War In Peace All magicians are acquainted with the feat where three chosen cards are caught on the point of a sword out of the air after the pack has been thrown. The cards, which have been previously concealed in a receptacle attached to the hilt of the sword, are in this case pulled to the tip of the sword by means of a stout elastic cord. As a good sword of this description is quite an expensive article, and since it is obviously mechanical will not bear close inspection, I take pleasure in making my readers acquainted with a simpler method of doing the trick. This version allows any sword, even a borrowed one, to be used. Previous to the trick the conjurer takes four cards, and out of the center of the first one cuts an oval shaped piece a little larger in circumference than the tip of the sword the conjurer intends to use. In the second card the conjurer cuts a hole still larger than that in the first one, etc. In the end each of the four cards has a hole cut in it slightly larger than the hole in the preceding card. The four cards are then connected by a fine black thread, with an interval of about four inches being left between the cards. The performer then conceals the cards in their pochette (a small pocket sewn on the rear side of the leg of the trousers) or any other convenient location. When performing the trick the conjurer forces duplicates of the four prepared cards, then has them returned to the pack. After the cards have been returned the conjurer secretly places the four prepared cards on top, which the performer has secretly palmed while the spectators have been looking at their cards. After exhibiting the sword, the performer takes it in the right hand and holds the pack by one corner in the left. Placing the tip of the sword against the back of the cards, the performer secretly inserts the tip into the largest hole of the topmost prepared card. The performer then proceeds to toss the pack into the air, at the same time making a lunge with the sword after it. The four cards, caught on the sword due to the holes, now slide along the blade &endash; the first card remaining near the tip while the others arrange themselves along the blade of the sword. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.