Gira Lightsaber (Katana Lightsaber) | Lightsaber Profile

The Gira lightsaber is a single-bladed blue lightsaber wielded by Jedi Knight Gira in Star Wars Legends. Gira is a Rise of the Empire era human male Jedi Knight. He survives Order 66 and the initial stages of the Great Jedi Purge. He protects a group of Jedi Padawans until his tragic encounter with Darth Vader. The Gira lightsaber is a katana style lightsaber.

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Gira lightsaber
The Gira Lightsaber in Star Wars Tales 11 (2002) | IMAGE CREDIT Darth Horse Comics

Gira Lightsaber in Star Wars Legends

The Gira lightsaber is comprised of a cylindrical metal hilt. The blade emitter section features a disc-shaped tsuba (handguard). In the lower part of the hilt, an activation box extends out of the grooved grip section. A notched pommel caps off the end of the hilt. The Jedi lightsaber emits a blue blade.

Gira serves the Jedi Order as a Jedi Knight during the waning years of the Republic. He survives the enactment of Order 66 and the initial stages of the Great Jedi Purge. He takes on a group of Jedi Padawans and vows to protect them from the emerging Galactic Empire.

The Sith Lord Darth Vader locates Gira and the Padawans aboard a ship. Gira orders the ship’s commander to evacuate the Padawans through the escape vessel. The commander says he needs Gira’s help with the airlock. When Gira investigates, Darth Vader ambushes the Jedi Knight. The Jedi Knight ignites his blue-bladed lightsaber and the Sith Lord extends his red-bladed lightsaber. Gira and Vader engage in lightsaber combat. Gira is temped by the dark side during the battle.

Vader eventually disarms Gira. Vader offers to spare the lives of the Padawans, but only if Gira joins him. After the Sith Lord repeatedly insists he will spare the Padawans, Gira reluctantly joins Vader. Gira then watches in horror as Vader orders the destruction of the Padawan’s escape vessel. Vader leaves, remarking that he had successfully broken Gira’s will and his spirit. Betrayed and broken, Gira recovers his blue-bladed lightsaber and ignites his weapon into his own chest.

Behind the Scenes

The Gira lightsaber first appears in “The Duty”, one of the stories in the comic book Star Wars Tales 12 (2002).

The Gira lightsaber features a design similar to a Japanese katana, a weapon of the samurai. When Gira fails to protect the Padawans, he kills himself with his lightsaber in a similar manner to Japanese samurai seppuku/harakira.

COVER IMAGE CREDIT Dark Horse Comics
Image depicts Gira and the Gira lightsaber

Visit List of Personal Lightsabers to learn about more character lightsabers.

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