SilverWook said:

ATMachine said:

Judging by the hilt on the toy version, it seems possible that the two emitters on the crossguard are meant to do the job of protecting the hand, while also providing two additional smaller blades protruding a tright angles.

Of course, that could be totally wrong! I am judging this from a tiny piece of plastic, after all.

I do recall that Ralph McQuarrie's early saber hilt designs were based on flashlights with flared rims -- for the exact reason that that would make a good handguard. (Probably it was dropped because that design wouldn't fit very well on a utility belt.)

Or maybe they were worried they would look like flashlights. ;)

Neat image -- where's it from?