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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
This is a large natural walnut shell that brings a glove type fit to your hand.
The molds were made from a real walnut shell from the inside and out. The shell shape is formed perfect for the thumb and index finger to get a sure grip. They are made in two different styles. The Classic type shell and the Bottom Ridge type shell. I have made many shells over the last twenty-five years and in my opinion these are the best handling shells. They are shaped to fit all hands that want to use a larger type shell. You can see pictures and specifications at: http://www.4photos.weebly.com/
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
TKF New user 62 Posts |
These look too good - Just ordered a BR set... Cannot wait to give them a go!
My larger hands have been waiting for something like this... |
shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Thanks, TKF
They will go out Monday, so you can play with them soon. I think you will also like the peas that come with the large shells; they are bigger and softer. I find working with a larger pea can actually be easier to control and clip: if it is a softer type pea. This is very much so with larger hands like you. I don't have large hands and find them easier. Having the pea sized to the shell will always bring a better display and having the bottom ridge with the shells, you can get very creative on how you want to display them. Hope you enjoy them and thanks to everyone else that has order them. I’m glad you all like them! Al
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
BeThePlunk Special user West of Boston, East of Eden 887 Posts |
Shouldn't posts about shells be in the If Right You Win, If Wrong You Lose section of Cons and Swindles?
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
If you read in- ever so sleightly it is about magic that uses sleight of hand skills. That is what is used in the shell game. We can be in both places, con and close up magic.
If you look in the search engine you will see the shell game has been posted in both sections for a long time. Because it can be presented two different ways; magic or con. The original post on the Bottom Ridge Shells came from another poster, in Ever so sleightly section. This one post alone has at this time 14,488 viewers. So I think this shows it is being posted in one of the right sections for interested viewers.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
TKF New user 62 Posts |
I think in the 21st century, the three shell routine is less used as a 'confidence / swindle' game, and is more now used as a routine for entertainment and magic...
+ Every other instance of three shell game I have looked for in the recent past seems to pop up in this sub-category... Subtle touches! |
benhart New user 65 Posts |
TKF
You will love these Colossal shells! I just received my set. The shell is so easy to handle. Gripping the shell can't get any better. The new KDS soft peas brings a much smoother pea steal and is even a larger pea. They are also easier to finger clip. Like always the quality at 3shell.com is top notch. |
shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Thanks Benhart,
I'm glad to hear you are happy with them.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
skyfire Regular user 136 Posts |
I am also looking at the Colossal Walnut Shells and I see that they have the Bottom Ridge Style, and the Clssic Style. I know the Bottom Ridge is the flat bottom, but is the Classic Style also completely flat, or do then have some dip, or contour to them, or are they completely flat also?
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Both styles have a flat bottom surface. The shell without the ridge does not need any dip or inverted V notch in the shell. The key to this is the KDS peas that are used with the shell and all the head space inside the shell. The pea rolls freely and the softness of the pea will compress to bring a smooth pea steal without any lift to the shell.
They even come with a larger 7/16 pea and still bring a smooth pea steal. There is no reason to add these clue alterations when they are not needed. The inside wall at the back of shell does have a directional taper, so it will help the directional travel of the pea when it comes out of the shell; to be right in line with the fingers to take the pea. This can also be changed by moving the shell a different way to come out. A rolling ball will always take the easy path to travel. This is what all my shells are designed around. Hope this helped. Al
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
Badger Elite user Ireland 401 Posts |
Any chance these will be available in antique bronze?
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Yes, they can be made in bronze and I think they would look great in bronze. I make all my shells and accessories in house. So I am able to do many things that are not listed on the site. This would make it a heavier shell, but this is fine. Because these shells are very easy to pick up, as the shell shape is formed just right for the fingers.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
skyfire Regular user 136 Posts |
OK, here’s a new owners opinion on the Colossal Shells. My search for an easy manageable set of shells was basically buying from what I felt was three different top suppliers of Shells. Some of my first shells were just too small and I could not use them, so I learned that I needed a larger size. Some I thought were very good, but I still felt limited with my progress.
You see my problem is I have nerve damage in my right hand, which may get worse at times with use. So you see it’s not that the shells in my search that have been bad, it’s my hand that’s bad. With that said, I ordered the Classic Colossal Shells. I opened the package in my kitchen and set the Shells and Pea down on my hard kitchen counter and just gave them a quick test. I was instantly amazed how well these Son of a Guns worked on a hard slick surface like my kitchen counter. I tested just the simple act of lifting a shell with my right hand, and the shell grip was so perfect that there was no tight hold, squeeze or effort on my part. I got all psyched about the Shells and immediately brought them to my table where I practice. Between the Shells themselves, and what I found to be almost the best Pea ever, I literally didn’t want to stop. I even did a Kick Steal on my first try, and I didn’t think these Shells would be a Kick Steal Shell. These are the Shells that I am thinking for me are going to let me go further in my performance. Price: I was amazed that what for me were the best Shells for serious routines was one of the cheaper Shells on the site. (One more plus for me). Customer Service: Al’s number 1. So in short if you feel your performance has been hindered in smooth handling or the movement of Shells because of their size or texture, definitely try these out. Once again, I am not saying the other Shells I had were bad, just that for my needs, these are the best handling Shells I ever had. Going to this size Shell for me is a Game Changer move for me. My wish list would be if 3shells.com would consider in the future using these size dimensions and material to make other Walnut shells in the future, such as maybe the “True Walnut” shells, etc… (But that's just my wish list - hint, hint) |
shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Skyfire
First I would like to thank you, for such a nice review on the Colossal shells. It is good to hear you are finding what shell can work for you. I am always happy to hear what you are looking for, to do better for new shells. I am looking all the time for larger size walnuts. The true walnut shell is an English walnut and finding the size you like,is very hard. It is like finding a freak of nature walnut. If you put the two shells halves together you will see just how big that walnut really is. It is not really small for an English walnut. You just don't see many places with loose walnuts in the shell, to pick from now today's. I do have another new larger shell that is coming out called the "Bandit Shells” They will be made in both types. The Classic shell & the BR shell. You can see the pictures of both types at http://4photos.weebly.com/ I have not done the full write up on these bandit shells yet. These shells are very easy to handle. The Colossal and Bandit shells come from a rare unique walnut tree. Only one of these trees exists today. . This tree produces giant walnuts. I always have new shells in the works. As everyone have different needs. But I am like you, I think a large walnut shows & handles better for many. How do you like working with the larger pea with the larger shell? Thank you, for all your good input and I will be working on it. Best regards, Al
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
Max T. Oz Regular user 198 Posts |
I have recently purchased the Colossal Shells. Both the bottom ridged and the Classic.
