A ceremonial officer's saber, also referred to as a parade saber, represented a kind of sword that the Galactic Empire employed. These were donned by Imperial officers specifically for formal events, and they weren't designed for use in warfare. Han Solo, previously an Imperial lieutenant, once had a dream where he was officially discharged from the military while still a cadet. In this ceremony, another officer would break the ceremonial saber across their knee, the blade having been pre-weakened with a laser cut.