"Gumslinger" by Chris Webb
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 2 Out of 10

"Gumslinger", an effect by Chris Webb, is short and punchy but perhaps too short for its own good. Couple that with a problem using this in the US and this one is a disc better left alone until those issues are solved.

I'm not holding my breath.

Okay, here's the thing: "Gumslinger" is a strikingly visual transposition between a stack of gum sticks and the wrapper they came from. You remove the sticks, make a gesture, and they've changed places in your hands. It goes down just that quick.

On a certain level, I love "Gumslinger". It's the kind of thing that can send spectators' brain straight into the realm of question marks and stunned silence. But there are three things that killed this one for me and, ultimately, keep me from recommending this one.

First, the ad copy lies. The "gimmick" is not supplied; two pieces that help make up the gimmick are. You're in for some arts and crafts work here. Now, normally I'd have no problem with this -- in fact, I like the idea of being able to make the gimmick to match the gum I'm going to use and all of that fun stuff. However, don't deliver what you say you deliver and I'm not your biggest fan. Period.

Second, you're going to have a problem with the gum used in the US. Seems the wrapping is different here than in the UK or EU or probably the rest of the civilized world. Simply put, you've got to re-work the gimmick to make it behave without the wrapper. I'm sure this can be done but honestly, after having paid for this, I wouldn't want to invest any more time in it. The producers should have done a little research.

Third, and the biggest thing, this is so fast and the objects transposing so similar that the effect may just go right by spectators. The presentation has to cover this, but that can either end up sounding stilted or even detracting from the naturalness of the effect. It takes a nice little presentation to make this one bullet-proof and it's just not there.

I wanted to like "Gumslinger". I really did. It's one of those strange, organic pieces that appeals to me on a certain level and would usually find its way into my toolbox pretty quickly. As it is, with those failings, it's just not worth the purchase.

"Gumslinger" by Chris Webb
In a Blink: 2 Out of 10

Practicality: 3
Mechanically, this is fairly practical. It packs small, is pretty much angle-proof, takes up very little pocket space and has a quick reset. So what's the problem? Getting it to work with the "material at hand". Simply put, in the US the gum is evidently packed just differently enough to make this unworkable as is.

Workmanship: 1
What workmanship? "DVD and gimmick" the ads say. Bullshit. There is no "gimmick". There is a small envelope which contains pieces you'll use to make the gimmick. So... no gimmick, low score.

Documentation: 1
Did I mention US gum is packaged differently than it is in other countries apparently? Yeah, I did. And there are no instructions for making this work in the US of A. Otherwise, the instructions are pretty well done but, in my case, totally useless.

Effect: 3
I have to say that this can be one seriously striking piece of magic. It's quick, unexpected, quick, surprising, quick... Okay, okay, so therein lies the problem: it's sometimes too quick. Couple that with the similarities between transposing objects and you've got magic that people can simple miss out on by not paying enough attention. Not good. And solving it requires a special...

Presentation: 5
... That prevents this from happening. The visuals here are fine, in fact they are more than fine. But the problem with the speedy climax isn't addressed here much and it should be for those neophytes that are most likely to buy into this one.


Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.