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Vintage Original Merv Taylor Card Sword
w/Owen Magic Supreme Sword Tip and Case
REVIEW PHOTOS - ASK QUESTIONS
Photos are the key part of my description, please use them to judge condition for yourself.
This includes assets built by Owens Magic Supreme (no longer building magic)
This includes a sword tip and the sword box in the photos!
ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED
Please
Remember photos are a major part of my description, please use them to judge condition for yourself.
What you see in my photos is what you get, minus background items or items used to illustrate size but, if in doubt ask. I take pride in providing excellent service and treating performers and all customers fairly. If any issues arise with your order, please reach out to me *before* leaving negative response or opening a case. I am happy to help and will do my best to make things right. Thank you for your business?
**Regarding Typos**
Sometimes in the rush of things, mistakes occur in the text and even photos. I request the right to make corrections on what should have been obvious errors that I could have caught. I want you to be happy, and I will correct any errors, inaccuracies, typographical and graphic errors, or omissions that may relate to product descriptions, pricing, availability, or your overall order.
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I may use recycled boxes in order to be more eco-friendly.
Every item comes from a smoke and pet free environment.
Merv Taylor's Card Sword is a legendary piece of magic apparatus, and should be easy to see why it's one of my favorite tricks. It's a brilliant fusion of clever engineering and theatrical drama, and its reputation among magicians and collectors is well-deserved.
🗡️ Design and Construction
Taylor's Card Sword is renowned for its elegant, deceptive appearance and high-quality craftsmanship.
· Appearance: It's a handsome metal sword, typically about 33 inches long, featuring a beautifully cast bronze or silver-tone handle. A key feature praised by magicians is its minimal crossbar and lack of a traditional hilt, which makes the working method much more deceptive.
· The Mechanism: The secret lies in a special tip and an elastic cord system. The elastic is threaded through the sword and attached to a gimmicked tip. This mechanism allows the magician to secretly attach selected cards to the blade during the flourish. The original props were often sold with a wooden carrying case, spare elastic, and a threading device for maintenance.
🎩 The Classic Card Sword Trick
The effect is a spectacular, high-impact piece of magic that perfectly combines skill and showmanship.
· The Effect: A card is selected and returned to the deck. The magician then balances the entire deck on the tip of the sword and, with a dramatic flourish, flips the pack into the air. As the cards cascade down, the magician stabs the sword through the falling cards, and incredibly, the one impaled on the blade is the spectator's chosen card.
· Presentation Ideas: The routine is highly adaptable. Magicians have suggested having poker hands called out and spearing a royal flush, or using the sword to catch a silk handkerchief (or a card silk) for a different, equally magical presentation.
📖 History and Legacy
· Merv Taylor (1904-1974): A brilliant inventor and manufacturer, Taylor started as a teacher before a chance repair job for a magician in 1940 sparked his interest in magic. He founded his manufacturing company in the San Fernando Valley in 1948 and became known for revolutionizing magic props by using modern materials and techniques to create sleek, high-quality apparatus.
· Production and Availability: Taylor's Card Sword was produced in the 1950s (circa 1955). After Taylor's business closed, Owen Magic acquired the rights to his products and still manufactured the Card Sword up until they closed their doors, they ensured its legacy continued, but no more.
Original Taylor swords are highly sought-after collectibles that appear at sale houses, but are very rare.
I hope this gives you a deeper appreciation for this fantastic piece of magic! I have used this very sword in thousands of magic shows around the world, often to standing ovations. If you buy this prop with intent on performing I would be honored to share my routine that uses only two cards with one signed.
