Lightsabers:
I thought I would give some brief information on the weapon used by the Jedi and the Sith.
A lightsaber emits a blade of pure energy at a certain length (in Star Wars encyclopedias, they say that there's a knob that controls power and length; in some cartoons, the lightsaber is powered by batteries). Lightsabers only expend energy when actually cutting something (This explanation of lightsaber operation is similar to that of a Gundam beam saber). It is possible for a lightsaber to run out of power. Some Force Adepts are capable of charging ordinary melee weapons with the Force, which enables the weapon to withstand a few lightsaber strikes even when made from simple wood or another substance normally vulnerable to a lightsaber's blade[1].
The first lightsabers were developed as siege weapons, these required a separate power pack, which was often worn on the back, and later, a belt worn power source [citation needed]. The power sources and components were eventually miniaturized to fit inside the hilt and create a simple weapon used in later eras, which was adopted by the recently-formed Jedi Order in the early days of the Old Republic[citation needed].
When explaining the traditional Jedi preference for lightsabers (i.e. short-range mêlée weapons) over long-range blasters to Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi states that "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age" [2]. Also, Mace Windu mentions in his personal log that the reason of the primary Jedi weapon being a mêlée one is to make the Jedi see the eyes of those whose lives he or she takes with it [3].
Lightsaber colors:
In the original film trilogy, lightsaber blades were blue, green, and red. The various Expanded Universe (EU) sources, action figures and the prequel films opened up the spectrum of blade colors to many variations of the aforementioned colors, as well as yellow, purple, orange, turquoise, pink, bronze, viridian, brown, silver, and gold, among others; the full variety and extent of focusing gems, and consequently, of colors, is unknown. According to the Expanded Universe, color crystals only affect color, whilst other crystals can also be added to the saber to affect other properties, such as damage. For example, in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a lightsaber can have three crystals; one for color, and two crystals for other properties.
Red and bronze colors are usually associated with the Sith. Purple, turquoise, yellow, blue, and green colors are usually associated with the Jedi. Orange, silver, pink, white, gold, and viridian typically do not represent either side. However, the Expanded Universe establishes no direct relationship between a lightsaber's blade's color and its user's affiliation. For example, in the computer game Jedi Knight the Dark Jedi Sariss used a blue lightsaber while her erstwhile ally Yun used a yellow blade.
The color of a lightsaber blade depends on the crystals used to focus it. According to non-canon sources, blue-bladed lightsabers are amost often associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers are generally associated with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers are usually associated with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are almost always associated with the Sith and dark Jedi. Note however, that the color of the lightsaber does not necessarily indicate the nature of the Jedi. Mace Windu's purple-colored lightsaber in the movie was colored differently because Samuel L. Jackson asked for it to be so. In the expanded universe, purple, being a mix of red and blue, shows the mastery of a lightsaber form known as Vaapad or form VII and the light side of the Force which allows Windu to use his fighting style and Force powers dangerously close to the Dark Side without being tainted. It is also said that a purple crystal is a choice only the most skilled masters in lightsaber combat can make, which might also explain his unusual blade color. Usually the lightsaber crystal will call out to its chosen master during the trials to become a Jedi when the padawan travels to Ilum or Adega. This in part is why some sources claim that Jedi traditionally use Adegan crystals.
Types of Lightsabers:
Dual-phase:
The dual-phase lightsaber is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. Historically, these complex blades were constructed mostly by ancient Jedi and Sith in their many heated wars; the surprise advantage of a blade which could shoot forth several feet or inches was worth the additional difficulty of constructing a lightsaber with several focusing gems and outweighed the fact that a lengthy blade was often inferior from a pure fencing perspective. Darth Vader's lightsaber is an example of this, as he has buttons on his hilt allowing him to change the blade length at will. In Dark Apprentice, with the help of the spirit of Exar Kun, Gantoris created such a lightsaber. Similarly, in Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Luke Skywalker adjusts the controls of his saber to produce a short, pencil-thin blade, which he uses to cut through the bolt of a door lock. Corran Horn, the Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order, also used one of these; however he tended to keep the shorter blade ignited and the weapon seemed to only have two settings—standard and extended with no fine control over the lengths of either.
This type of lightsaber can be achieved by any lightsaber with two or more actively used crystals in the energy loop, or it can be a property granted by a special functioning of the power cell. Its most basic manifestation within the weapon is the ability to alter the length of the beam or cutting section[citation needed]. Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber is dual-phase capable, for example. Corran Horn's is a special case, in that the crystal is mechanically swapped for another, which yielded a longer blade.
Short:
There are also variant lightsabers with shorter handles and blades (known as short lightsabers or lightdaggers) that can be wielded as offhand (weaker hand) secondary weapons. These are for Jedi who fight with two lightsabers for the dual-bladed lightsaber combat style Jar'Kai, which is used by Ancient Jedi Master Kavar and fallen Jedi Sora Bulq or as the primary lightsaber of a small Jedi like Yoda, Yaddle or (presumably) Even Piell. This technique was possibly inspired by the Japanese art of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu or European sword and dagger fencing. It was said by Master Maruk in the book Yoda: Dark Rendezvous that those who practice dual sword wield have a tendency to rely too deeply in their swords.
Double-bladed:
Darth Maul, with a double-bladed lightsaber, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo.The double-bladed lightsaber, saberstaff, battlestaff, staff saber or lightstaff, is a unique variant in which the handle is about three times the length of a standard lightsaber and has two beam emitters; one at each end. The beams can be activated and deactivated independently, allowing for much versatility. This variant was invented by the Dark Lord of the Sith Exar Kun nearly four thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. Kun was able to carefully adjust its length, from half a meter to one and a half meters (1.5 to 5 ft), as well as its intensity, allowing the blades' power to vary from that of a deadly blade to an intangible, harmless beam of light.
Although in later years the double-bladed lightsaber is associated with the Sith, this is not always the case and Jedi who wield this variant are not more susceptible to the dark side.
Despite the strength of the double-bladed lightsaber, the long size of the handle itself seems to be a weakness in battle against another lightsaber-wielding foe—it was cut in half when Darth Maul used it in the duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. One was also cut in half in the Dark Horse comic book Star Wars: Resurrection, when the resurrected Lord Maul dueled Darth Vader for the apprenticeship of Darth Sidious.
Besides Exar Kun, notable wielders of this weapon include Zez-Kai Ell, Jorak Uln, Uthar Wynn, Darth Bandon, Bastila Shan, Kas'im, Darth Zannah, Darth Maul, Komari Vosa, Asajj Ventress, Jastus Farr, and Azrakel.
Electrum:
The electrum lightsaber is simply a lightsaber with a hilt forged from electrum. Mace Windu's lightsaber in Episode II and III is an example; Sidious's lightsaber is also similar. In the Jedi Order, only council members are allowed to have an electrum-covered lightsaber [citation needed].
Linksaber:
Linksabers apparently have a bond between them, which allows for use similar to nunchaku. This weapon exists in a low budget fan film and as Asajj Ventress' weapon in the patch for the Xbox version of Star Wars: Battlefront II.
Y-saber:
Used by Jedi Master in the battle of Parcelus Minor. (In the Star Wars Clone Wars comic book, volume 5.) It looks like a normal light saber with an added 4 inch blade. The 4 inch blade comes off the side of the top of the hilt making a Y.
