If there’s one thing the master-apprentice duo of Obi-Wan and Anakin are known for (aside from losing limbs), it’s their signature blue lightsabers.
Anakin and Obi-Wan’s blades are some of the most recognizable in Star Wars, but as seen in the prequel trilogy, these two haven’t always had their famous lightsabers.
This has led many fans to wonder: “Wait, what blades have they had across the series?”
Wonder no more, fellow Star Wars fans! We’re here with a quick run-down of every lightsaber these two have wielded from Episode I to Episode IV.
But first, we should have a quick talk about colors.
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What’s behind lightsaber colors?
Obi-Wan and Anakin are most well-known for their blue lightsabers; “But,” you may be asking, “Why are they blue?”
Lightsaber colors are mostly random in canon, with a few exceptions, so the short answer here would be pure coincidence.
However, Legends material clarifies how colors are chosen, and it has to do with a Jedi’s class.
Blue lightsabers are for Jedi Guardians, who master the light side of the Force with physical prowess, and lightsaber skills.
Green lightsabers are reserved for Jedi Consulars, who focus on the mental and spiritual aspects of the Force, as opposed to combat.
Knowing this, it’s easy to see why Anakin and Obi-Wan wielded blue lightsabers.
Anakin by Revenge of the Sith is aggressive and prone to the dark side, and whose strength lies in his skills in Djem-So and other forms of lightsaber combat.
Similarly, Obi-Wan, by that time, is a renowned Soresu duelist, capable of beating General Grievous (and, later, Anakin himself).
Wait, didn’t Anakin once use a green lightsaber?
As a matter of fact, he did!
However, it wasn’t his.
During Attack of the Clones, Anakin’s first lightsaber became damaged in a Geonosian droid factory, and rendered completely unusable.
However, when it came time to duel in the Geonosian arena and eventually against Count Dooku, Anakin borrowed a lightsaber from the battlegrounds, picking up a green-hued blade.
He shortly lost it again, though, after his failed duel with Count Dooku, and soon enough returned to a blue lightsaber.
Has Obi-Wan ever used a green lightsaber?
As far as we’re aware, no.
All three of Obi-Wan’s primary blades across the film series are fitted with a blue crystal, despite his growing competency with the Force as opposed to his pure dueling skills.
However, Luke Skywalker’s second lightsaber was modeled after Obi-Wan’s third blade, and held a green kyber crystal within its hilt.
History of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s Lightsabers
Over the course of the film series, Obi-Wan and Anakin have constructed a total of five lightsabers between them (three for Obi-Wan, and two for Anakin).
As we’ll see, both had an unfortunate habit of losing their lightsabers (and frequently replacing them because of it).
Obi-Wan’s First Lightsaber
First up, Obi-Wan’s first lightsaber was constructed sometime during his padawanship.
Though it’s unclear the exact date he created his lightsaber, Obi-Wan could be found using it by 40BBY, meaning it was his primary lightsaber for at least eight years.
Its hilt took inspiration from Qui-Gon Jinn’s simple design, with a notched hand-grip and a ball-like pommel.
Famously, Obi-Wan used this blade on the planet of Mandalore, where he met Satine Kryze for the first time, sparking a bond that would last throughout the later Clone Wars.
This blade lasted until the Invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation.
During his duel with Darth Maul, the latter disarmed Kenobi, kicking his lightsaber down the large reactor shaft in the center of their makeshift arena.
We assume the lightsaber was destroyed because of this, as the reactor shaft led down into a melting pit (where Darth Maul almost burned up), marking the end of this blade’s journey.
Obi-Wan’s Second Lightsaber
Next up is Obi-Wan’s second lightsaber.
He made this one shortly after the loss of his first, meaning he likely had it for around ten years; or a bit longer than his last saber.
This one roughly recreated the first, taking stylistic inspiration while still deviating on some smaller details (such as a pointed emitter and filling out the notched grip).
This lightsaber notably served Kenobi during the beginning of the Separatist Crisis, though it fell short of being used in the later Clone Wars.
This is because, typical of Kenobi, the blade itself was lost to Count Dooku, and was never returned to its original owner.
Ultimately, we can’t say for sure what happened to Kenobi’s second lightsaber beyond this point; maybe Dooku kept it as a trophy (or gave it to General Grievous), maybe he didn’t.
Anakin’s First Lightsaber
A similar story goes for Anakin’s first lightsaber, however, with even less reliable information to go off of.
Star Wars Canon offers two dates for the construction of his blade, either 29BBY or 27BBY (making Anakin himself either 12 or 14 years old when he acquired the lightsaber).
The hilt was known for being clunky and unwieldy, with large ridges along the grip and a control box jotting from out the side.
Anakin used this blade throughout his padawanship and into his knighthood, bringing it into the Separatist Crisis like his mentor, Obi-Wan.
Much in the same vein as Obi-Wan, however, Anakin quickly lost his lightsaber just before the onset of the Clone Wars.
