Darth Vader returns: Star Wars lightsaber to be auctioned, could fetch $3 million

One of the most coveted artifacts from the Star Wars film universe will be auctioned off from September 4th to 6th in Los Angeles. It's the lightsaber that Darth Vader used to sever Luke Skywalker's hand in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back . The iconic object was unveiled this Wednesday in London and has been hailed as the "Holy Grail" by fans of the saga.

Propstore, an auction house renowned for its film memorabilia, expects the final price to reach up to $3 million . Brandon Alinger, the company's director of operations, told AFP: "It's simply an amazing piece of film history."

The lightsaber was used in combat scenes in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), in the hands of actor David Prowse and stuntman Bob Anderson. This is the version designed for combat, originally equipped with a removed wooden blade, and preserved by an American collector for over four decades.

Despite its futuristic appearance, the saber is made from humble materials: a part of an old camera flash and recycled calculator components. However, Propstore experts certified its authenticity by comparing the dents and scratches visible in the films with the real thing.

Brandon Alinger pointed out a fascinating detail: “Look at the big dent in the back, it probably came from Mark Hamill’s lightsaber blade,” referring to the actor who played Luke Skywalker.

The event won't be limited to Vader's lightsaber. Other notable lots include Harrison Ford's whip, belt, and holster from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), as well as a working neuralyzer with an LED display used by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black (1997), which could fetch up to $150,000 .