Frustrated by the lack of quality lightsabers in toy shops, Makoto Tsai did what any self-respecting hardcore Star Wars fan would do -- he studied engineering at college and then spent years perfecting a replica.

The 36-year-old is part of a small group of artisans around the world who have forged successful careers hand-crafting remarkably realistic models of the movie saga's famous energy swords.

As fans gather globally on May 4th for what has become the unofficial Star Wars Day -- this year mourning the death of towering Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew -- many will be clutching one of Tsai's lightsabers, made in his workshop near Taipei.

In the past decade he has shipped around 1,000 blades to some 40 countries as diverse as the United States, France and Cuba to Peru, Iceland and Tunisia. Prices start at $255 and around 80 percent of his orders come from abroad.

Local and ethnic Chinese fans are offered a half price discount, providing that they pass a written test "to prove they have enough passion for Star Wars".

"I hand-make every piece of work so it's very intimate to me. I only want those who really like it to own it," he told AFP at his memorabilia filled workshop.

Star Wars may be a multi-billion dollar Hollywood franchise but fans have long complained that the official lightsabers on the market are flimsy and disappointing versions of the whizzing, crackling, swords seen in the films.

Retro origins

Advances in battery, LED and computing technology have helped these artisans create increasingly sophisticated replicas, many of them choosing to avoid overt branding from the films to reduce their exposure on copyright issues.

Bright tubes of light and motion-linked audio cards similar to the film's sound effects are now standard.

The original lightsaber wielded by Luke Skywalker in the first 1977 instalment -- a remarkably budget production compared to its lavish follow-ups -- was little more than the handle of an old Graflex camera flash.

Those retro flashes have now become notoriously hard to source thanks to Star Wars fans. The most expensive fan-built lightsaber replicas which FEATURE original Graflex handles have sold for as much as $15,000 on eBay.

Tsai said he constantly researches to make his lightsabers "brighter, more durable and easier to manoeuver" so they can be used in fencing, which he has been promoting in Taiwan with regular duels.

Fans use model lightsabers during an event in Taipei.

'May the fourth be with you'

One of Tsai's proudest moments was an outing to Taiwan's presidential office on last year's Star Wars Day.

Darth Vader, Chewbacca and a motley crew of intergalactic characters chanted "May the force be with you" alongside Vice President Chen Chien-jen, while toy gun-toting stormtroopers joined military police to stand guard outside the landmark in downtown Taipei.

This year fans will gather near the renowned Taipei 101 skyscraper to mark the day, he said.

With plenty more Star Wars films planned by the Disney-owned franchise in the years ahead, Tsai is confident he'll have new generations of fans flocking to buy his sabres.

"I am very optimistic that there will be more and more die-hard fans and we can definitely keep the momentum for at least another decade," he said.

Agence France-Presse