talkmagic.co.uk

Samurai

Available from http://www.vikingmagiccompany.com/?nd=full&key=88

They say:
A Sell-Out at all four major conventions !! WORLD MAGIC SUMMIT, I.B.M., S.A.M., F.I.S.M.
The mystery of the Orient and the intrigue of a wedding ring combine to produce a delicate, dazzling effect.

"Legend has it that the family of a fallen warrior of a little known Asian tribe would receive a replica of his sword. Mounted in a fixture such as this, it was kept in a prominent place in the family home. For the most part, the display would be cloaked in a protective cloth. (Performer places a silken bag over the display.) On ceremonial occasions, the bag would be removed, and as a gesture of continuing homage, loved ones would remove their rings and place them on the sword. Recently discovered writings suggest that, from time to time, examples of psychokinetics would be observed. It's my intention to attempt such an experiment."

Inviting the spectators to examine the silken bag, the performer covers the sword with it. A borrowed ring, proffered by a willing spectator, vanishes. "Concentrate", says the performer, "Choose the moment. Make it happen on your command. Say 'Now'."

Then as the spectator says 'Now', the unmistakable ping of metal on metal is heard. The ring has arrived.

Immediately, the performer pulls the bag from the sword, and there, resting on the sword, which is itself locked in the holder, is the ring!

There is no way to describe the effect this has on an audience. It is pure magic, spell-binding and entertaining. The props are first rate; the effect, simple in execution. If you've never seen this live, you're in for a treat, and so is your audience. I can honestly say, this effect is worth twice the asking price. A guaranteed winner.

Cost $145

I say:
I recently acquired Crystal Cleaver by Tenyo which is a great little trick involving a sword and a borrowed ring but is well .... a bit too small and plastic looking for me to take on a gig. It got me thinking though. Wouldn't CC be a great trick if it was a few times bigger and made of better materials and I remembered seeing Samurai on the Viking site. A few days later and a few quid lighter and I'm now in a good position to make a comparison and check out whether my bout of CUPS was justified.

Too start with, the materials and craftsmanship of this piece are breathtakingly gorgeous. You get a solid wood stand with 2 posts through which the beautifully detailed model of a samurai sword is inserted. You are provided with a wonderful glossy golden silk bag to cover the whole equipment and then are able to magically make a borrowed, vanished, ring re-appear on the sword safely locked between the two posts. I deliberately didn't read the instructions until I'd examined everything and I didn't tip the method which is a good sign. The sword you can hand out and specs will find nothing but you probably won't want them playing with the kit after your show.

The method, having read the instructions is workmanlike, easy to do and pretty sound although for some reason I was expecting something more interesting than what I got. I was probably expecting something more akin to the ingenuity of the Crystal Cleaver workings so was a little disappointed by the more routine approach of Samurai. Having said that its the effect on the audience that counts, not the method by which you get there and after some reflective practise in front of the mirror I'm pretty confident that Samurai will have the desired effect.

Angles are one issue. 180 is good - 181 is bad! You need a table to stand this on whilst you stand behind it. Another consideration is carry space and weight. This is definately only suitable for a stage type performance.

Overall A beautifully crafted item which does the job as long as you've got the luggage space and the right environment. Its not cheap but you are paying as much for the wow effect of a gorgeous item as you are for the trick itself.

8 out of 10