A piece of cinematic history, Darth Vader’s primary duelling lightsaber from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, is heading to public auction for the first time. The iconic prop is expected to fetch between $1 million and $3 million.
This legendary weapon has not only defined big-screen villainy but has also fuelled the imaginations of gamers for decades, with countless tabletop roleplaying sessions attempting to capture the thrill of such climactic duels. As Geek Native has often noted, the various Star Wars RPGs, from the classic West End Games d6 system to the narrative dice of Fantasy Flight Games, frequently feature the lightsaber as the ultimate prize for a Force-sensitive character. Now, one collector will have the chance to own the genuine article.
The prop will be a headline item in Propstore’s upcoming Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this September.
Its history is a classic example of the “found object” aesthetic that defined the original trilogy’s look. The hilt is constructed from a vintage British press camera flash handle, which was then “kitbashed” with dressing components, such as plastic grips and bubbles from a calculator, to create the Sith Lord’s infamous weapon.
Crucially, this is the hero prop used in the climactic duels by both David Prowse, the actor in the suit, and the legendary stunt performer and sword master Bob Anderson. To facilitate the choreographed fights, this specific prop was modified with a custom blade-mounting system. This allowed a wooden rod to be installed, which served as the physical blade during duelling and later acted as a reference for visual effects artists who hand-animated the blade’s signature glow.
Propstore confirms the lightsaber’s authenticity through screen-matching, a process of identifying unique marks, scratches, and damage on the hilt that correspond directly to what is seen on screen in Return of the Jedi, and photo-matches to production stills from The Empire Strikes Back. This confirms it as the main lightsaber seen in the majority of Vader’s on-screen appearances with his weapon ignited.
Surviving hero lightsaber props from the original trilogy are exceptionally rare. Propstore suggests this is the only hero lightsaber from the original films with verifiable screen use to ever be offered at a public auction. The sale’s timing coincides with the 45th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. Such high estimates are not unprecedented for Star Wars collectables, and Geek Natives has previously covered Han Solo’s missing blaster, which has sold for large amounts of money.
Brandon Alinger, COO at Propstore, told press,
The lightsaber, or laser sword as it was initially called, was imagined by George Lucas as the perfect defensive weapon for a more sophisticated age. Nearly fifty years after the first Star Wars film, lightsabers are a universally recognized symbol of the world’s most beloved film franchise and are consistently ranked as the most iconic and memorable props of all time. They are the ‘ruby slippers’ of cinema’s modern era. Surviving genuine lightsaber props from the original trilogy of films are exceedingly rare, and Propstore is honored to present this historic artifact in our September sale. It is a grail-level piece, worthy of the finest collections in the world. This lightsaber is simply everything you want it to be—one of the most significant Star Wars artifacts ever. One of the most significant cinema artifacts ever.”
Before the auction, the lightsaber and other key items will go on a multi-city preview tour:
- London: August 6, 2025
- Beverly Hills: Week of August 18, 2025
- New York: Week of August 25, 2025
Other significant props joining the tour include:
- Indiana Jones’ (Harrison Ford) Bullwhip and Belt from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): Est. $250,000 – $500,000
- Hero Close-Up Neuralyzer from Men in Black (1997): Est. $75,000 – $150,000
- Sauron’s Helmet from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): Est. $70,000 – $140,000
- Shark Tooth Clapperboard from Jaws (1975): Est. $40,000 – $80,000
Quick Links
- Prop Store auction page.
