May the fourth be with you! What better way to celebrate than to take a look at the duo who have authentically created a real-life Star Wars lightsaber?
Canadian inventors James Hobson and Bogdan Malynovskyy made every Star Wars fans dreams a reality with their creation of the world’s first retractable ‘proto-lightsaber.’ Hobson, who owns Hacksmith Industries and it’s YouTube channel ‘The Hacksmith,’ constantly strives to recreate real-life versions of fictional technology from movies, video games, and comic books – as a lifetime fan of Star Wars it was only natural the iconic lightsaber would be one of these projects!
The proto-saber is designed to faithfully resemble the ones carried by the galaxies peacekeepers, the only caveat being the tanks of liquid propane and oxygen required to create the intense heat needed to make the plasma lightsaber beam possible. Once lit the beam heats up to an insane 2,204°C, creating a ‘blade’ that, just like in the movies, can cut through almost anything (just not beskar steel!). The beam colour can even be manipulated using different salts to recreate the colours of the different kyber crystals seen in Star Wars.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Hacksmith team was finding a method to create a blade that could not only look the part but could also be safely wielded by a user without the risk of serious harm. To solve this problem, the team utilised a combination of high-powered lasers and a specialised gas mixture, which creates a plasma-like effect that closely mimics the look and feel of a real lightsaber whilst still being containable and controllable. The result is a blade that looks and feels like a true Star Wars lightsaber but is actually safe to use in the real world.
The Hacksmith team also paid close attention to the design of the hilt, which is an important aspect of any lightsaber. The hilt is crafted from high-quality materials and features intricate details and embellishments that are faithful to the look and feel of the lightsabers seen in the Star Wars movies. The hilt also features a number of controls and buttons, which allow the user to adjust the power and intensity of the blade.
The real-life lightsaber created by Hacksmith Industries has been met with widespread excitement and enthusiasm from Star Wars fans around the world. Many have praised the team for their attention to detail and their dedication to creating a lightsaber that closely resembles the iconic weapon from the movies. Others have expressed their amazement at the sheer technical complexity of the project, which required a deep understanding of physics, optics, and materials science. For their work on the proto-lightsaber, Hobson was awarded a Guinness World Record for the world’s first retractable proto-lightsaber.
By bringing a fictional technology to life in such a faithful and convincing way, the inventor duo has demonstrated the incredible potential of modern technology and our boundless human imagination. The lightsaber is sure to capture the imagination of Star Wars fans for years to come and will likely inspire countless other creators and innovators to push the boundaries of what is possible.
