Bidders are gearing up for a chance to own a piece of cinematic history as Darth Vader's iconic lightsaber from "Star Wars" goes up for auction this week. This screen-matched dueling lightsaber, featured in both "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," is part of the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction: Los Angeles Summer 2025, organized by Propstore.

The non-working lightsaber is among hundreds of items available for bidding. Other notable items include Indiana Jones' whip and Michael Keaton's Batman suit. The starting bid for the lightsaber is set at $500,000. Currently, the highest absentee bid has reached $1.2 million, according to Propstore's listing.

The lightsaber was wielded by both David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson, serving as the primary dueling prop for Vader's character in the two films. The item's description highlights its extensive use during filming, stating, "It saw extensive use during the filming of both movies and is one of the most memorable film props from the original trilogy."

This red-laser lightsaber, used in the 1980 and 1983 films, shows visible signs of wear from its fight scenes. It features a top shroud that has been cut away, a visible crack, chipped paint, and scratches that reflect its history on set. The prop was notably used in the iconic battle scenes between Vader and Luke Skywalker, including the famous moment when Vader reveals, "I am your father," while slicing off Luke's hand.

For more details and specifications about the lightsaber, interested parties can refer to Propstore's listing.