Knife throwing illusion Prop

17904 Views 13 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Xane, Mar 29, 2011

JustJimAZ

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2011

Imagine a ToT gets to the end of the hall when BANG! A knife apparently slams into it as if thrown over their shoulder. They turn around and see... whatever... or maybe nothing at all.

Magicians use this in their knife throwing routine. They have prop "knives" loaded on a spring type mechanism in back and as they pretend to throw the knife, an assistant triggers the mechanism.

I have a stage show to build where a young actor will need to have a similar device (shaped like a small table or a chair) to shield himself from shuriken apparently thrown by a ninja. I need to build the device, but have no experience and cannot find a tutorial online for free or for sale.

I am hoping some fellow haunters have made something like this or can offer guidance (or a reference) so I can get this built by May. Like any haunt or magic show, it has to work live on stage without making the gimmick obvious.

Anyone?

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UnOrthodOx

· #2 · Mar 16, 2011

Look up "knife throwing gaff" for your best bets. Unfortunately, as with many magic acts, chances are precise details will be pricey.

Essentially, you need either a slide, or a hinge on the actor's side. It can be, but does not have to be spring loaded.

On the audience side, you hide the hole with some cloth painted to blend in, leaving just a slit for the object sticking out. Hope that makes sense?

Here's a pricey one I found on a cursory search.

http://www.magicmakersillusions.com/#/lethal/4541516465

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JustJimAZ

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 16, 2011

Thanks UnOrthodox!
I did not know the term to use. Pricey is a bit of an understatement for the prop you linked, but I could not find even that before.

With this new knowledge, I will continue my pursuit!

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Eyegore

· #4 · Mar 16, 2011

The knives being thrown are 100% real (not a gaff), the assistant's table however holds a secret!

The table or rotating disc platform houses spring loaded mechanisms (either by manual release or pneumatic-trigger) that release a duplicate tethered knife that shoots out of a tiny slit in the table just big enough for the knife. When timed properly the performer "throws" the knife at his assistant strapped to the table, just missing her body! In reality, the stagehand or assistant times the magician's "throw" with the spring loaded knife trigger mech.

The magician has his back to the spectator(s) so when he "throws" a knife, the audience doesn't see him slip it into the coat lining or jacket pocket. The sound of the duplicate knife shooting out of the platform/table right as the magician gestures a knife throw with his hands, makes the illusion complete.

At no point is a knife actually thrown!

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undead_october

· #5 · Mar 16, 2011

Great info Eyegore.. what if the real knife was to slip out of the magicians hand and accidentally be thrown at the person on the board...

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Eyegore

· #6 · Mar 16, 2011

Ouch! LOL.

It would never happen though...

The magician ditches it well before he gestures the throw motion. I haven't done it, but I would assume you'd pocket it via a 1-2-3 throw count and ditch it on the downward count of 3 during the throw. I guess a amateur could drop it, ruining the illusion. Assistants have a long contract to fill out before performing, just in case potential oopsies happen! LOL.

"...And now for my next trick, I'll make an ambulance appear to cart off my once-lovely assistant!"

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undead_october

· #7 · Mar 16, 2011

"...And now for my next trick, I'll make an ambulance appear to cart off my once-lovely assistant!"

ha hah ah ha .. All part of show ladies and gentlemen.. All part of the show...

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undead_october

· #8 · Mar 16, 2011

Come to think of it.. Wouldn't this "accident" go over better than the actual first premise..lol.. I mean, the magician throws the knife.. Then all of a sudden fake blood start gushing out of the person on the wheel. The magician freaks out runs up and start screaming ..My God.. Someone call an ambulance... and attemps to try to stop the bleeding with a rag, his coat or anything he can get his hands on.. After about 20 seconds of the audience or person thinking that it might actually be real. He lets everyone know that it isn't.. I don't know if this would go over in a magic show.. But in a haunted setting or haunted stage show.. I would imagine it would be pretty intense.

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JustJimAZ

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 16, 2011

Having a rig on an actor would be pretty cool. I was pointed towards this mousetrap type setup on page 113 of This Book.

It is hidden in the clothes. Maybe I can use this for my stage show too. A mousetrap type setup rather than a knife popping vertically through a hole.

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Eyegore

· #10 · Mar 17, 2011

That would work!

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The Wilmont Estate

· #11 · Mar 21, 2011

This is how you can make it look like you have thrown a knife at someone. You could have them walk into a hallway then a person at the far end of the hallway acts like they are throwing a knife at a person with there back turned to the people walking into the hallway

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JustJimAZ

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 21, 2011

Thanks for the BFX link. They are one of my favorite YouTube shows. I don't think I can make this work live on stage using a table or shield. If I was making a movie, it would be cool.

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sheepies666

· #13 · Mar 29, 2011

undead_october said:
Come to think of it.. Wouldn't this "accident" go over better than the actual first premise..lol.. I mean, the magician throws the knife.. Then all of a sudden fake blood start gushing out of the person on the wheel. The magician freaks out runs up and start screaming ..My God.. Someone call an ambulance... and attemps to try to stop the bleeding with a rag, his coat or anything he can get his hands on.. After about 20 seconds of the audience or person thinking that it might actually be real. He lets everyone know that it isn't.. I don't know if this would go over in a magic show.. But in a haunted setting or haunted stage show.. I would imagine it would be pretty intense.

I saw a show where they actually did that to fool a bunch of people who had been let "behind the scenes" of a magician's show. I can't remember exactly what they did, but they faked the accident - had fake blood and everything. Had fake meds come in and start to cart the "dead person" away - then they sat up, lol

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Xane

· #14 · Mar 29, 2011

Maybe not a good idea, you wouldn't want people calling 911 without you realizing it only for them to show up after you've revealed the trick.

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