Did Star Wars ever reveal what happened to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber after his duel with Vader in the original Star Wars movie, A New Hope? Obi-Wan carried a total of three distinct lightsabers during his tenure as a Jedi. The first two were modeled after his former Master Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber. His third and final lightsaber, which he constructed after attaining the rank of Jedi Master and once again featured a blue plasma blade, is the one he dueled Darth Vader with on the Death Star in A New Hope.

Tragically, of course, that duel ended in Obi-Wan’s death, as he sacrificed himself to allow Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa to escape Vader’s clutches. After Vader struck the killing blow, Obi-Wan’s body disappeared as he became one with the Force, and only his material possessions were left behind, including his robe and, of course, his lightsaber. Star Wars has never truly confirmed what happened to it after Luke and Leia’s escape, however.

Obi-Wan’s Lightsaber May Have Been Destroyed When Luke Blew Up The Death Star

There’s a chance Obi-Wan’s third lightsaber was simply left on the Death Star, never to be seen again. Darth Vader had finally vanquished his old foe and there were more important things to worry about once Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca boarded the Millennium Falcon. After Obi-Wan dies, we see Vader touching Obi-Wan’s robe with the toe of his boot, but what happens after is lost in the chaos when Luke starts shooting at Vader’s stormtroopers.

It’s entirely possible that Obi-Wan’s lightsaber was left on the Death Star, collected by an Imperial officer or stormtrooper. If that’s true, that means the lightsaber was destroyed when Luke blew up the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin, the climactic scene at the end of A New Hope. If that’s the case, it’s no wonder Obi-Wan’s lightsaber was never seen again.

It’s Possible Darth Vader Took It As A Trophy

Equally possible, and perhaps more plausible, is that Darth Vader kept Obi-Wan’s lightsaber as a trophy, of sorts, after he defeated his old Master in combat. Though audiences weren’t aware of the full extent of their relationship in 1977, we now know that Obi-Wan defeated Vader during two pivotal duels – on Mustafar in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and later, on an unknown planet in Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6.

Given that history, it would be understandable if Vader had taken Obi-Wan’s lightsaber after their last duel. Finally, Vader had bested his old Master, severing another tie to his former life as Anakin Skywalker. Perhaps Vader wanted to take it as a memento, a reminder of how far he’d come as a Sith Lord. He could have easily picked it up and hid it in his robe. If Vader did take it for himself, however, it’s anyone’s guess what happened to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber after A New Hope and Vader’s death in Return of the Jedi.