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In the climactic final moments of The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi lock blades in one of the most dramatic and memorable lightsaber duels ever seen in the Star Wars saga. During the intense battle, Obi-Wan cleaves Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber in half with a ferocious upward thrust. This momentous blow does not disable the vicious Sith’s weapon nor does it dissuade him from continuing his brutal battle with the Jedi.

Obi-Wan may not have been aware that Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber carried redundant power systems and blade generators. Although it wasn’t specifically designed to operate as two independent lightsabers, it was still capable of producing a blade from either emitter as long as the primary internal components were intact. Despite his daring and the remarkable endurance of his lightsaber, this proved to be Darth Maul’s final battle.

This model of Darth Maul’s severed lightsaber represents our realization of the weapon as it might have appeared after the deadly duel. We’ve weathered it with battle-scars and burns that could have been inflicted during the mortal battle with Obi-Wan. This unique replica also demonstrates an interpretation of the intricate inner works of a lightsaber. It shows numerous lateral power conduits and a complex array of synthetic red crystals that serve as the power source and produce the fiery red blade.

The lightsaber blade length and intensity can be changed by adjusting the external red knobs that control the power flow into the crystals. At full power all of the crystals radiate energy, which is transmitted through the power core and directly into the blade. The red crystals are thought to be more powerful than the blue, green, and purple crystals used in the Jedi lightsabers. This resourcefulness is a testimony to the evil ingenuity of the Sith.