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Darius666 Veteran user London 368 Posts |
The assassin card sword by Docc Hilford arrived with me a couple of days ago, it is available from http://www.hocus-pocus.com/ at the price of $350. So first, here is the description for those who have never heard of it:
The card sword is a remarkable piece of magic, but it's never been as good as it could be. Now, it's a miracle! The Assassin Card Sword allows you to have any card freely selected and signed. Yet it still appears impaled on the end of a sword! Effect: A borrowed deck of cards is shuffled and given to a spectator for a free choice of one card. The card is signed by the spectator in pen. You take the deck and the chosen card is lost in it. A large samurai sword is displayed and the deck is carefully set on the side of the sword's blade near the tip. Holding the sword with both hands, the deck is flipped into the air at that moment, you thrust the tip in to the airborne cards and stab a single card. The stabbed card is the spectator's card!! The sword is offered to the spectator who removes his card from it. The card is actually sliced and on the end of the blade. The assassin also allows for an impromptu version too. At dinner a card is selected and signed. The shuffled deck is placed on the side of a steak knife. The deck and knife are thrown to the ceiling. Cards shower down around the spectators leaving the signed card pinned to the ceiling by the knife! Because the assassin is a special gimmick that can be used with any sword or knife, its performance possibilities are endless. The card and sword can be examined after the demonstration because the gimmick removes itself during the performance. The card sword used to look like a clever magic trick. But now, your audience will credit you with great skill. It's incredibly believable! You get complete illustrated instructions, the precision made assassin gimmick, and a beautiful samurai sword with a high quality sheath that is worth hundreds of dollars on its own. -The card is freely chosen -The card is signed by the spectator -The deck can be borrowed. -The sword can be examined before and after -No reels, threads, or elastics. -No magnets or false blade tips -No fumbling or false moves -The signed card is actually sliced -The sword blade doesn't cut the card -The sword can be dull for safety -NO hook-ups; completely self contained -The card can be kept by the spectator -No assistants are required -No set-ups or pre-show work is necessary -No sword skill required -Can be learned in minutes -Can be preformed surrounded -Includes a beautiful sword and sheath -Audiences are shocked at your skill -The finest card sword available....bar none So, is it really that good? Well when opening it In reply to: admit I was not too impressed with the actual gimmick, but after playing with it a bit I do like this effect a lot. It is almost as described but I disagree with the "can be learned in minutes" comment, it will take a lot longer to be comfortable using it. I’m not to sure it can be performed surrounded either, maybe, if your careful! The problem with this is the price, I really do not think it is worth $350 (I was lucky as I won it for $250 on ebay). In a recent post about this a few people suggested that the high price reflected the sword you get with it. The sword is a replica of the one used in the 'kill bill' movies but it is not worth hundreds of dollars as stated in the adverts, you can get them very cheap on ebay. The quality is ok but I have much better swords I will be using for it. The actual Assassin gimmick is well made and gets the job done, but as stated earlier, will take a while to get comfortable with. Because of the method involved you can only stab one card. I don't think this is a problem, this should be presented as a form of skill rather than a 'trick' and I think catching 3 cards on a sword is to unbelievable, but that's just my opinion. One thing that I think some will have a problem with is it works better with cheap cards, it does work with bikes but cheaper cards make it easier. Now I know some people out there will not use anything other than bikes but I think due to the nature of throwing the cards in the air, cheaper cards would be best suited to any card sword routine. The instructions come in the form of a 4-page booklet. Docc credits some inspiration to a little idea from the sphinx in the introduction. The instructions are well written and easy to follow. I noticed on the back of the book it says the sword comes in a leather sheath "is doesn't" and that there is only a limited number being made, anyone have a idea of how many??? I guess the price is to keep it more exclusive to those who have it, but I do think $350 is a bit much for it. If you want it, try ebay first. Not much more to say about it really. I am happy with this myself and have already fooled a couple of people with it. Haven't shown any magician s yet but so cant say if it is a magician fooler or not. One other quick comment, if anyone is planning to try the knife throwing version, get a book on knife throwing and some proper throwing knives, and don't try it anywhere without permission. If you do this for a customer in their home/restaurant you may end up not getting paid. Hope this helps anyone thinking of buying it. Any questions just ask. |
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Mark Storms Veteran user Seattle, WA 393 Posts |
Thanks for your detailed review!
Find out what you cannot do.., Then go and do it!
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magicden Regular user scotland 103 Posts |
Thanks for that grerat review, I have been thinking of buing this for some time.
I have now changed my mind, I may buy a cheaper sword and try to work things out for myself. chers denis |
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Marc Frese Veteran user 397 Posts |
I do not have the trick. Property however seen like it functions. I was very much disappointed. For me the handling looks very unnatural. I think it give better devices, or swords. Sorry if it hurts.
