Here it is:
The Dark Avenger
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Fjasher46%2FDSC06717.jpg&hash=3d083aa4054d81f49a56d50533799f8dc42e075e) (http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/jasher46/DSC06717.jpg)
THE STORY
From the release of Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi found a solid place in my heart a my favorite Star Wars character. After seeing TPM and later ROTS, I decided that both of General Kenobi's lightsabers had to be mine. When I first found out about MR's FX-Sabers, I was perfectly content with just getting one (what seemed like expensive ::)) lightsaber: the MR Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In the summer of 2007, they were going for all of $65 on eBay with free shipping. :o But I was a poor college student, and my ex-wife would have killed me. So I waited... ...too long unfortunately, as I was only able to pick one up the following May for $135+. It was to serve as a reminder to myself to not procrastinate. That reminder didn't last long.
After receiving the Negotiator--deemed "inexpensive" at a whopping $725+ (times had changed ;D)--and some parts from TCSS, I had officially decided (and did so with public announcement) that I was going all scale. The MR Obi-Wan was too fat, and it went out the door. But only after I had placed an order for a Parks Dark Avenger. ;D After many months of waiting, I was finally able to hold this lightsaber...
THE HILT
...And wasn't wholly impressed with what I found.
The Parks switch is cool when you first see it, but it gets old real quick. It seemed fragile and very vulnerable to the elements. I would have been much happier with something a little more subtle.
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Fjasher46%2FDSC06717.jpg&hash=3d083aa4054d81f49a56d50533799f8dc42e075e) (http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/jasher46/DSC06717.jpg)
The clamp used was not a Graflex clamp. It was a dull aluminum clamp, similar to one I had previously picked up from King of Parts. The screws on the side are large and make the saber uncomfortable to hold (if you're right-handed). The grenade section is also quite coarse and can also be rough on the hands.
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Fjasher46%2FDSC06721.jpg&hash=2ec985d4ca38390d9200fb3730f3a0b9ccd3945a) (http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/jasher46/DSC06721.jpg)
The neck and the "weather vane" were my favorite parts of this saber. The realism of these two pieces are what attracted me to this saber to begin with.
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Fjasher46%2FDSC06716.jpg&hash=a88be1b75f0f6d02288ed1a4f1938ec6266efe6a) (http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/jasher46/DSC06716.jpg)
The emitter is very nice, but can only hold a 3/4" blade. Not surprising, because it's a Parks, but to house a 1" blade, you'd need a new emitter. Furthermore, the emitter is made of steel and not aluminum so it began to rust in my humid Taiwan home. :P
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Fjasher46%2FDSC06719.jpg&hash=8ac6df53a35ff64ecd4a15b9bbf9680f17fd87e0) (http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/jasher46/DSC06719.jpg)
The pommel is made of stainless-steel and the gear of aluminum. The gear is smooth and comfortable to hold. Both pieces are very nice. But I wasn't a big fan of the D-ring on the pommel...
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm92%2Fjasher46%2FDSC06718.jpg&hash=370d79ecd407ebf98fd294065e32d0ab183660fc) (http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm92/jasher46/DSC06718.jpg)
THE GRADE
~ emitter..... = 3/5
~ neck........ = 4/5
~ weather vane = 5/5
~ grenade..... = 5/5
~ clamp....... = 1/5
~ switch...... = 2/5
~ gear........ = 5/5
~ pommel...... = 4/5
======================
TOTAL SCORE... = 29/40 = 72.5%
Needless to say, I'm still looking to get an accurate hilt, 1" blade, duel-worthy Obi-Wan ROTS. This saber I traded to pipster79 and he did a great job of installing light and sound.
Check out this thread: http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=16816.0 (http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=16816.0)
With luck, he'll add his review here. ;)