Penguin has these for $23.00.
Are these good quality appearing canes? I'm sure they are plastic. Just curious as to the durability and functioning. Are these quality items?
Thanks for any insight!

Yes they are great and have been around for a long time.

The Fantasio canes are plastic, but they eliminate the accidents which are common with the very fast and potentially lethal metal appearing canes.

'Much gentler on the hands' - Jeff McBride.

I like the metal ones better, Then don't flop after opening, and sometime the plastic ones are weak opening. I have NEVER been hurt by a metal cane. The metal ones are strong and seem more real.

http://www.watchmagic.com/index.php?p=videos&s=date
The canes are indeed plastic, and pretty good quality. Fantasio makes good products, metal are more expensive but also very good.
-Oz

The Fantasio Appearing Canes are ok, but do tend to be a little bit flimsy when they first open out
(a little bit of a bend to them ) . But they work just fine . Most people would never know the difference.
I think the metal canes probably are a wee bit faster in opening out , especially when drawing in a silk hank.

I prefer the metal appearing canes . Wrap the end in heavy cloth tape to blunt the sharp edge ( the edge of the appearing cane is what can potentially cause a bad cut ) Or if you use the "silver streak" appearing cane ( looks like a solid chrome metal rod ) use chrome tape available at auto supply stores .

Even so , I used a metal appearing cane for years just as it came , out of the box from Caufield's in Louisville, KY , and never was nicked or cut by it .

Fantasio Appearing Cane is good and cheap, but it can bend sometimes and open, it's not so good looking.

Metal ones are pretty dangerous if you are not used to it, but it is very cool and good looking on the opening with the sound .... but it is expensive.

Hi Rowdymagi5:

I recommend you go with a metal cane. It is so much better than the fantasio plastic cane. The Fantasio vanishing canes are okay, but the appearing canes wobble when produced. The metal canes are more expensive, but look so much better.

The most striking use of a cane I've ever seen was done by a Japanese magician years ago; it was the "fireball to cane" effect. It looked fantastic! I noticed she has it published in "The New Magic of Japan" by Kaufman (1980's). This is one example of an effect that can be done with a metal cane, but not a plastic one.

Ron Reid

I know this post is 10 years after... But ive been here for 11 so its ok. lol. ive been using fantasio plastic version for a good while now. switched to metal and wish I started with metal.

They have been around for years. That should be a sign.

I prefer metal for appearing canes, but I do like the Fantasio vanishing cane. I have the color changing vanishing cane. I do a color change and then vanish to multi-colored streamers and confetti.