Star Wars Weapons – Part 2

21st January 2023

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Star Wars Weapons – Part 2

Gaffi Stick
Axe-like weapon of the Tusken Raiders

Lando’s Vibro-ax
Electrified polearm used in Jabba’s Palace

Lando Calrissian went undercover as a guard in the palace of Jabba the Hutt, waiting in disguise for the right moment to rescue Han Solo. His weapon is a form of vibro-ax, a SoroSuub BD-1 Cutter. In such weapons an ultrasonic vibration generator makes the blade sing with a high-pitched whine, enabling it to lacerate with the merest touch.

Lightsaber
Laser blade of the Jedi Knights

In essence a blade of pure energy capable of cutting through almost anything, the lightsaber is the noble yet powerful weapon which the Jedi Knights have masterfully wielded for thousands of years.

Although each lightsaber is unique, the weapon’s basic design remains the same. The handle, twenty-four to thirty centimeters long, holds a power cell as well as one or more crystals – seldom more than three – whose purpose is to focus the energy released by the power cell into a tight, blade-like beam. The blade’s color depends on the nature of the jewel it springs from, and while its length is fixed in the case of a single jewel lightsaber, lightsabers equipped with multiple crystals can have their length varied by rotating a knob which allows the focusing crystal activator to subtly modify the refraction pattern between the gems.

After losing the lightsaber that had been his father’s in a duel with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, in accordance with tradition, builds his own lightsaber as one of the final steps of his Jedi training, before he confronts Jabba the Hutt in his palace on Tatooine.

Rebel Gun Turret
Turret artillery emplaced on Hoth base

The DF.9 Anti-Infantry turret battery stands ready to defend Rebel troops on Hoth from invading forces. This model is designed to be effective against infantry and small vehicles such as speeder bikes and skirmishing or scout craft. The battery is no match for the full-strength Imperial battle armor cladding the AT-AT walkers, however, and the Rebels knew that at best they would fight a delaying action from the snow trenches.

While the turret gun incorporates a proton shield generator and laser armor, the heavy blast cannons of the Imperial walkers pack a devastating punch. As the Imperial Blizzard Force closed range on the Rebel snow trenches, the defensive emplacements and their crews inside were blasted and destroyed.