Saberforge Bastion
Now here is one I have been itching to review for a few reasons. One of which is I purchased two more of these hilts for custom builds so I can get some experience in before tackling my Redeemer.
This is my first apprentice hilt. It is full of surprises....so let's dive in.
- The Look -
I have nothing but good to say here. The detail work here is outstanding. This little saber is packed with detail. Starting with the pommel, you've got 4 columns with slots that mirror the design of the emitter. It is worth noting that pommel is hollow and I believe exists to add length to the hilt. The body has nice detailed lines without being overly ornate. The switch section continues the "column" motif and yet stands out having its own design with wider columns allowing it to fit in to the overall aesthetic. The choke is all black, which I thought I might not like at first, but I really do in hand. I had originally requested the choke be silver, but I am glad it turned out this way. Leaving the best for last, the emitter, which is a GLORIOUS design of columns, slots, and emitter windows (4 columns, 8 windows = lots of light!). The emitter is why I bought this saber and it does not disappoint. If you like windowed emitters, you have to get your hands on this one!
So, Surprise number 1: The emitter shines brightly and exceeds expectation!
One little knock to the appearance....I wish they had aligned the retention screws for the blade and LED on the same side as the Covertech wheel. I feel like I can always see them when firing the saber up or powering it down since they face the same way as the AV switch. However, this is by design and they are black, so it's a minor nit-pick.
Also to boot, I got one of those awesome blade custom blade plugs I wanted. This may possibly be from Laser Forge. (Thank you OvrcAHst for permanently putting Dr Evil's voice in my head when I think of "Laser Forge", ha). Unfortunately, the blade plug does NOT shine this pattern on the wall like the rest of my blade plugs. It diffuses the light, so you get just a dimmed light, but I love that pattern!
- The Build -
Everything feels solid...and I want to clarify here...solid = no rattling, durable, well made, and high quality. Solid does not equal weighty...but more to come on that. I found no scratches, or imperfections.
The only issue I had out of the box was the LED, which was mounted too high in the emitter. This meant the blade did not go far enough down which in turn caused blade wobble. I almost contacted customer service about this, but decided to do some checking first. Since the top of my blade plug was sitting above the top of the emitter, that was a big clue. I reseated everything and, BOOM, problem solved. I hope this helps anyone else who might encounter this issue.
Ultimately, this hilt feels like a Tonka truck...small but tough.
- The Feel -
I expected this saber to be shorter than the rest of his new family members. That, I am happy to say, turned out not to be an issue. It is shorter, but not too much so. Where I was surprised was the weight!
Surprise number 2: This saber is LIGHT...almost too light.
Yeah, I have to admit, this little guy is very light in hand. Now I am used to Elite and CR sabers, so this was a big surprise for me. There is a lot less aluminum here. If I compare the Bastion to the outside diameter of my Epoch or Monarch, it looses 1/4" if not more. This really changes the feel you get.
The choke was much less significant in feel than I thought it would be.
Surprise number 3: The choke is neither an advantage or an hinderance.
I expected the choke to be both deeper, but also sharper. Instead, it is much less apparent in hand and not sharp at all. So the good news here is that the choke is certainly usable space as you won't be cutting your hands on it. However, it is not a focal point, either, being that it is so narrow and high on the hilt...so it does not serve as a point of leverage for me. Point being...it is not in the way nor does it bring performance advantages...say like the Epoch or a thin-neck might. It just gives a textured surface to the saber.
The Bastion feels very blade-heavy to me. But this is not all doom and gloom. Just read on to performance.
- Performance -
So, it's blade heavy and it's small. You would think this means swinging would be a pain. Once I started playing with it and spinning it around, I found the second thing it does well, perform.
Surprise 4: Light weight and smaller diameter = speed and fun.
This is a saber for a specific kind of Jedi. It's light, fast, and fun. My wife picked it up immediately and said, "This is the one I want you to build for me". Funny enough, with the other, bigger, beasts in my collection, I was a little apprehensive of letting this one go to her.
I am able to swing, flip, toss, and play with this saber effortlessly. This is a FUN saber...he's going to be the light-hearted, mischievous member of my saber family.
There is a LOT of usable space here...being just about everywhere.
- Lights and Sound -
This is a saber...so let's get on to the light show!
These were taken outside in direct sunlight. AH, that emitter....is.....so.....Awesome! This brings me so much joy (see Surprise 1 above). This is a 12w+ Medium Blue LED. This has quick connects, so I have not decided on a final color. I am leaning towards Arctic Blue. I now have Light Blue, Medium Blue, and Deep Blue in my possession. Once I get Arctic and enough hilts, I am going to try to do a side by side comparison.
The light does not disappoint. Strong LEDs with this hilt = complete win. There is nothing more I can say here.
As for the sound, this is where I take a detour. This is a Champion saber, so it has as Sabercore 2.0 board with light side (Viridium) font. I have to be honest...after playing with many of the hero tier sabers, this font is not my favorite. I LOVE the dark side Crimson font (see my Juggernaut review). This however, left me wanting. It's not a knock on the hilt as it performs well, but it's not my first choice. I ordered this before I had my others in hand.
It's also worth noting it is also SLIGHTLY quieter than other hilts....not quiet...just softer. I also have the volume set to low on the board.
- Final Thoughts -
I am glad I picked this guy up. He's fun, beautiful, comfortable, and well designed. He's also very specific in use. I would akin this to a Mazda Miata vs a Dodge Charger. Sleek, fast, fun to take out once in a while, but it is by no means muscular or brutish.
Is it worth your time and hard earned money....YES! Is it for every saber wielder....well, your mileage may vary. I can't see my collection with out it and cannot wait to customize one. However, I can see others who will not be able to get past the size and weight. And I could see their point of view.
Fortunately for me, it's an excellent fit. I cannot stop looking at that emitter!