Hello there! I love gambling and card cheats effects and methods. The esthetic and the thinking behind it suits me, so is what I like to study.
I have seen many card punchers (?); the ones of Perfect Shuffle, for example. But I've never read ideas or uses of it, how to use them in real play or in magic related effects.

So, I come here to ask for books, DVDs or different sources to know more about this tool. Also, is there any difference on using one of this (expensive) tools, or a simple needle?

Thanks!

One of the many early documents to describe card marking refers to a system in which cards are divined not by a visible mark but through touch. In his recent commentary on Horatio Galasso’s Giochi di carte bellissimi di regola e di memoria (1593), historian of magic Vanni Bossi describes Galasso’s methods: “The secret involved is the covert marking of cards by nail-nicking or punchwork (using a metal point: un punctal de strenga). … By dealing through the deck, the performer can, with ‘the fleshy tips of the fingers,’ tactilely locate the marked cards without looking at them.”

https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/33/allen.php

Hey sujetom,

There's a thread asking a similar question here that you might like to check out.

For some of the card punches available there's:
The pinpoint pegger as you've already mentioned,
The 3D printed card punch from lybrary.com,
The blistr card punch, also 3D printed and from lybrary.com,
Many old card punches were similar to this one and some can still be found at auction every now and again,
If you wanted something for more covert use, there's the invisible card punch,
Or James Riser's infamous Riser Coin Punch,
There are also these tiny punches.

Alternatively, just using a needle is perfectly adequate, or even an empty ball point pen for a slightly bigger mark.
The main advantage with some of the non-covert devices above is in the depth consistency of the mark, and with the pinpoint pegger, the location of the mark as well.
Ultimately, anything that makes a discrete mark you can feel is useable, including your fingernail.


Specifically for the punch deal, rather than just the punch, there aren't many video teaching sources that I'm aware of:
There is a tutorial extract from The Cardician by Marlo available,
Or a video I put out called Making Tactile Readers using Boss Work, which includes tips and drill for learning the punch deal. It also teaches a method of making very easy to feel tactile marks, which in my opinion, speeds up the learning process because you eliminate the uncertainty of whether you actually felt a mark or not.
There is also a bridge deal presented by Jack Carpenter in An Evening with Jack Carpenter.

For work on the punch in print, Marlo Magazine vol.4 is probably one of the best, and it also gives some presentational ideas.

I'm sure there's some things that I've missed, but I hope this helps to get you started.

TH

Thanks a lot Tommy, The ring idea is so great, even to home made, very useful web, I have saved it. Thanks a lot!!!!!!

OMG TH10111 that's a LOT of useful information

I'm so thankful! I'm going to check everything!

To both Toms. Excellent stuff!

Great (and refreshing) to see an interesting and informative post on this part of the forum.

I've already punched one card of my every day deck and playing with it, I think is on top with the short card/corners and a breather. I'm loving this concept!

You should have what I wrote on the subject years ago you would be very impressed; but you have enough for a magician.

TheGamblingman007

I have a new(ish) card punch out. You can check it out here...

https://theperfectshuffle.com/Jab_Punch/

Inspired by Eoin's creation, I hacked together this.

Very nice!

Lybrary.com has a fine punch for sale reasonable...

Have you seen the Gamblers Ring? https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S32830 Seems useful for what we have being discussing

I’m considering buying one myself but I haven’t seen anyone give any sort of review whatsoever online, which makes me a bit weary that it might be low quality materials…

It looks too good to not have some reviews recommending it

That Gamblers Ring is passé these days, the real cheaters have moved on ... here's what all the hard core hustlers and gamblers are using these days (you should pick up two, one for a back-up):
https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/15629

Don't spoil it Mr. Bones, please

a very interesting read thank you for sharing!

Lybrary.com has some nice punches.

Check this out: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/19536