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Throughout the entirety of the world of Star Wars, nothing is so well known and beloved as the Lightsaber. Master Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi called it a "weapon for a more civilized age." It has spawned toys, collectables and even a wide variety of groups that gather together to learn the art of lightsaber combat. Therefore, today, we celebrate and explore that amazing pop culture icon.Basic Facts

Qui Gon Jinn's Hilt. Credit: Wookiepedia
A lightsaber consisted of a plasma blade produced by a Cyber Crystal. During Jedi Training, younglings we sent to Ilum to retrieve their crystal and then construct their own lightsabers.The lightsaber hilt (handle) usually consisted of metal. Within the hilt, parts would include an activator to power up and down the weapon, a power cell and a blade editor and editor matrix. All parts must be carefully paced as to not cause damage to the user.A Light HistoryLightsabers had been used for though sands of years before the time of the Republic (Episodes i-III). They became much more well known during the Clone Wars as Jedi Knights became Generals of the Galactic Army.At the start of the Empire, most Jedi had been destroyed. Therefore, the only lightsaber that had prominence was Darth Vader's. Once the Empire fell, Luke Skywalker used a lightsaber.A Powerful Weapon

Curling Through a Blast Door. Credit: Wookiepedia
Lightsabers were very powerful weapons. In most cases, they could not be matched. Only weapons that conducted energy, such as an elctrostaff or other lightsaber, could block their power. They could also cut through many things, including blast doors.When used by a Force sensitive person, it could block blaster shots and even reflect them back in a skilled person's hand. It could also be used as a light source in many cases. “This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”Obi Wan Kenobi (Episode IV: A New Hope)
The Spice of Light

Darth Maul with Double Sided Lightsaber. Credit: StarWars.com
There were a wide variety of lightsabers used in the galaxy. While most used a single bladed lightsaber, there were certainly others. In Episode I, Darth Maul wielded a double bladed lightsaber. In Episode VII, Dklo Ren used a single blade but had two horizontal blades that extended as well. There was also something called a lightsaber pike. This was similar to the double bladed lightsaber, with two yellow blades emitted. The Jedi Temple Guards used these.

A variety of lightsabers. Credit. StarWars.com
Blade colors were also varied. Jedi Knights typically had either blue or green, while the Sith normally used red. Other colors, such as yellow, white and even black have been seen, but much more rarely. (NOTE: According to "Legends" sources, there are other colors and varieties, but are just sticking to the "Canon" examples.)For Combat and More

Lightsaber Combat. Credit: Wookiepedia
The Lightsaber was used mostly for combat, both offensively and defensively. With over seven varieties of combat, it was a skill that was difficult to master. It took years to work on and even the best lightsabers users were not perfect.They also used the lightsaber in rituals such as the Knighting Ceremony. When a Padawan passed the Jedi Trials,