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The fictional Star Wars universe features an intricate array of different weapons, whose uses and powers range from interpersonal combat to destroying entire space stations or even planets in single sweeps. Some of them resemble stereotypical science fiction weapons, while others, perhaps most notably the lightsaber, are uniquely associated with the franchise.
Blasters
Overview
The standard weapon of classic science fiction, the ray gun, is also the most common weapon in the Star Wars universe, although the lasers of Star Wars are actually high power plasma weapons. There are many variations of blasters; pistols, carbines, cannons, assault rifles and even machine guns. For example, Princess Leia Organa wielded a Dueling Blaster when her ship was boarded by Darth Vader's forces, while Han Solo prefers a Heavy Blaster (a "Blastech DL-44"). The most common blaster is the E-11, and the Blastech E-11 carbine is the standard weapon for Imperial Stormtroopers. Several of Star Wars' fictional weapons are modified from real-life blank firing prop guns; Han Solo's pistol is a customised Mauser C96, whilst the Stormtroopers carry Sterling submachineguns.
The average output of a blaster (data from tech manuals) is about 8 megajoules. Capital scale blasters are called turbolasers. According to official literature on blaster output, the heavy turbolasers mounted on the Old Republic-era Acclamator have an energy output of 200 gigatons per shot. Newer ships in the classic Star Destroyer line are equipped with much larger weapons.
The E-11 blaster
The basic E-11 is 43.8 cm long (folded), and weighs 2.6 kilograms. The powercell housing opens on the left side of the action housing, above the trigger, giving the E11 a very low profile (useful when shooting prone or from a barricade), with a standard powercell providing 100 shots. The blaster gas chamber contains sufficient supplies for thirty powercells.
All moving and/or metal parts are fitted with a corrosion-proof, vacuum-rated, dry lubricant. The top of the receiver has a universal, quick detach sight rail, which comes from the factory mounted with a light, ring reticle, 2x optical scope. The basic, three piece folding stock rides along the left side, under the powercell. When ordering from the factory, one may specify that they wish a fixed stock or a one-piece, right-folding stock at no extra cost.
Lightsabers
Lightsabers of all colors.
The lightsaber is the traditional elegant weapon of the Jedi Knights in the Star Wars fictional universe. Using a lightsaber in combat takes skill, confidence, dexterity, and attunement to the Force. The first Archaic Lightsabers were developed as a siege weapon, using "frozen blaster" technology. These required a separate power pack which was often worn on the back. The power sources and components were miniaturized in the construction to create the simple weapon used in the later era.
In the original film trilogy, lightsabers were limited to blue and green for the Jedi, while red-bladed lightsabers are associated with evil Jedi Knights or Sith. The various expanded universe sources and the prequel films opened up the spectrum of blade colors to include (among others) purple, pink, orange, and yellow. Obi-Wan Kenobi primarily wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber, while Mace Windu famously uses a purple-bladed lightsaber. The color of a lightsaber's blade is dependent upon the crystals used to focus it.
The very rare Great Lightsaber, similar to a standard lightsaber, had focusing crystals and a power supply producing a blade up to 300 centimeters in length. The rare Dual-Phase Lightsaber is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. The Electrum Lightsaber are lightsabers with hilts forged from electrum.
Training
A deviation created by the Jedi Order from standard lightsabers, the training lightsabers helped train apprentices in the use of a standard lightsaber. Training lightsabers are similar to a standard lightsaber. However, the power is greatly diminished and the size is reduced. Training lightsabers are used in combat education in the Jedi academy.
Use
In the hands of someone trained to use the Force, a lightsaber is a powerful and versatile tool. A lightsaber can cut through anything (blast doors and enemies alike) except another lightsaber blade. The only known exceptions to this rule are the cortosis, capable of repelling or even shorting out a lightsaber blade (as shown in the novel I, Jedi and the video game Knights of the Old Republic), and an unnamed metal superconductor used for ship armour hundreds of years before the Empire (as shown in the novel Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover). Using the Force, a Jedi can use his lightsaber to deflect and reflect incoming energy attacks. Lightsabers are melee weapons but can also be thrown for a ranged attack and recalled through psychokinesis, a basic Jedi skill.