I am absolutely delighted with both sets. 10 out of 10. <3 The bottom ridge were the first set I've owned of this design and these open up a whole new world of possibilities. I've been using standard shells for ages and with the Bottom Ridge, I'm like a kid with his new favorite toy. Luv 'em. The Colossal Shells are a somewhat larger than norm shell with a larger pea. I often perform for larger groups of people and these shells & pea are extremely visible. Plus the pea works extremely well for various handlings such as back pinch etc. I was so impressed with the Bottom Ridged that I bought a set of Classics as I've been doing Oulette's Supershell routine for (literally) decades. Al, who makes theses shells is fantastic to deal with and a real gentleman. It's not often that you find a quality product made by a craftsman, beautifully designed. I highly recommend these shells if your looking for a more visible and larger shell. Or there are many many other shell sets to choose from if you visit the website. If interested on how they look, here's a 1 minute vid clip I just made on the fly, of the Bottom Ridge Colossal shells. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_HosExbMAs :-) |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
What's the benefit of a "bottom-ridge" design?
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Glenn Watson Special user 781 Posts |
With the bottom ridge the pea stays under the shell until you are ready.It moves like a real walnut shell.This is not true or other types of shells.Glenn
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Thank you, Max,
For taking the time to post your nice review on the Colossal Shells. TheAmbitiousCard - Question - What is the benefit of a "bottom-ridge" design? The Bottom Ridge design shell is an unpredictable shell. Even for the ones that are in the know of how the standard shell game is done. This is because the pea will stay inside the shell when the shell is moved in all directions. This means the player or viewer cannot predict when you steal the pea or load the pea into another shell. It is actually a fair shell and works exactly how they think it should work to bring a fair chance at winning. The bottom ridge is not a gimmick, it is just the opposite. As it never hides or holds the pea in the shell. The secret on how the bottom ridge works. The BR works like a ramp that hits under the pea to give the pea an easier path to continue its travel inside the shell. With all other type shells, the soft pea will always come to a dead-end and the pea is forced to come out of the shell when the shell is moved in any direction. This makes it a self-working unfair shell that can never be examined without switching out the soft pea for a hard pea. Using the soft pea with the BRS is looked at being used for a different reason, only so there is no sound coming from the shell that has the pea With the BRS the only unfair thing is the shell operator. He has full control to play fair to set up the con. At any time the operator chooses he can play unfair for the win. The shell operator has full control of when to steal or load the pea and once another shell is loaded into a new shell, that shell can now be moved around fairly. The Bottom Ridge shell is like a fair deck of playing cards. The cards are fair, but in the hands of a card mechanic, the cards can be used in an unfair way and still appear to be played fairly. The cards can even be examined just like the BRS and everything will prove to be fair. This is the biggest different from the BRS to the classic type shells. The thing many forget is there is no con, useless the player believes they have a fair chance at winning! The standard type shells do not bring any con on their own, it is from seeing others winning that are shill's used in the game that brings the con. I'm not saying this to sell the BR'S. I make both type shells and the classic type shell is much easier for me to make. I think the BRS is easier for the beginner because they don't have to fight memory muscles that are already set in place doing it a little different with the classic type shells. But some are able to use both type shells, like Max T. Oz that has shown with his video on the above post. Hope this helps in answering your question.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
It does. thanks!
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Max T. Oz Regular user 198 Posts |
The Bottom Ridge Shells open up a whole new world of possiblities, that I think haven't been explored.
One of the things I've started doing, is having a spectator move the shells around. This is an absolute killer. Takes some spectator management, on moving the shells around etc.. but After a few phases, I offer to teach someone. I look for a couple in the audience and have the female move the shells around and then her husband/boyfriend points to the winner. Of course he loses. What I've done, is when showing her how to move them, I've loaded a pea under a loser shell and then stolen the pea from the winner. Now she can mix them up to her hearts content and to everyone's surprise (especially her) she's just performed the con. This kills and goes way beyond what everyone is doing with the Classic Shells. It's funny but the bottom ridge shells can be so fair that when mixing them, I sometimes loose track of where the pea is. |
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