Product description : Oh yeah, a new magic French product ! This one is very cool, pure and easy to perform, what else do you want ? The effect is simple : you show a deck, let a spectator selects and signs a card, put it back into the deck and put the deck back into the case. You then borrow a coin, again, spectator signs it. You place it on the case, take it in your hand and in a magical gesture, make it disappear ! When you shake the case, you can ear something rattling inside, you take the cards out of the box, cut them and show that the signed coin is now on the selected card ! Both the card and the coin can be examined and kept.
Price and where to buy it : This is sold at 34.95€ and you can find it on Anthony website : http://magicsmileproductions.com/sherlockoin/.
What you get : You get a small cardboard paper which goes around your deck of cards, I've never seen such a package, I do like it, it's small and very nice. Inside, you can find an envelope with additional stuff in case you break your gimmick (which shouldn't happened often !). You also get a deck of card, both the case and the deck are gimmicked, it's very cleverly gimmicked and invisible as well. It's really well made and should last a long time ! You also get a link to watch the explanation video, they're well made and the routine is easy to understand. Overall, for such a price, I'm not disappointed at all, it's a very good and strong trick and well made too.
The pros and the cons : Here is the core of my review, let's begin with the cons, as I will usually be doing, I prefer to keep the good things for the end.
THE CONS :
You have to carry this deck in order to perform this effect. Even if the gimmicked box doesn't affect the fact you can carry a deck inside and that not all of the deck is gimmicked, you won't be able to perform other effects with this deck.
It's only available in blue and in some light conditions, the gimmick may be a little bit more visible.
THE PROS :
This is very easy to do, you have to get the knack but apart from that, nothing hard.
It comes already made so you don't have to do anything, no art and craft moment. This is very cool because I can't see myself such a gimmick, it would be too difficult and too long ! Hats off to Anthony for making all these gimmicks himself.
The gimmick is very clever and very simple. This is a “why didn't I think of that” kind of trick, you won't be disappointed by the secret nor the fabrication quality !
It's an instant reset, meaning you can just put the cards back in the box and perform it again to another table !
The coin you make them sign is the coin which is on the signed card, you could even make them signed both sides of the coin if you wish !
It's something very clean, very direct and it can easily be described to someone, this means people will be able to explain very easily what happened to their friend.
Overall rating : This is something very good but I carry way too much gimmicked deck with me, I can't afford having another pocket filled with another gimmicked deck, but still, this is one of the best release I've seen in a long time, 3/4 hearts.
As for the difficulty level, there is little to learn, you have to get the knack but nothing complicated, 2/5 stars.
Similar products : You should maybe look at In a Flash by Jay Sankey which is kind in the same “mood” than this trick. Both are very good, I do think In a Flash would be a great follow up to Sherlock'Oin.