I was trolling around the infra-nets last week and I bumped into Ken Hampton of Hampton’s Hand-crafted Lightsabers. This dude makes an incredible lightsaber, all custom with tons of options. I was more than impressed with his work. STAR WARS fans are always up to something awesome and Ken is no different. Check out what he had to say about his sabers and growing a self starter fan-business.
Ben, SWN: What inspired you to start crafting custom lightsabers?
Ken Hampton: “Like most fans, I’ve wanted to have a realistic lightsaber of my own since I was seven years old. I looked around and found that the affordable sabers looked too simple and the beautifully crafted sabers either weren’t for sale or they were way too expensive. So I decided to try building my own.
The work I did on my first saber, “Transparency” received so much attention on my personal FB page and with my friends, that I realized that there are others like me out there who have always wanted a quality lightsaber who may not have the means to make their own. So I thought, what better way to be able to continue my new hobby than to make it available to the world?”
SWN: Your sabers are incredibly detailed with optional light-up crystal chambers and custom sound profiles. Can you tell us a little about the creative process involved with building one?
Ken: “Everything starts with the customer. I find out what options and upgrades the customer wants, what color blade they prefer and then I leave it up to them how much input they give me on design. I’ve had customers send me sketches that they’ve drawn or send me a picture of one or more lightsabers they like and I’ve even had customers leave the design up to me. Some give me basic ideas, others I try and get a feel for the person in our communications. All of this leads to the next step, which is the concept art. Every customer gets a look at my vision for their saber and is allowed the opportunity to guide me through changes. I do all of my concept art drawings on Power-point and I always draw the concepts with an understanding of how I will build it. When it comes time to make the actual lightsaber the hard part is done. All I have to do at that point is to take the dream and make it a reality. “
SWN: Out of the orders you have filled so far do you have any personal favorite or favorites?
Ken: “Wow, that’s a tough one. I think my favorite will always be Transparency. It was my first and it’s mine, built to my own specifications. It isn’t perfect but every imperfection is a reminder of how far I’ve come. As far as the customer builds…well, they’re like my children. There are elements of each that I find so unique and special, but I could never choose a favorite from among them.”
SWN: Even your “basic” saber is pretty incredible in it’s own right but you told me that some can sell for 850$ or more depending on features and detailing. What types of features would one of these higher end pieces include?
Ken: “Everything. All the custom design and machining that goes into the basic saber plus the following upgrades: SUPER LED String blade; upgraded AV switch with switch plate, Illuminated crystal chamber, personalized sound with motion and clash sensor technology, rechargeable battery with an external recharge port and charger, pommel flanges, rumble motors, and complex hand etching.”
SWN: You’re obviously a huge STAR WARS fan. You mentioned wanting your own lightsaber since you were seven. When was the first time you saw a STAR WARS movie, which one is your favorite and do you have a favorite character?
Ken: “I saw Star Wars in the theater in the Summer of 1977 when I was seven years old (no need to do the math). I’ve seen every theatrical release since then to include going to a movie theater in Turkey to see Episode III. Empire Strikes Back is definitely my favorite. The plot, the emotion, the surprise ending and the introduction of Yoda made it the most awesome thing I had ever seen and it has always stuck with me. I have two favorite characters: Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi. It’s not as much about the characters as it is about their story. The pride, the fall, the redemption, and how they both lived their whole lives in an attempt to make things right in very different ways only to have their stories collide again through Luke. I love it.”
SWN: Tell us a bit about your saber, Transparency . What was your goal with this piece? Was it influenced by any existing character’s lighsaber?
Ken: I started with Transparency by sitting down at my computer and sketching out ideas. I only knew a few of things for sure; I wanted a very particular shape to the emitter shroud, I wanted a crystal chamber similar to the ones “Slothfurnace” makes and I had no real idea how I was going to pull it off. I did a lot of research online and started formulating my plan. In actuality it’s a very basic design, with the exception of the crystal chamber. I didn’t want it to look like an existing lightsaber, I wanted it to be a one-of-a-kind. I’ve adopted that philosophy for all of my customer builds as well. I will NEVER duplicate a design or replicate an existing lightsaber. I might re-imagine a design, but at the end of the day every customer gets a lightsaber like no one else in the world will ever have. I guarantee a one-of-a-kind saber for every customer.
