I posted this on another forum, but I'm still looking for an answer:

I've recently updated my Reference Guide to the Color Changing Knives at:
http://magicref.tripod.com/magref/magknife.htm

and added quite a few entries that were missing. I'll be updating the knife article page soon.

I was recently sent an e-mail from a Flavio Casavalle, with a link to this Youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ5RD2g2BI8

There are some nice moves in the video, and I love the Tamariz' style knives. Apparently there used to be a website "casavalleknives.com", but it no longer seems to be around.

Does anyone have any further information on the Casavalle knives, and whether they are currently available for sale anywhere?

I've sent Flavio a reply e-mail asking him about it, but so far I have not received a response. I tried searching Google Argentina, but didn't find much there, either. I did find mention of a Flavio Casavalle on the board of the Circulo Magico Argentino, but I have no idea if they are the same person.

Thanks!

Doug A.

Hi Doug,

Thanks for you work on your website. It's a great resource and it's good new to hear you're updating it.

I don't have any direct knowledge about the Casavelle knives, although here's a link to the old casavelleknives.com website. However, it's not of much use because it appears it was essentially just a placeholder, so there's not any description of sales information for the knives.

http://web.archive.org/web/2011022421565......ves.com/

I'm also interested in some more information about the knives being sold on ebay recently by the seller kg4rgw. I'm assuming they're making them themselves because they're selling a wide variety of knives.

-Brian

Doug, great resource. It's wonderful that there are people out there doing work like this. Makes you think there might be hope for the human race. Thanks.

Sorry I can't be of any assistance in your research.

Ray, thanks for the compliment! I just wish there was more time to put toward it.

Brian, I completely forgot about trying TheWayBackMachine at archive.org, thanks for checking it out.

I bought a set of knives from The Magic Toad (kg4rgw) and I like them. The colors he used in my set provide a very good contrast and I like the "pearlized" colors I got. The knives are very comparable to the Mogar knives and look to be the same base knife. The Magic Toad also has a jumping jewel knife that he's made up. I added his knives to the knives reference page, and when I get a few more photos, I'll be adding those to the knives article as well.

The quality is good, but there is some evidence (at least on my set) of slight tool marks on the handles, apparently used to set the handles, but overall they are pretty close in quality to the Mogar's I have, so I can recommend them, at least based on the set I purchased. Currently the prices have been very good!

I wish I had enough to buy a set of the Lee Kibbey knives that were also on e-Bay recently. I've heard very good things about them as well, though they do seem a little thicker.

I would still put Mogar knives as the current "standard", just because of the wide range of knives he offers and the great service he provides. For example, years ago I had purchased a set of knives from him, and later wanted to add to the set to make it a 5 knife set. When I got the new knives, the colors were slightly different as he had changed the pigment a bit. A quick note to him and he immediately sent out replacements. I wish I had gone to visit his Miniature Horse Farm when I lived in NJ, but sadly I just never made the time.

Doug

I also want express my gratitude for the amazing job Doug is taking care of for the magic community! Thanks!

On the video of the knives Ia can appreciate the skill of the proving but the moves are over kill to me, if a knife is one color on one side then the simple showing of the opposite side should be sufficient.

I agree about the video, but I don't think it was meant as a performance of the trick, but rather as a showcase for all the various moves. More of a video for magicians than for the general public. I've noticed in quite a few vidoes of the color changing knives that the magicians seem to show both sides too often, which to me actually draws suspicion from the spectator. Rather, the knives should appear to be handled as normal, with the occassional showing of the opposite side almost by accident, or as a natural tranfer of the knife from one hand to the other.

First of all want to thanks atkinsod for his tremendous job with his referention guide, very useful.
Second, I meet on the last Flasoma (held in Santiago de Chile this year) I meet Dr. Casavalle Flavio´s father, he has some of his knives to sell, but the price for me was very elevated (30 euros per knife). His knives are handcrafted, with polish finish, similar in size but a little heavier than those made in Spain by Luis Trueba (the one´s that Tamariz uses on Greater Magic video). He also teach me his Casavalle´s twist and told some Fu-Manchú anecdotes.

I get my set of knives from Juan Escolano, who mades the knives very similar to Trueba (although he is getting older and some finish aren´t very fine). I some is interest on them, here I leave his website:
http://www.elpomponmagico.com it´s in spanish but you have to search on "accessories" and then in "navajas". The cool thing is that you could choose the combination of colors. Mine is the same that Ascanio´s saids on his Knives and Color Blindness. By the way, I found a video of him performing his color blindness routine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDgCexxZnw

Also about this subject, check it out this handling of the knives from Dámaso Fernandez (also from Spain): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upBoeo8arjA

And last but not least, I want to mention the work on the color changing knives made by the great Juan Luis Rubiales, with his routine called "Blanca Indómita":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4tZ_kEHYYE


Enjoy and knives on!

Hi All, searching for some props in a Argentina Magic Shop I came across this set of color changing knives and as far as the description goes those are Casavalle knives:

http://www.pasemagico.com/productos/ver_articulo.php?&id=173

As far as I can tell they have a set of 3 knives (Regular White, Double Color White / Red and Regular Red, wihch also comes in white - black set) and Minar knives in matching colors as the above.

I don't know if they ever sell abroad (International Shipping, etc), but you can contact them and ask. I will drop by the shop in the week since its half an hour away from home and ask / check the knives out.

Has anyone order knives from Casavalle recently?
They’re website has absolutely no information.

I sent Casavalle an email about a year ago expressing interest in placing an order. Never got a reply.

I have been conversing with Flavio and have an order in with him, but it appears to take a while to get them as they are hand made. He sent me a brochure of all the types of sets and the shipping fees. The prices seem similar to some of the other higher end sets I have purchased. I'll let you know when I receive them, I'm anxiously waiting!

Just received my Casavalle set today!! Delivery via DHL was fast from Buenos, Argentina to Arizona (via Miami, Cleveland, Phoenix). The quality is superb, highly recommended!! I have pictures if you are interested...they didn't appear to upload...

What is the website or any other contact info?

-Brian

I might try contact Casavalle again to order a set of knives. Who knows? Somebody on that end might respond.

Contact for Flavio Casavalle
flaviocasavalle@gmail.com
casavalleknives.com

I just contacted Flavio through email and he provided me with his catalog.
Very nice selection.
He also uses whatsapp; which helps with the communications