History
It is the principal weapon of the Jedi but are also used by the Sith. After the extermination of the Jedi, lightsabers became rare relics. The use of it is usually restricted to the Jedi, partially because it is too dangerous for an unskilled user, but also partly because, for non-Jedi, blasters are more effective. Typically a Jedi is given his lightsaber on his first day of training. Jedi Masters emphasise that the lightsaber is a measure of progress for an apprentice as lightsaber techniques take great skill and concentration. It is considered a final test for a Jedi student to be able to construct their own saber.
The crystal is the heart of the blade.
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the heart.
All are intertwined:
The crystal,The blade,The Jedi.
You are one.
- Speech made during lightsaber construction ceremony
"Clone Wars Micro Series" Cartoon Network
Construction details
The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube (30 centimetres) that emits a beam of plasma that acts as a sword blade.
All lightsabers contain some common basic components
- A handgrip
- An activation stud plate
- A safety switch
- An emitter matrix
- A lens assembly (focusing crystal)
- A blade-length adjuster
- A power cell
- A power conduit
- A recharge socket
- A belt ring (optional)
Lightsabers are powered from the control studs by a circuits channel and focusing crystal found only in nature on the planet Illum. Before 1,000 BBY, the Jedi also used crystals from the planet Ruusan. Since the Jedi control the supply of suitable crystals, the Sith use synthetic crystals that generate a red blade. Shadows of the Empire has Luke Skywalker using a synthetic crystal in his lightsaber construction.
The Dual-Phase Lightsaber used crystals that handle differing power level requirements. These are wired to the diantium power cell, which acts like an energy source for the lightsaber. The crystal is also wired to three knobs: the blade length adjust, the blade width adjust, and the activator.
When the activator is pushed, internal power cells create photoelectric energy and the blade is focused from the crystal. A tight, non-thermal parallel beam of plasma energy appears on command which is focused through one, two, or three multi-faceted crystals. The activation button energizes the weapon forming a positively-charged shaft of coherent packets of energy about a meter long. The plasma beam is attracted back to the saber hilt by a negatively-charged, high-energy flux aperture. The plasma packets are recycled to create the glowing blade by a power cell superconductor. The saber hums and scintillates with a distinct sound and has a shimmering blade. The entire functioning processes are completely contained and self-regenerative.
The knowledge of lightsaber construction largely disappeared during the extermination of the Jedi, but Luke Skywalker found records and the materials he needed to construct his first sabre on his own in Obi-Wan Kenobi's hut on Tatooine.
Filming with lightsabers
The film props themselves were constructed from old camera flash tubes, customised differently for each character, and in place of the glowing blade, a resin tube was used for the various fight scenes.
The characteristic sound was, of course, added later by the sound effects team, but Ewan McGregor mouthed his own lightsaber noises before being asked to 'leave it to the professionals' when filming The Phantom Menace.
Arguably one of the most lusted-after props in film history, various toy replicas have been released, ranging from essentially a flashlight with a plastic tube attached, to accurate copies (http://www.masterreplicas.com) of the original film props, complete with motion-sensitive sound effects, and coloured blade. Reproducing the beam of pure energy boasted by the originals still seems to be some time off, however.
Energy Sword
The Energy Sword is an ancient development in weaponry. Its has ceremonial functions and was deadly precise. The energy sword was simply a plasma charged blade from a power cell in the hilt. It has a pair of focusing velmorite crystals. Velmorian duel traditions settled disputes with Energy Swords. While similar to the lightsaber of the Jedi Knights, the energy sword is not comparable in strength to the Jedi weapon.
See also
External link
- Turbolaser Commentaries (http://www.stardestroyer.net/tlc/) - a study and quantitative assessment of Star Wars turbolasers
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