by Victoria & Jay
May the 4th is a date which has become synonymous, for those fans among us, with George Lucas' Star Wars films. Why? Because of the easy play on words which turns the famous catchphrase 'May the Force be with you' into 'May the Fourth be with you'. Having been originally started by dedicated fans, since 2011 the day has now officially been accepted as Star Wars Day across the world and has even been recognised by The Walt Disney Company, cementing its place as a day for fans to celebrate all things Star Wars.
But what does Star Wars have to do with our collections here at Heritage Eastbourne you may be wondering. Sadly, the Redoubt was never home to any Jedi and we do not have the space to store a spaceship... however, what we do have in our military collection is an example of a British No.3 MK1 rifle grenade, the exact type used for the design inspiration and actual prop for Obi-Wan Kenobi's first lightsaber in the 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV.
"This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized time." - Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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| The original hilt for Obi Wan's lightsaber prop from 1977 |
The British No.3 MK1 grenade was part of vital weaponry developed by the British Army in the First World War, and specifically some of the most complex rod grenades of their time, created under the direction of Martin Hale. There are more than 20 separate mechanical parts to the No.3, all machined or formed individually - an expensive and intricate proposition for the era!
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| Our No.3 MK1 rifle grenade - the use of it for the middle of the lightsaber is clear in the photograph above. |
The No.3 is a rifle grenade, designed to be primed and fired from the barrels of service rifles, reaching distances much further than can be thrown by hand. The grenade with an attached steel rod would be inserted into the barrel of a rifle, typically a Lee-Enfield SMLE Mk III, and clipped to the muzzle. A blank firing cartridge would then be loaded into the chamber. The firer would then pull the safety pin out of the locking sleeve attached to the grenade and launch the weapon by firing the rifle as usual. Once fired, the sleeve is forced back and frees the collar to spin and gradually unlock two safety bolts which fall out (by which point the grenade is now a safe distance away from the firer) and the grenade is armed. A spring inside the fuse housing holds back the grenade's firing pin, which is forced forward and makes contact with the detonator on impact.
So how did a First World War grenade become the core of a lightsaber? Working on a budget for the first film meant George Lucas and his production team had to create some of their props themselves using anything they could find and be inspired by. They were therefore cobbled together from bits and bobs they could get their hands on easily. For Obi-Wan's lightsaber, which had the most complicated hilt, this included parts from the rifle grenade, piping from a Rolls Royce Derwent 8 engine, an early LED calculator, a camera clamp and a sink tap!
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| Obi Wan with his lightsaber in Star Wars: Episode IV |
As we all know now, these lightsabers, or 'lazerswords' as they were first known, became a hugely significant part of the Star Wars empire. This small story is a fascinating reminder that inspiration comes from everywhere and that these random objects, vastly significant in their own time but long redundant in their original use, can still have a purpose even in the most unexpected of situations - becoming something which is still, 40 years on, such an iconic image in the world of film.
May the Force, Fourth, and Fort be with you!
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