I was recently reviewing Lonnie Cheverie's "Wanted" DVD and came across his "A Stab in the Dark" card stab routine. This is a "in the hands" card stab effect. So, I decided to give it a try and went ahead and put together the necessary items. The routine uses a P.E.P. Deck. envelope and a sword letter opener. I substituted the envelope for bar napkins and I use a stelletto knife instead of the sword letter opener. I refer to the knife as my magic wand.

It worked like a charm and is very easy to perform and well received. However, I'm the type of guy that likes to have selected cards signed as I like to give them out as a momento of the occasion. Using a P.E.P. Deck does not allow me to hand out the selected card.

So, I'm now looking for other in the hands card stab routines. However, I'm only looking for the routines that would allow the signing of the selected card. I have used Don Alan's and Bill Abbott's card stab routines in the past, but I would like to stay away from paper bags. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You have reminded me of a very old (very easy to do almost self working card stab effect...Essentially you take Oh, I don't know 2/3rds of the deck, glue the cards together, ask someone to pick a card sort of forcing them to pick from one of the loose cards of course...control their card to the top of the solid (glued together portion) with the other loose cards on top...thrust a fork or knife (thinking table magic here) into the deck) of course the knife or fork will stop at the glued portion with the spectators card at the face...yes, they can sign it beforehand...got the idea?

See Dick Koornwinder's Smart Scissors in Lorayne's Apocalypse, bound version Volumes 6-10, pp. 1132-1133. Once familiar with this method, several ideas should come to mind.

@obsidian52: In the method you cite, you only need to prepare about a dozen cards...2/3rds of the deck is way too many.


Brian

Here's one that's a little different that I like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQrtAMWdxUw

And here's one that Richard Sanders has that's pretty cool.
http://wizard-headquarters.amazonwebstor......5CI8.htm

Once in a Knifetime by Garcia is very clever and uses no gimmicks. It might be on a Stars of Magic dvd, but definitely in an
early book of his.

Roberto Giobbi has a good version in his latest "Secret Agenda". It's called "March 17 - Give it a stab" and it's on page 86. Easy to do. I am about to start practising and rehearsing for an act I am going to perform on New Year's Eve at a private club!

mlippo

THere's also The WGm DVD on the Card Stab.

Apologies if it's not what you're looking for, but I always get a great reaction from Harry Lorayne's 'Stab Two'. Two cards are selected and returned to the pack, shuffled covered by hanky/tissue etc and then you stab between the two cards. It's in L:TCC. It's so simple, but people love it.

All the best.

Tim

In addition to the above, and as Denny Haney would say: "It's in Tarbell!"

In fact there is a whole chapter devoted to this plot in I BELIEVE volume 5 of the hard back Tannen's/EZ Magic edition.

Ahimsa,
Vlad

Thanks bblumen....I havent done it in years so I had forgotten...I'm guessing it still plays fairly well..its extremely easy to do, almost laughingly easy...

I wrote a version for Joe Riding's Newsletter about 10 years ago. It was an age old idea - originally my Father bought it from Max Andrews in the 1940's. The small gimmick required was something that we've all thrown away countless times in our lives - whenever we've bought a new shirt!? No doubt the ingenious method will find itself on a one trick DVD at some stage.

'The Encore Card Stab' by Al Koran is also worth checking out. Irrespective of the method (it doesn't use a gimmick) the most important thing in Al's version is THE FINAL DISPLAY. There is just a little something taught within the way Al PRESENTED this effect that takes a card stab from 'just another card trick' into being a sensational piece of magic.

This trick was what Al Koran often stopped and performed during his many curtain calls - hence the title. I think that really says it all.

Check out the Amazing Guy dvd by Thom Peterson

http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S88

There is a card stab on there that is dead easy to do and always impresses an audience.

Wow! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

John Kennedy marketed an in the hands card stab using a pen knife. Very clever.

Same method as mention at the start of the topic. However, I do like Thom's presentation better.

I would look into Daryl's handling of the Boston Card Stab.