Corbin Das had approached me back in 2004/2005 about making a custom sabr for him. He sent me an MSPaint drawing, some brass tubing and the antique brass fluted section to use in it's construction. At the time, I till had my manual 3-in-1 machine and I started making the saber. I had a minor accident with a bolt breaking on the mill causing severe damage the original copper emitter and neck section (and copper is not a cheap material). That sidelined the project mid 2005. From what work I had already doine, I knew the project would require a lot more of me than my manual machine could handle. I had already been thinking of upgrading the 3-in-1 machine to a CNC machine and I talked it over with Corbin and he agreed to wit until I could get CNC setup to start the project again. In 2006, instead of upgrading the manual machine, I bought a CNC Bridgeport mill. After spending a few months teaching myself the 3D modelling software and how to use the CNC machine, I was ready to try again. I started back early in 2007. By May 2007, I had all the parts machined.
I would also like to point out that
ALL of the parts I machined for the Killer Penny were done on a CNC mill. THere was no lathe work involved at all.
Then, as per Corbin's wish, the part were weathered.
I know it came as a shock to many people who had seen the 'as first built' version to see what I had done to the pretty copper and brass parts. But's it is what Corbin wanted.
I don't know if Corbin ever got around to it, but there was supposed to be a back story written where his character finds the parts for the Killer Penny in a box buried in cave. So I obliged that by finind the ugliset old box I could and makig with the dust and years of sitting around waiting to be discovered.
I delivered the saber to Corbin persoanlly the day before CIV in Los Angeles.
So, there you have a little more history of the Killer Penny (and some new pics on this site).