"Switchblade" by Dan Harlan
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Switchblade", an excellent effect by the ever-creative Dan Harlan, is, like its namesake, an awesome gaff that is swift, silent, and flat-out deadly when used properly, making for some strong, shock-inducing card magic.

It's also suddenly become a limited release, so if you're getting one, better get it while the getting's good. But more on that later.

"Switchblade" is a gaff that goes into any matching deck and allows you to have some ridiculously powerful card magic at your fingertips without the difficult sleights or extraneous handling. While the best at transpositions and teleportations, this thing is also equally at home helping you do some very nice vanishes and color changes and transformations. And it does all of this without worries about lengthy set-ups or resets or any other serious drawback. Let's just call it what it is: a grand gaff to add to any card worker's arsenal.

I really am psyched on this one, almost to the point I'm surprising myself. But just toying with the thing made my mouth water, then seeing Harlan put it through its paces made this a must-have. The cleanliness, the openness, you get with this thing is what sells it to spectators; I was sold on its flexibility and ease of use. Okay, okay… and seeing what Harlan created with the thing. That was a huge part, too.

Now, while this is probably a little too much "inside baseball"…

This is not Harlan's invention. Harlan, bless him, re-invented the wheel here. The gaff was already made quite a few years ago by Jerry Somerdin (and can be purchased under the name "Perfect Monte" here). I'm not going to get into controversies, especially when there ain't none: Harlan re-created what Somerdin created, thought it was all his, found out different, and cut a deal with Somerdin to pay him part of the profits from Harlan's own sales. And that is all I'm going to say about that.

But the fall-out of this needs to be mentioned: Harlan only made 1000 of these things and they are going quick from what I understand. Harlan will not be making more. So if you're interested in this one at all, get it now before it's too late. And don't think in terms of getting Somerdin's gaff for the money as you're getting Harlan's handling which, to my mind, is just as essential as the gaff itself.

My recommendation? Get "Switchblade" if it at all grabs your attention. More than anything, get the DVD that comes with "Switchblade", because there lies a gold vein of creativity on that disc.

"Switchblade" by Dan Harlan
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 9
With the exception of not being able to hand the gaff out for examination, this is as practical a piece as you could ask for: no angles, set-ups and resets are a breeze, no angle issues… It even packs small (and plays oh-so-big).

Workmanship:10
This is an extremely well-made gaff, made from USPCC Bicycle stock. With proper care, this should last a good, long time. The best part? No threads to break, no rough/smooth to fuss with, nothing to worry about. Yeah, I love this one.

Documentation: 10
Here's where this thing really picks up speed: Harlan gives some simply excellent routines using this gaff. Due to it's nature, the routines are heavy on teleportations and transpositions, but this is simply killer stuff taught exceedingly well.

Effect: 10
It all depends on what you do with it, of course, but this gaff takes some of the finger-flicking sleight-base routines to a whole new level and knocks spectators for a loop.

Presentation: 10
Again, it's in what you do with it, but this gaff allows for some of the cleanest handlings of these routines; done well, this can be stuff they'll talk about for a while.

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.