Dave
Now I know what trick you are talking about. The knife is an important part of this trick (hint, nudge, wink) and what you liked about it was Doug Hennings talent, because I bought it from Abbott, read the instructions, was not impressed, and threw it in my trunk.
HAVE FUN
Al Angello

Maybe not new to you, but its new to me, and I'm having fun with it! (but I can agree, I tend to see a lot of the same stuff)

In regard to the Hennings performance:


It *sounds* like a pretty good effect, I'm surprised at the "blah" responses. Does it provide a reasonable way to show the initial cut of the rope?, that would seem to be the most critical part to sell this routine. I would hope that for $42 they provide a good way to do this, but you guys seem to have had a negative impression of this.


John

The Ching Ling Foo's Royal Tape Mystery(Tarbell V5 p277) is a similar effect, and uses a folded fan to do the dirty work.

John

The firt time I saw Doug Henning to this I was literally FLOORED. I was in front row of the theater and slipped out of the chair onto the floor.

This was the original version created by Paul Curry. It required two assistants to hole the ends of the rope. It was FAIRLY and REALLY cut where the spectator chose him to do the cut.

Pavel created his version, which was/is FAR EASIER to do and needs NO ASSISTANTS.

Stienmeyer created the one with the knife.

I have also a version with no special knife. Perhaps I will publish it in Genii soon. It requires little gimmicking, nothing like Pavel's, something you can do yourself in under a minute.

If I remember correctly, Doug Henning did the Paul Curry method on television. He also did the Jim Steinmeyer version on stage when he was here at his last performance and has his accident that put him in the hospital.

Paul Curry only sold a manuscript for the secret, noone has ever did this method to my knowledge, only Doug Henning.

The Steinmeyer version sold better and is more workable for the average magician that does not have a full crew to help with the show.