-The card is freely chosen = Is correct -The card is signed by the spectator = Is correct -The deck can be borrowed = Is correct -The sword can be examined before and after = Is correct -No reels, threads, or elastics. = Is correct -No magnets or false blade tips = Is correct -No fumbling or false moves = In my opinion not!!! -The signed card is actually sliced = Is correct -The sword blade doesn't cut the card = Is correct -The sword can be dull for safety = Is correct -NO hook-ups; completely self contained = Is correct -The card can be kept by the spectator = Is correct -No assistants are required = Is correct -No set-ups or pre-show work is necessary = Is correct -No sword skill required = Is correct -Can be learned in minutes = Is correct -Can be preformed surrounded = In my opinion not!!! -Includes a beautiful sword and sheath = Is correct -Audiences are shocked at your skill = In my opinion not!!! -The finest card sword available....bar none = In my opinion not!!! |
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magic icebreakers New user 34 Posts |
AS a friend of Docc, I am a little disappointed with this. Is has great potential when performed in the right hands, but I don't think this one was thought completely though. Sorry Docc!
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Marc Frese Veteran user 397 Posts |
That is only my opinion.
I think the gimmick is too large! And unnaturally. Aand the handling from it results. The idea is new!!!! But good? |
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mwmagic Loyal user 262 Posts |
Is it possible to buy the pen on its own and use your own sword or knife?
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goldeneye007 Inner circle London 2423 Posts |
I think you'll have to buy everything...
Just my 2 cents but it does in some way require "sword skills"... My problem with this trick is that you could perform it without a gimmick and it would cost you next to nothing.... You would just need a cheap sword. I agree that it's not really worth the price. PS: btw you could actually stab a few cards, but it would not look very nice... |
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mwmagic Loyal user 262 Posts |
I was thinking along the lines of a thumb tip blade, use any pen.
I am not worried about the sword. A flat kitchen knife would do and is less 'propy' Probably end up cutting myself! |
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goldeneye007 Inner circle London 2423 Posts |
A kitchen knife would do the trick indeed.
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Sandwichical Regular user Phoenix 134 Posts |
I've had my eye on this thing for a good while. I always thought it would be cool to use a throwing knife and pin the card to the wall. How difficult would that be to pull off with this gimick?
-Sandwich
To defy the laws of tradition is a crusade only of the brave.
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goldeneye007 Inner circle London 2423 Posts |
Well... you don"t really need a gimmick to do that... I can't remember where I read that but you can find this kind of routine in books.
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mwmagic Loyal user 262 Posts |
The main issue here is how to *l*t a signed card undetected by by the sectator(s). From there in its a done deal!
IMHO the assassin card sword by Docc Hilford is an expensive ($350) way of achieving this, although the props are good quality and bring stronger stage impact for professional performers. |
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goldeneye007 Inner circle London 2423 Posts |
Quite agree on that.
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Doruk Ãœlgen Elite user 466 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-02-08 21:50, Sandwichical wrote: if you throw the knife so fast that people wont see it on the way,then this gimmick could do the job,but you are talking of an entirely diffrent effect,so this is not the way to do it,check some old illusion books for the throwing knifes to the girl tied to spinning chamber... and also check bobby motha's lethal.. that's what you are looking for... |
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feifei Regular user United Kingdom 186 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-02-08 21:50, Sandwichical wrote: Get Brent Braun's Bulleye's DVD! You throw a card and it pins a specs signed card to the dart board or wall or anywhere! That's exactly what you want and achieve what you have mentioned. You can do it anywhere, no plaming or any complicated gimmicks involved. |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
If you ever saw Clarke Crandall's "scimitar card stab" you would have seen the best version. No gimmicks, in his hands a miracle and anyone could do it with very little practice. It's all SELL.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Sandwichical Regular user Phoenix 134 Posts |
Thanks Feifei. Gotta check that out.
To defy the laws of tradition is a crusade only of the brave.
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hdragonetta New user 76 Posts |
Pete, is there any footage of the Crandall version? I agree with the poster's who say Docc's method creates some awkward handling.
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feifei Regular user United Kingdom 186 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-02-06 14:21, mwmagic wrote: it seems this is the one explained on national tv by our most hated magician with the mask... if this was sold gimmick only without the sword at a much lower and reasonable price, then I would still consider buying it, but with the sword, it makes the cost so much more and complicates shipping to overseas. I would rather recommend checking out 'World's Greatest Magic - Card Stab DVD', which gives you much more value for the price you pay. And you get several methods. |
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