Mark Hamill’s Empire Strikes Back lightsaber makes auction history with record sale

Mark Hamill’s original Luke Skywalker lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back has made history after selling for a record-breaking $3.75 million at auction, becoming the most expensive screen-used Star Wars prop ever sold.

The iconic lightsaber was sold by Heritage Auctions on July 15, 2026, setting a new world record among production-used Star Wars memorabilia. The prop was famously used by Hamill during Luke Skywalker’s legendary duel with Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back, including the dramatic scene where Vader cuts off Luke’s hand and reveals the shocking truth about their connection. 

The lightsaber was initially offered with a starting price of $1 million and was expected to sell for around $2 million. However, intense bidding pushed the final price to $3.75 million, surpassing previous records for screen-used Star Wars items.

Before this sale, the record was held by an original 20-inch X-wing starfighter filming model from the 1977 film Star Wars, which sold for $3.135 million in 2023.

Although the Luke Skywalker lightsaber now holds the record for the highest-selling screen-used Star Wars prop, it narrowly missed the franchise’s overall auction record. That title remains with the original half-sheet key poster painting for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which sold for $3.875 million.

The historic prop was created using a modified Graflex flash unit, which became the foundation for Luke Skywalker’s signature weapon throughout the original trilogy. The auction lot also included the original severed hand effects rig designed by legendary makeup artist Stuart Freeborn, known for his work on characters including Yoda.

The record-breaking sale highlights the continued demand for rare Star Wars collectibles and Hollywood memorabilia among fans and collectors worldwide.