Practical perhaps, but not exactly the "elegant weapon, from a more civilized age".

Hi Dav,

I'm showing my age again but it reminds me of an old Derringer (I think I spelt that correctly!) type pistol with a penknife sized blade on it. I know it's not a saber as such just the same sort of principle.

I did read elsewhere in another topic about a cartoon I used to watch on Saturday morning kids' TV called Ulysses where the hero had a saber/pistol combo. You could say "Tried and tested"

For Tyeth

Well you could say the empire era is a less civilized age lol

Considering what we saw of life in the Old Republic in the Prequels, I might question that characterization made by Obi-Wan in ANH. However, from an aesthetic perspective, Ezra's saber is more utilitarian, than elegant.

I don't think any era is that civilized really.

However if the history of the galaxy I have read is correct, Palpatine outlawed ownership of lightsabers/crystals so there would have to be some inventive designs due to lack of materials, maybe we just haven't seen them yet! Before and after that period I'm not sure, still learning haha.

There is the Corran Horn speeder bike design hilt though.

For Tyeth

I feel that Kenobi is wearing some rose tinted glasses but, despite it's warts, the Old Republic seemed like a pretty swanky place Pre Clone Wars if you didn't live in the Outer Rim. The Rebels TV show is making a point of saying that what things were better for the majority of planets pre-Empire.

Hi h2soy,

You missed an opportunity to quote "...from a certain point of view"

The galaxy throughout it's history had the "haves" who were content and happy, and the "have nots" who felt downtrodden. Maybe Kenobi was referring more about Corruscant's upper levels and lifestyles.

Ezra's design does show great innovation considering the pool of materials he had to work with, so maybe it's an elegant design to a technical problem!

For Tyeth

Ezra's lightsaber is practical and innovative, the design isn't totally alien: during the golden pirate era (early 1700s), they actually invented a sword-pistol, look it up. Let's look at all the reason why he decided to build the saberblaster:
1. The era of SW Rebels restricts anyone from carrying or owning a saber, if caught you'll most likely be targeted as Jedi (which in the Empire's eyes, you are a criminal; kill on sight). Hell, even Kanan keeps his saber in two pieces so they won't suspect he is a Jedi. This is also the reason why Jedi in this time don't wear robes, it's called being incognito. Ezra's lightsaber is very discreet, yeah it's not elegant, it's utilitarian; I wouldn't call the Galactic civil war a "civilized age", so guess what? TIMES HAVE CHANGED!
2. Although he's 15 (barely), Ezra is still a kid, he thinks like a kid, talks like a kid, and acts like kid, don't get me wrong Ezra is a great character. SO when he built his saber he wasn't going for "beauty", "practicality", most likely, he was thinking about what was innovated and useful for the time.
3. He had limited resources, unlike most Jedi Ezra didn't have a Jedi star cruiser full of Lightsaber parts specially meant for young Jedi to build a saber like it how it's suppose to be. He had scraps! A focusing crystal from Yoda, spare lightsaber parts from Kanan, other parts from Sabine (probably parts to build the blaster), and a power cell donated by Chopper.
Personally I like his saber for what it was made for, AND Ezra has proved in recent episodes that he is VERY skilled with it...VERY skilled. He's probably now capable of fighting an Inquisitor by himself! Both Kanan and Zeb were impressed when he took out several stormtrooper AND agent Callous effortlessly, so it proves that it is an effective weapon.

I agree that it is exactly the kind of saber he needs, at this point. Hopefully, he will live to become a fully realized Jedi, and build a pure saber. Not because he has to...but because he realizes at that point in his development, is is quite beyond the need to require any other weapon than a saber, and is no longer concerned about being seen with one hanging from his belt. That, I feel, will be an Ezra saber that I could embrace. Much like Luke's second saber.

Brax wrote: I don't think he will, maybe a better looking version, Ezra is getting some pretty good combat training from Rex, so he's become a pretty good shot. Kanan uses a blaster too, Ezra just figured to combine the two together for convenience.