabers float when submerged in water. In addition, these sabers do not show any fluorescens under ultraviolet light.
The following colours are known:
- light blue
- blue
- orange red
- red
- yellow
- bright yellow
M7 was produced by an unknown factory in Taiwan. These sabers float when submerged in water. They were packed right after the M1 on 12A-backs. They appeared with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader also marked with “Taiwan” on the legs. All colours do exist with large EPM (M7a/M7b), whereas the small EPM (M7c/M7d) on the hilt only appeared with Luke. 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 orange red
- pale red
- red
- light orange –> faded red saber!
- pale yellow
- light yellow
- bright yellow
M7a
M7b
M7c
M7d
M8 was produced by GLASSLITE in Brazil. They appeared with Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The wide gate scar to the back of the hilt is unique. These sabers float when submerged in water. The following colours are known:
- orange red
- dark red
- yellow
M9 was produced by LILI LEDY in Mexico. They appeared with Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader (later Regreso version). These sabers float when submerged in water. All versions are lettered. Thanks to Oscar Fiuza (aka M4K3R1) for supporting us with pictures to make this overview:
The following colours are known::
- yellowish blue (G)
- dark blue (K)
- translucent orange red (D?)
- red (L)
M10 was produced by TOP TOYS in Argentina. It appeared with Darth Vader released on TOP TOYS cards. The EPM on the shaft can be left or right on those (M10a/M10b). These sabers float when submerged in water. The following colours are known:
- translucent orange red
REISSUE “Classic Edition 4-Pack” 1995
The mould from this reissue CLASSIC EDITION 4-PACK by KENNER from 1995 is closest to the vintage M5 moulds made by KADER/SMILE. These sabers float when submerged in water. Compared side by side it can’t be confused with a vintage one.
The following colours do exist:
- red
- light yellow
REISSUE “Retro Collection” 2019
The RETRO COLLECTION was introduced in 2019 by HASBRO. The figures are licensed reproductions made to look like the figures from the 70s and 80s. These figures look very similar to the originals at first glance, but on closer inspection you can see clear differences. The weapons are made also like look-a-likes.
The RETRO COLLECTION sabers float when submerged in water. Compared to their counterpart M5 sabers their lengths are almost identical, yet they are a tiny bit shorter. They can be identified by the missing details to the back of the shaft. The tip seems to be way shorter on all specimen. The latest version (blue) also got an EPM added to the handle which makes this one easy to identify.
The following colours do exist:
- blue
- red
- yellow
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This saber was produced by Elektrospółdzielnia (EVANPLAST) for an unnamed line in Poland. The mould was used in the 80s, 90s and 2000s (1985-2003). These were packed in baggies probably stapled onto cardbacks and sold as accessory sets. They are nowadays mostly paired with the figures that came from the same factory in the so called “Polish 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen” lines. All those weapons came in a huge variety of colours over the years. These sabers float when submerged in water. Here is one example:
- black
Besides the licensed production through the Lili Ledy company, the bootleg production in Mexico was not in hand of larger factories. These were family businesses, small establishments, that made their own moulds, their own machines to inject the plastic. Therefore there is no specific lines or producers known.
The saber shown below was packed with a static and rubbery Darth Vader with vinyl cape in the 80s. The tip is unbroken and moulded shorter compared to Kenner ones. These sabers float when submerged in water.
- red
R1: COLOUR COMPARISON
The R1 is one of the most common reproductions out there. It has been around for decades. Early ones were made in not matching plastic colours and afterwards painted in blue, yellow or red. Later on they were produced in the matching plastic colours.
They do mostly resemble the M5 version from KADER/SMILE:
All R1 sabers sink when submerged in water. Compared to their counterpart M5 sabers they are shorter and thinner. The handle part and the transition part to the front are good spots to identify them.
The following colours are known:
- light blue (yellowed)
- light blue
- dark blue (painted)
- red (painted)
- dark red (painted)
- yellow
- light yellow
- dark yellow (painted)
The R2 is also very long on the market and one of the most common reproductions out there. They are not painted and do exist in multiple shades. These sabers are surely in many collections unnoticed.
They do mostly resemble the M5 version from KADER/SMILE:
All R2 sabers float when submerged in water. Compared to their counterpart M5 sabers they are shorter. The detail to the back of the shaft is implied but not fully there. The red ones can glow under ultraviolet light and are similar to originals in their flourescent appearance.
The following colours are known:
- light blue
- light red (UV-fluorescent)
- red (aged)
- neon yellow
- yellow
The R3 is the newest reproduction out there. They are not painted and do exist in slightly different shades.
They do mostly resemble the M5 version from KADER/SMILE:
All R3 sabers sink when submerged in water. The red and yellow ones do glow under ultraviolet light similar to originals in their flourescent appearance. Compared to their counterpart M5 sabers their lengths are almost identical, yet they are a tiny bit larger. They can be identified by the shape of the transition to the tip and the missing details to the back of the shaft. The handle is also beeing shaped a bit slimmer.
The following colours are known:
- light blue
- blue
- red
- neon yellow
- neon dark yellow
The R4 is an oddball reproduction where someone tried 3D printing a lightsaber. The differences to an original vintage saber are obvious. On a side note the R4 does sink when submerged in water.
The following colours are known:
- red
The R5 appeared around 2010 on the market. It kept beeing unnoticed for a while and went into many collections as real. Yet, it seems to be much more rare then R1, R2 or R3. It was made in all three colours: blue, red and yellow. (Sadly I only own yellow ones by now.)
It also seems that the mould for those was reworked. The older ones seemed much more rough to the surface. The later ones are smoothed out and way harder to tell apart.
They do mostly resemble the M2 version from UNITOY:
All R5 sabers float when submerged in water. Compared to their counterpart M2 sabers they are shorter. The detail to the back and front of the shaft is missing. The tip also seems not perfectly centred to the shaft, which might be a good spot as well.
The following colours are known:
- yellow (rough)
- yellow (smooth)
- red –> sorry, no picture
- blue –> sorry, no picture
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