Ken: “Because of the custom nature of my business I will never mass produce so growth would be dependent on hiring other machinists. Unfortunately most machinists don’t work as cheap as I do. I see this continuing to be what it is, me pouring my heart, soul, and passion into each design and build and creating one lightsaber at a time for my customers. I have enlisted some help. My daughter Allie has just graduated from high school and she will take over some of the administrative stuff for me. She’s already helping by answering some of the questions I get on my (Facebook) page. I’ve also got a couple of apprentices who want to learn to do what I do. They help me out a-lot and only ask that I share my knowledge. In a couple of years I’ll retire from the Air Force and if I can make a decent living building lightsabers full time, then I will be a very happy man.”
SWN: What other types of “Nerdy” interests do you have outside of STAR WARS and lightsabers?
Ken: “My wife and I are big into Renaissance Festivals. Every Fall we dress up and wander the streets of our local Ren Fest. I have a couple of costumes to include a kilt. Once upon a time (20+ years ago) I taught myself to build working boomerangs. I guess I’ve always had an interest in the outer fringe of normal.”
SWN: Thanks for your time Ken. You definitely make an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.
Ken: “Thank you for inviting me. I really enjoy getting my story out there. I love building my lightsabers but more than that I love to be able to get the fans like me the lightsaber they’ve always wanted for a reasonable price. What I really love is the reaction from the fans when they see my work. My Facebook page has a lot of pictures of builds in progress all the way to the final product, links to my Youtube channel, and all the information about how to order a lightsaber. To see all of this or to contact me for your very own build, go to www.facebook.com/HamptonsHandCraftedLightsabers. ”
I am a customer of Ken's. This man is the real deal. Even with only the limited amount of tools and workspace that he has he is able to churn out absolute works of art. I commissioned him to create my "Metallicus" saber for me. The feeling of watching him post updates on the work he's doing on your project is amazing because it builds your anticipation and you know that you are getting an absolute one of a kind work of art the he will NEVER replicate. I stand behind this mans dream and his work. I am proud to say that I have a "Hamptons Hand-Crafted Lightsaber" and I will be ordering more from him in the future. Stop by his page and take a look at his work. If you order from him you will not be disappointed.
As both Ken's daughter, and a Star Wars fan, I must say that I've never been so proud and astonished of the work he has done! Watching him build his "babies" is pretty cool and the completed product is always astounding. He puts his heart and soul into every saber he builds. He's definitely the person to go to if you're looking for the lightsaber of your dreams. (He built mine as well)!
I am a customer of Ken's. My saber has not been started,but is in his work queue. But he worked with me every step of the way in the designing of the concept and I gotta say,the concept was AWESOME!!! But I know that the actual build will be so much more amazing!!! I'll have mine by september. I am always staying up-to-date with all his uploads of his new designs and follow along with all his posts as builds come together…of course i get more and more anxious with every build because I cant wait to have mine!!!
I've known Ken for near 20 years when we were young AF troops. It's great to see him doing something this cool. Now if he would just start making sonic screwdrivers he'd be a millionaire soon.
I actually found FB page by accident, a friend of mine liked it and I checked it out…to be honest, amazed isn't a strong enough word. Within 2 weeks of following his page, I had placed my order with him(Cerberus is the name of my hilt in his albums). He took my quick sketch and turned it into the design I had in my head. This wait is killing me! Keep up the awesome job!
I'm having my custom lightsaber built by Ken. He has been on point, friendly and helpful with the details of what I want on my design. I looked around at other custom saber builders and he stacked up to be the cheapest by far but from the images images of other saber's he has built I can say his quality is as good (if not superior) to those who would charge you an arm and a leg.
Can't wait to see my Saber come to life by his very talented hands.
I’m having my custom lightsaber built by Ken. He has been on point, friendly and helpful with the details of what I want on my design which has been dubbed "Vengeance," (Look at it in his albums and tell me it doesn't look fantastic!!!!!) I looked around at other custom saber builders and he stacked up to be the cheapest by far but from the images images of other saber’s he has built I can say his quality is as good (if not superior) to those who would charge you an arm and a leg.
Can’t wait to see my Saber come to life by his very talented hands.
When Sgt. Hampton brought in his first lightsaber to my office I was instantly fascinated and had enough questions to drive someone mad, but he was patient with me and soon I had my build designed Redemption is the name. I want to learn so much more of the how to and so for a good bit I watched him build the sabers and even filmed some of the builds as they were being done for the customers to see. This man has my utmost respect and praise as he never turned away a question and is always willing to share his knowledge. Thank you Sgt. Hampton for making a young man's dream come true.