Dooku ' s lightsaber / Legends A curved - hilt lightsaber was constructed by and served Dooku during his career as both a Jedi Master and a Sith Lord . Specifications . When Dooku first set about creating this weapon , he chose a configuration that had no connection to either the weapon wielded by his first tutor , Yoda , nor to the style in fashion at the time . Studying Jedi Archive records , Dooku based his new weapon design after the curved hilts that were standard during the heyday of Form II lightsaber combat . The curve allowed the hilt to fit better into his hand , allowing for superior finesse and precise blade control . The emitter featured both an angular blade guard and a thumb trigger that activated the weapons dual - phase setting , shortening the blade for a close quarters surprise attack . The first third of the weapon casing was a solid piece that contained an inclined focusing chamber and a series of thermal radiator grooves along the inside of the curve . The crystal chamber was positioned in the joint between this piece and the handgrip . Concealed beneath the fabric covering of the handgrip was a magnetic adhesion plate that secured the weapon to Dooku ' s belt when not in use . The final third of the hilt contained the activator and the three power cells . The first cell , a compound power cell , was contained in the bend in the hilt directly below the handgrip . The second , a Phase A cell , was positioned next to the activator , a red pinky trigger . The last cell , the reserve , was contained in the weapon ' s pommel . History . Dooku constructed his lightsaber shortly after becoming a Jedi Master , deliberately using a design that had little connection to the standard lightsaber he had wielded as a Knight . The Master had entertained a long interest in such designs , including a short , handwritten comment to that effect in his copy of the " " next to the brief description of a curved - hilt lightsaber . Notably , this weapon saw use against the True Mandalorians during the Battle of Galidraan . When Dooku left the Jedi Order , he took his lightsaber with him . When he joined the Order of the Sith Lords , Dooku converted the weapon into a Sith lightsaber by replacing the original blue crystal with a scarlet synthetic gem , improving the blade ' s cutting power at the expense of maneuverability . However , despite renouncing the Jedi way , Dooku would continue to greet opponents with the traditional Makashi salute . At the start of the Clone Wars , Dooku would brandish the lightsaber against Jedi Knight Obi - Wan Kenobi and Padawan Anakin Skywalker . Dooku brought down Kenobi with light - though damaging - cuts across his right arm and leg , while Skywalker ' s fury forced Dooku to resort to first destroy one of his opponents weapons then amputated the young Jedi ' s arm . Dooku was subsequently confronted by Jedi Grand Master Yoda , who engaged Dooku in a titanic lightsaber duel . Yoda ' s might forced Dooku to retreat . As the political leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems , Dooku rarely engaged in battle , and his lightsaber remained largely idle . However , Dooku would on occasion get his hands dirty , and the lightsaber was wielded in several lightsaber duels , some of them rematches with Anakin Skywalker . He would also engage in sparring matches with the cyborg Grievous and various members of his Dark Acolyte s . Most notably , Dooku would wield the lightsaber in a rematch with Yoda on Vjun , even managing to score a hit on his former Jedi mentor , though he was again forced to retreat . After crash landing on Vanqor , Dooku was provided with transport by Hondo Ohnaka and his pirate gang , who quietly stole the lightsaber during the trip before capturing Dooku upon their arrival on Florrum . Ohnaka attempted to ransom Dooku to the Galactic Republic , displaying the lightsaber as proof of capture . Dooku later managed to escape , though how he retrieved the lightsaber remains unknown . Towards the conclusion of the war , Dooku wielded the lightsaber in a final rematch with Anakin Skywalker and Obi - Wan Kenobi aboard the " Invisible Hand " . The basic fighting moves and tactics employed by the Jedi early in the fight lulled Dooku into a false sense of confidence , and left him completely off - guard when they switched to the advanced fighting forms that they had mastered in the interim . Notably , Skywalker ' s Form V power attacks overwhelmed Dooku ' s defenses , driving his blade back so far that it scorched his own shoulder . Dooku only narrowly defeated Kenobi thanks to his greater power in the Force , though this only enraged Skywalker , who lashed out at Dooku in a fury . Dooku was driven back and brutally disarmed by Skywalker , who cut off both of Dooku ' s hands and seized the lightsaber . Skywalker held both Dooku ' s lightsaber and his own weapon in a cross at the Sith Lord ' s neck , and after continuous goading from Palpatine , decapitated the defeated Count . Skywalker abandoned the lightsaber with Dooku ' s corpse , and it was destroyed soon afterwards when the " Invisible Hand " broke in half , and the rear portion containing Dooku ' s remains burned up in the atmosphere . Behind the scenes . When Dooku was originally being conceived for , early concept art depicted him as a female Sith . However , as the character was developed , and Christopher Lee was cast , the concept art was shelved , with the curved hilt of Dooku ' s lightsaber being the lone holdover from it . The final hilt was designed to resemble a rapier handle , down to the guard , as a reflection in the actors own skill at fencing .