# Dooku's Lightsaber **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 21, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164 "2002-05-21T20:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/1 "2002-05-21T20:07:11Z")
So, was I the only one who noticed that [Dooku’s lightsaber handle](http://www.bluelight.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1066320) (and [here](http://www.geocities.com/c-boath/dooku.htm)) was somewhat V-shaped? I kept expecting him to do the dual-blade thing, but I really couldn’t think of any positive benifits of having a V-shaped lightsaber. So did he have it that way just to have a better grip on it? Yes, I noticed that the toy only has one blade, but that’s certainly not definitive. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/2 "2002-05-21T20:56:54Z")
Correct. I get a better grip on it this way. (This will be my last Dooku username joke, I promise). 🙂 Seriously, when he first turned on his lightsaber, (or maybe the 2nd time when he turned it on again to fight Yoda), I noticed the fancy shaped handle, and assumed it was b/c it fit the fencing-type way in which he was holding it off to one side. So I would say yes, for comfort’s sake / to get a better grip on it based on his fencing style. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/3 "2002-05-21T21:02:57Z")
Ergonomics? ---
**Author:** ![downbylaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@downbylaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/downbylaw)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/4 "2002-05-21T21:05:24Z")
looks like a gas pump. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/5 "2002-05-21T21:40:04Z")
Certain General Mills cereals (including Cocoa Puffs) have lighsaber shaped pens as prizes in the boxes. The one of Dooku’s has a pistol-ish grip, as in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/6 "2002-05-21T22:32:29Z")
I thought it looked a bit like a next gen phaser. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/7 "2002-05-21T22:43:48Z")
A fencing foil will have a slight curve in the grip to assist in keeping the palm held upwards while fencing. If you get lazy and put the palm facing down, your opponent need only push down from the top and your foil is pointing down, making you defenseless. ---
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/8 "2002-05-21T23:30:05Z")
A foil doesn’t seem like it would have much advantage over a saber. I would think saber fencing would have no problem overcoming foil fencing. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/9 "2002-05-22T01:53:44Z")
The curve is an exagerated Epee handle. The curve makes holding the sword (RL or lightsaber) easier. I practice on a weekly basis with a reenactment group with something similar (minus the hollywood eye-candy looks). > [@](#): > > Skott A foil doesn’t seem like it would have much advantage over a saber. I would think saber fencing would have no problem overcoming foil fencing. other side of the coin, a saber does not have much of an advantage over a foil (or epee) Traditional saber does not use the tip as a valid form of attack. A foil does. Hard to position a saber into a position to attack when someone is going to poke you. a "pistol grip foil or epee gives a great deal of point control when handling a weapon. None of the lightsaber duels I have seen are classical, fencing styles (foil epee or saber) but a combination of all those styles plus a few more (kendo) as well. just my two cents. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/10 "2002-05-22T01:55:56Z")
Doh! should have previewed that… Skott wrote the first paragraph after the failed “quote” ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dookus-lightsaber/110164/11 "2002-05-22T05:05:52Z")
I thought that the curve was purely ornamental. Something elegant for the Count. 🙂