A taser staff The taser staff, alternatively known as a taser stave, represented a type of close-quarters combat weapon. Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. manufactured these devices, which were notably employed by security forces stationed on Coruscant during the era of the Galactic Empire. The members of the Coruscant Guard received specialized training in the use of these staves for both hand-to-hand combat and the management of civil unrest.
These taser staves shared a common lineage with the electrostaff utilized by the IG-100 MagnaGuards throughout the Clone Wars. Functionally, the staves were electrical melee instruments incorporating electromagnetic pulse-generating tips. These tips could generate a current strong enough to cause fabrics to ignite upon contact. The intensity of the electrical discharge could be adjusted based on the needs of the situation, allowing for stunning, the infliction of significant pain, or even lethal force.
There were also smaller, single-handed versions of this weapon, known as Taser batons. While significantly more compact, these batons featured the same adjustable intensity settings. However, they were not as prevalent as taser staves due to their concealability. A special permit was required for private ownership of these batons.
In reality, the term "Taser" refers to a particular brand of electroshock weapon marketed by Axon, formerly known as Taser International. This device was originally conceived in 1974 by Jack Cover, a researcher at NASA. The name is a loose acronym derived from "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle," paying homage to Cover's childhood idol, the fictional inventor Tom Swift, particularly referencing the 1911 novel titled Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle.