A powerful tool from Pop Haydn and School for Scoundrels. "Sharper Pens" is a must-have accessory for anyone performing The Shell Game.

One pen operates as a secret pea dispenser that hold up to five peas and secretly deliver them to your hand one at a time. Just simply use the pen as a pointer. As you point to the shells and ask "Do you want want shell number one, two or three?", the pen is shifted from one hand to another. During this discreet movement, the pea is easily removed from the opening at the top of the pen and hidden in the hand. This is super useful for ringing in a second pea, or to restore a pea when one has to be dropped into the pocket or on the floor. It is also easy to dump a pea into the breast pocket while removing the pen from or putting it back into the pocket.

The second pen actually writes and can be held by the spectator. You can give it to them to point to the shell they want - "Nobody touches the shells." In the base of the pen is a powerful magnet. It can be used in a number of ways with the "Magnetic Perfect Peas" (included). Holding the pen in writing position, one can pick up any shell that contains a pea, and the pea will stick to the inside of the shell because of the pen's magnet that is touching the top of the back of the shell. The shell can be replaced to the table and the pea left under it, or the pea can be stolen as the shell is put down. This method can even be used to place a "loaded" shell in the spectator's hand, while a second pea is made to disappear under one of the remaining two shells.

"Sharper Pens" by Pop Hadyn comes with

2 Sharpie pens
7 Perfect peas
Two magnetic peas

$59.95

https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-......er-pens/

Although I will have no problem developing my use for these ingenious stealthy props, there doesn't appear to be a video included for those who would enjoy some tips, tricks, humor and lines that could be utilized. Maybe, Pop will chime in on the subject.

I got mine from a convention years ago and mine also came with hard plastic peas that look exactly like the rubber peas... cool little gimmick, but I havent found a use for it yet...

My "Sharper" pens are meant to work with the two pea system, when the performer is in an actual game rather than doing an exhibition. If you are working a casino night type event, where people come up and play as much as they want, and stand and watch you play, there is often a need to dump a pea behind the table. The Sharper pen enables you to easily get a new pea. With the magnet pen, you can pick up a shell and show it empty before stealing the pea.

This product is for working the shell game for money, or in a similar style for a casino night, etc.

Bob Sheets created the "Sheets Stack" of betting chips for similar reasons. The pens would be a better option when actually playing for money.

There are a number of ideas for the Sheets Stack and the Sharper Pens on our video "The Scoundrels Touch."

Hey, Pop,

Do you have a shell set with magnets at back of shell and mag peas?

thx ... john_oleson@comcast.net

No. Our magnetic peas stick to the front of the specially designed shell so they can roll off the magnet and remain under the shell.

"Boston Man" shells work as you describe.

I think using magnets with shells is over kill. I have age-related trouble with my digits. All eleven of them. I use the Golden routine to this day. A surving core from my set.

But... a magnetic pea can be useful as a hold-out in case one rolls off the floor ( Which is usually where where I perform ) You can hold out a magnetic pea bound to a folded bill sitting on the table. Your shirt or pants. Your tongue stud ( I'm too old to get away with that last one) Don't stick the clock-mucker in your ear though. What?

The School for Scoundrels "Perfect Peas" were designed to work with a lapel or tie "dropper." I agree with Reese that magnets and other devices like the Sharper Pen are overkikll for an exhibition routine. But for casino nights and similar situations where the operator has to take on "all comers" over several hours they can be a life-saver. Working with the two-pea system, the ability to ditch peas and steal new ones makes the operator invulnerable.