That is standard cut and restored with ungimmicked rope, followed by some Tarbary moves. But he does it well, and there is some very nice misdirection (which I missed first time) with the boy, which allows him to undo the knot and leave the boy holding the short piece.

I don't know Robert it sure looks like Pavel to me, but perhaps Ian, or Andy can give us their opinion.

That is not Pavel, it is Jim Steinmeyer’s moving knot (published and used to be sold with a special knife to ring in a longer piece of rope). The moving knot is about subtlety not gimmick! This performer has routined a nice standard cut move (to eliminate the need to ring in an extra something), added the Steinmier subtlety (you catch it after he has moved the knot to the kid), and a bit of Tabary at the end to clean up. In all it is a very good routine requiring only a length of ungimmicked rope and a pair of scissors.

I put a similar routine online several years ago on the Magic & Illusion forum (mine was a cut, moving knot, restored, ribbon routine. I use ribbon because it is cheaper (when on sale), easier to cut, and packs flatter than rope.

Of the moving knots routines out there Jim’s is to be rated highly in that (as you see) it requires no gimmicked rope. It can actually be done impromptu!

The limitation is that you can only untie the rope in one place (actually two since the rope has two ends) rather than the 12 or 13 in Pavel’s super walking rope trick or 3 places in his less expensive model. Thus in the Steinmeyer version the audience doesn’t get to tell you where to stop. This performer sure got around that limitation with his presentation.

What a great compliment! It looks like Pavel but costs a tiny fraction of Pavel. I'm very tempted to try it.

But Harry he used scissors, and it sure looked to me like there was not really any cut at all, but an unsnaping of the joint. It doesn't look like "knot unexpected" to me.

Knot Unexpected uses a special knife, doesn't it, but the way this guy does it that's not necessary and he can use scissors.

As well as the subtlety with the kid, the "butler" does a nice bit of work.

Knot unexpected uses a gimmicked knife. I don't think scissors would work, and he doesn't appear to be cutting the rope at all.

Aaaah! I finally "caught" it after watching it again. (notice he makes the kid "accidentally" drop the rope) then gives it back to him, then the camera stays on the butler instead of moving with the performer giving away the same move.

I really didn't mean to try and figure him out, I was just wondering how he gave away such an expensive piece of rope!

thanks

Pavel has three versions of his walking knot.
1. Super walking knot
2. Simplified walking knot
3. Junior walking knot
It is my oipinion that trick is Pavel's simplified walking knot.

Knot Unexpected as originally marketed and published did indeed use a gimmick. The gimmick was designed to give you a length of rope that was between 8 and 12 inches long folded. That made the illusion look great!

You don't need to use any gimmick. You can get the extra piece by doing the standard Edward Victor cut and restored bit. You get a smaller piece (as seen in the video here).

His cut is not as smooth as a gimmick would give. Sharp scissors do the trick with no fumble, stumble, or messing about! My scissors cut rope like butter! Plus there was no mumbling with the rope that is required when you are using a gimmicked rope. He just ties a knot, moves the knot, and unties the knot. He could have used a gimmick, but then wouldn’t needed the Edward Victor move, and wouldn’t needed the Steinmeyer move to untie the knot.

If you watch you will notice the kid helper kept track of the end he dropped (was pulled from his hand) the magician covered it well and got on with the trick.

Again, you do not need the gimmicked knife or gimmicked scissors (as others, including me) to do this trick. You need a length of rope and a pair of sharp scissors and the knowledge of tying two different tricks together (cut and restored and Knot Unexpected).

IF (big if) you wanted a longer length of rope when you untied the knot after it was moved then you would need a gimmick (the knige or scissors or as in Tarbell, a fan or wand - this isn't new!). IF you wanted the audience to tell you where to stop and cut the rope before you moved the knot then you need a gimmicked rope a la' Pavel.

Harry
Although I pride myself in knowing a lot about rope magic I will defer to a higher authority on this one. I'm not sure I really understand how it was done, but following you has never led me astray.
U DA MAN
Al

Al,

sent you a PM with some notes on how it can be accomplished. You know all the required moves and more. I think that you'll find a place to add this little bit to your show. Downside of this version is that you are actually cutting up and using rope (the reason George Sands developed his routine so he didn't have the expense of buying miles of rope!). The upside is that it plays well and can be done almost impromptu (given rope and something to cut it with!).

Harry

Al, apart from your suspicion about the cut, can you see any other reason to doubt it's an ungimmicked rope? It seems obvious to me that it's standard cut and restored, plus some end-switching, but perhaps you can see a difficulty that I can't.

Robert
It is sad that what I see now is differant than what I saw this morning. It is a traditional C&R with the end substitution, and drop off in pocket move that I originally learned from from George Sands. The butler was in on it and sold me on the walking knot. The end results is that it was an ungimmicked rope all the time. It was just the same old trick with a great presentation.

That is one of the best rope routines I've ever seen. I have a version with uses rubber cement, bu it's not as good as this guys, as mine can't be handled by a spectiator.

Al, you're right about the butler: because of him, the performer can untie the knot twice (which would be risky with two volunteers) and I think this really sells it.

It was a superb version, and the performer had some great reactions to simple lines. I can see doing that anytime in a show. And, I don't think the lack of a butler would be a problem. His grabbing the rope was natural enough and we are the only ones who worry about the repetition of moves.
I don't remember Sands going to his pocket as this guy or Tabary does.

Ian
You are right Sands did the switch ends move first, it was Sanders/ Tabray that did the go to the pocket move.