Our Story

A long time ago...

before my first telescoping saber, and LONG before my first fixed blade saber, I had a retractable saber... It didn't light up, or make cool sounds, but with a swift enough flick, I could toss the blade out about 4 feet! Trust me, I measured.

Years later, during a global pandemic, I spent countless hours on discord with my great friends, Jerrad and Justin Cline. Being locked in put a hold on many of our projects, so we gravitated towards things we could do indoors. Naturally, we started learning to 3D print, and eventually graduated to designing our own models. When the crazy idea of making a tape measure-like saber came up, I was able to lean on their mechanical and electrical knowledge. They not only helped keep me sane through a tough time, but guided me in bringing the very first version of a retractable saber to life.

From Idea to Product

That first version, however exciting, was difficult to produce and quite rough around the edges. The blade was heat formed in my garage and sanded by hand to diffuse light. It would develop tiny cracks every time I used it (today, that blade is probably more tape than plastic!). The electronics were bulky, fragile, and extremely difficult to replicate. I knew that, to make an accessible and enjoyable saber, massive improvements needed to be made.

Learning to mass produce and building a business around a product of this scale is quite the undertaking. I owe a heap of gratitude to my business partner, Fabio Brocca, whom many of you have met at various events! Fabio has helped keep the project on track, in scope, and focused on the customer. We've overcome many hurdles, established supplier relationships, and developed processes to make transforming this idea into a product a possibility.

Better Blades

After many iterations, testing various materials and processes, we found a plastic that is rigid yet flexible enough to be flattened onto a reel. Now, instead of sanding the blades, diffusion is achieved with an additive to the plastic during manufacturing.

Then we thought, what if something happens to the blade? They can't be a permanent part of the saber and certainly can't require complete disassembly to access. So we've integrated a twist-lock mechanism into the design so that blades can be easily removed for storage, or replaced if damaged. If the blade becomes deformed, which can happen with prolonged storage in the hilt, it can be reformed (more about that below).

A Very Special PCB

Designing a circuit board capable of supporting all the powerful features of Reel Saber was a remarkable challenge. It required not only the ability to handle substantial power but also the elegance to distribute it efficiently in both large and small ways. This was no ordinary task, as the design had to be exceptionally compact and energy-efficient.

We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with Talos Innovazioni, a brilliant team that assisted us in prototyping and refining several iterations of this compact powerhouse. Their expertise has been invaluable in bringing Reel Saber to life!

Today!

I'm proud to introduce Reel Saber, a stunning retractable saber packed with innovative features to bring your sci-fi dreams to life!

Reel Saber's patent pending design delivers the exciting moment of ignition with a blade that actually retracts into the hilt!