Propstore is offering an incredible piece of film history in their upcoming Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. They will be selling Darth Vader’s primary dueling lightsaber prop that was used on screen in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The auction is scheduled to run for three days in September 2025 in Los Angeles.

The lightsaber prop is prominently featured in the original trilogy movies when Darth Vader duels Luke Skywalker. The screen-matched hero prop was used by actor David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson.

It is made from a vintage British press camera flash handle then modified with plastic grips, calculator bubbles, and cosmetic wiring. It was also given a custom blade-mounting system for the wooden rod, which served as the blade for the fight scenes and was the guide for visual effects artists to create the glowing effect.

The prop is photo matched by the damage on the hilt, confirming that it is the main lightsaber used by Darth Vader during on-screen shots that included the bladed lightsaber.

This marks the first time the lightsaber prop will be offered at auction after spending decades in a private collection. Prior to Propstore’s auction, the lightsaber will be displayed in London on August 6, Beverly Hills on the week of August 18, and New York on the week of August 25.

“The lightsaber, or laser sword as it was initially called, was imagined by George Lucas as the perfect defensive weapon for a more sophisticated age. Nearly 50 years after the first Star Wars film, lightsabers are a universally recognized symbol of the world’s most beloved film franchise and are consistently ranked as the most iconic and memorable props of all time,” Propstore COO Brandon Alinger said. “They are the ‘ruby slippers’ of cinema’s modern era. Surviving genuine lightsaber props from the original trilogy of films are exceedingly rare, and Propstore is honored to present this historic artifact in our September sale. It is a grail-level piece, worthy of the finest collections in the world. This lightsaber is simply everything you want it to be – one of the most significant Star Wars artifacts ever. One of the most significant cinema artifacts ever.”

Some of the other top lots in Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction include Indiana Jones’ (Harrison Ford) bullwhip and belt from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the hero close-up Neuralyzer from Men in Black, Sauron’s helmet from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and a shark tooth clapperboard from Jaws.