The original lightsaber used by Darth Vader in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) and its sequel “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (1983) has achieved a monumental sale at auction, fetching $3,654,000 (equivalent to £2.7 million). This makes it the highest-priced “Star Wars” item ever sold at auction, significantly surpassing pre-sale expectations. The prop, described by Propstore (the movie memorabilia auction house) as the only hero lightsaber from these two iconic films with verifiable screen use ever offered at public auction, marks a landmark moment in film collecting.

Originally handled by actor David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader, and also used by stunt performer Bob Anderson, the lightsaber was crafted from a modified old flash camera attachment, specifically a British press camera flash handle. This unique construction adds to its historical value as a tangible piece of cinematic history.

Brandon Alinger, COO of Propstore, expressed the profound significance of the sale: “The result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting. To see a ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber — the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas — become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special. It speaks to the enduring cultural power of ‘Star Wars’ and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”

The auction, which took place at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles and was continuing, also featured the sale of several other highly coveted movie props. Among these, Harrison Ford’s bullwhip, belt, and whip holster from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” commanded $485,100, exceeding its pre-sale estimate. Leonardo DiCaprio’s flamethrower from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” sold for $346,500, while the famous Platform 9 3/4 sign from the “Harry Potter” franchise fetched $138,600.

Further notable sales included the screen-matched light-up hero close-up Neuralyzer from “Men In Black” (1997) for $315,000, Clayton Moore’s promotional Lone Ranger Stetson Hat from “The Lone Ranger” T.V. Series (1949 – 1957) for $302,400, and Spider-Man’s (Tobey Maguire) costume from “Spider-Man” (2002) for $289,800. Sauron’s (Sala Baker) Helmet from “The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring” (2001) also sold for $289,900.

Other significant items included Ellen Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) practical SFX M240 Flamethrower from “Aliens” (1986) for $252,000, and an animatronic Billy Puppet with remote from “Saw III” (2006) for $176,400. Iconic weapons such as Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) stunt Longclaw Sword from “Game of Thrones” and John Rambo’s (Sylvester Stallone) Compound Bow from “Rambo III” (1988) each sold for $94,500. A “Jaws” (1975) Shark Tooth Clapperboard also went for $94,500.

The auction also saw Captain America’s (Chris Evans) Shield from “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” (2015) sell for $85,050. Smaller, yet equally iconic, items like Elizabeth Swann’s (Keira Knightley) screen-matched Dusty Cursed Aztec Medallion Necklace from “Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl” (2003) and Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) Marauder’s Map Scene SFX Light-Up Hero Wand from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004) both achieved $81,900. Rounding out the diverse collection were a production-made Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) Mask from “Deadpool” (2016) and Ace Ventura’s (Jim Carrey) screen-matched costume from “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” (1995), each selling for $21,420.