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5 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 1h ago

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Luke Skywalker's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker's severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” has sold for $3.75 million at auction.

1 Left4 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of July 20, 2026 at 11:50 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker's severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” has sold for $3.75 million at auction.
The headline split The left frames it as "Luke Skywalker's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned fo...". The center frames it as "Luke Skywalker’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’ lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned fo...".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 5 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

5 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceModerate

58/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftLuke Skywalker's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M

Philadelphia Inquirer · Center-left · News report

CenterLuke Skywalker's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M

WPLG Local 10 (Berkshire/Graham, Miami) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
WPLG Local 10 (Berkshire/Graham, Miami)News report · Jul 20, 10:58 PM

Luke Skywalker's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker's severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” has sold for $3.75 million at auction.

Open source
CenterHigh
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)News report · Jul 20, 11:50 PM

Luke Skywalker's lightsaber with severed hand prop sets 'Star Wars' auction record at $3.75 million

propsetsstarwarsauction

One legendary duel, one record-breaking price: Luke Skywalker's lightsaber with severed hand from "The Empire Strikes Back" has become the most expensive film item from the franchise ever s...

Open source
CenterHigh
WCVB Boston (Hearst)News report · Jul 20, 11:50 PM

Luke Skywalker's lightsaber with severed hand prop sets 'Star Wars' auction record at $3.75 million

One legendary duel, one record-breaking price: Luke Skywalker's lightsaber with severed hand from "The Empire Strikes Back" has become the most expensive film item from the franchise ever s...

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Jul 20, 11:01 PM

Luke Skywalker’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’ lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” has sold for $3.75…

Open source
Center-leftHigh
Philadelphia InquirerNews report · Jul 20, 10:58 PM

Luke Skywalker's 'Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M

empirestrikesbackattachedauctioned

A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker's severed hand prop from “The Empire Strikes Back” has sold for $3.75 million at auction

Open source
Details58/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 5 sources
58/99 Wording GapMedium confidence5 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 5 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Jul 20, 10:58 PM: WPLG Local 10 (Berkshire/Graham, Miami) joined the source map.

Jul 20, 10:58 PM: Philadelphia Inquirer joined the source map.

Jul 20, 11:01 PM: Washington's Top News (WTOP) joined the source map.

Jul 20, 11:50 PM: WDSU New Orleans (Hearst) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 58/99 and story health is live match · 5 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.