While avoiding the machinery of a Geonosian droid factory, the hilt of his blade became Darth Mauled by a mechanical cutting arm, splitting it right across the center.
It ended up discarded in the factory as scrap. So, while it’s uncertain of the exact fate of Anakin’s first lightsaber, we’d have to imagine it was destroyed in the oncoming attack on the droid foundries by the Republic’s clone army.
Obi-Wan’s Third Lightsaber
Next on our list is Obi-Wan’s third lightsaber, which is where we start to get some specific dates for its construction.
This lightsaber was constructed in 22BBY, shortly after the loss of Obi-Wan’s second lightsaber on Geonosis.
Its hilt diverges from Obi-Wan’s usual patterns, with a famous thin connection between the emitter and the hilt and replacing the ball-pommel with a less prominent cap.
While some elements remain (such as the notched grip, which is unfilled like his first blade), overall the hilt harkens a new beginning for Obi-Wan as a seasoned Jedi Master.
This is the lightsaber Kenobi used throughout the Clone Wars, most famously near its conclusion, in his duel against General Grievous.
In that duel, however, Obi-Wan almost lost his lightsaber (again) from dropping it while chasing Grievous.
But, this time, it was kindly returned to him by Commander Cody (briefly before Order 66 came, in which Commander Cody kindly ordered his troops to shoot at Obi-Wan).
Fittingly, this is also the blade used in Obi-Wan’s climactic duel against his former apprentice, now known as Darth Vader.
After using it to slice-and-dice Vader, Obi-Wan retreated with it to Tatooine, watching over Luke Skywalker.
During this period, the lightsaber was seldom used, apart from Kenobi’s second duel with Darth Maul, which itself did not last very long.
However, by the time of A New Hope, Kenobi’s lightsaber had a last hurrah in the adventure to save Leia Organa, being used in the cantina to defend Luke.
Its true finale came in the climactic rematch between master and apprentice, going toe-to-toe with Vader for one last time.
But, we know how that turned out.
What happened to it after Vader’s duel is unknown.
It would seem Vader kept the hilt of his former master, though; this is confirmed in Legends, where he displays it as a trophy in his personal retreat on the planet Vjun.
Anakin’s Second Lightsaber
To finish off the master and apprentice pair’s original lightsabers, we have the second lightsaber of Anakin Skywalker, easily the most famous throughout Star Wars history.
A refinement of Skywalker’s original design, his second lightsaber was constructed in 22BBY, like his master’s third blade.
While still not as lean as lightsabers such as Obi-Wan’s, Skywalker’s second lightsaber slimmed the chunky and unwieldy size of his original lightsaber.
This led to a much more effective lightsaber, its controllable heft working well with Anakin’s burgeoning Djem-So fighting style.
Its efficiency was shown across the Clone Wars, and especially against Count Dooku near its end.
This lightsaber, unfortunately, was also used to execute Order 66, defeating hundreds of Jedi in the Jedi Temple and eventually turning against Anakin’s former master.
However, this didn’t work well for Anakin, who promptly lost it (and a few limbs) on Mustafar.
Obi-Wan took the lightsaber from there, marking the end of Anakin’s use of it.
While it passed between Obi-Wan, Luke, Maz Kanata, and Finn and Rey by 35ABY, as far as Anakin’s history is concerned, the lightsaber’s story ends here.
Did Obi-Wan make Anakin’s second lightsaber?
Because Obi-Wan took Anakin’s blade after their duel on Mustafar, some fans have wondered whether or not Kenobi made the lightsaber himself.
While his ownership of it by A New Hope might indicate that, there’s no evidence showing that Obi-Wan created Anakin’s second lightsaber.
In fact, canon indicates that Anakin built the lightsaber himself, as would be the tradition among the Jedi Order.
So, Obi-Wan just stole Anakin’s lightsaber.
Bonus: Darth Vader’s Lightsaber
While not technically Anakin’s lightsaber (from a certain point of view), Darth Vader’s lightsaber is an evolution of Anakin’s second lightsaber, so we’ll include it here.
Constructed between 18BBY and 19BBY, Vader’s blade takes the original style of Anakin’s second lightsaber and adds a darker flair.
Adding a black emitter and power-cell chamber, the hilt clearly shows off Vader’s full embracement of the dark side.
The lightsaber found its use throughout the rise of the Empire, and the resulting Galactic Civil War.
Notably, it was used on the rebel command ship above Scarif to show a corridor of rebel fighters the power of the dark side (or just to show off a bit).
Later, it was used against Obi-Wan, and eventually, Vader’s own son, Luke, before being lost once and for all in the final duel between father and son.
Since his lightsaber not only fell into the Death Star II reactor pit (along with his right hand), but was caught in the Death Star II when it turned into fireworks, we’re guessing it’s pretty destroyed by now, though.
Conclusion
So, feel like a lightsaber historian now?
With all these lightsaber examples, which one is your favorite? Feel free to comment your thoughts below, and share around if this caught your interest!
But for now, may the Force be with you, always.