PFM: The Gunslinger

Effect: A black Jack is selected, referred to as Cowboy Jack, and signed across the face by the spectator. The magician proceeds to create a Wild West scenario by drawing a cowboy-gunslinger stick figure on the back of the chosen card. The card cowboy is placed upright on a table, a few feet away from the magician. The magician challenges the card cowboy to a gunfight! A few seconds later the magician pulls out an imaginary gun, and POW! The cowboy falls over dead!

The magician hands the card to the spectator to reveal the fresh bullet hole in the card. Upon examining the card, the magician comments that it looks as if the bullet missed the stick-figure. Yet when the card is turned face up, it is revealed that the bullet has actually penetrated the heart of the Jack. WOW!

Required Items:

A hole puncher.
A black Sharpie indelible marker.
A bunch of black Jacks, if you plan to repeat the effect.
A red-back deck of good quality cards with a busy back design. I prefer Poker Bicycle cards.

Preparation: Looking at the face of the black Jack, punch a hole in the card where the Jack’s heart should be (FIG.1). Remove the punch-out from the hole puncher and place it back into the card so that it appears whole again. Working on a flat surface, and following the pattern of the card, align the punch-out properly, and press it flush into place. Rub the gaffed or prepared area in a circular motion with the back of your fingernail. Once done, place the gaffed Jack into the deck at the position that you wish to force it. For this effect, I choose to place the Jack on the face of the deck so that I may execute the Hindu Shuffle Force.

Figure 1

The Vortex Move: Basically, as if by magic, the move knocks over a card that has been stood upright several feet from the magician. In short, you use a back-hand motion. As you approach the tabletop, stop suddenly and point at the card, and it will fall over a second later.

The move works by creating a vortex of air along the tabletop. The position of your hand will send the vortex in the direction of the card (FIG. 2). Amazingly, your hand appears to be far away, and perfectly still, when the card falls over. Practice the move by placing the card further away each time you try it. Obviously, it would be beneficial for you to know exactly how close the card must be for the move to work every time.

Figure 2

The following section explains how to make such an unnatural movement seem natural.

Executing the Vortex Move: To begin, bend a playing card lengthwise from edge to edge, putting a natural bow in the card. Do not crease the card (FIG. 3). Place the card vertically a few feet away on a nearby counter or tabletop. Make sure there is a clear path between you and the card. Stand near the edge of the table, which should be about waist level, and place your hands naturally at your side. Prepare yourself for the Vortex Move.

Figure 3

To execute the move, use your right hand, pretending to draw for an imaginary gun from your left side. Keep the fingers of your right hand straight, and swiftly move your right hand toward the tabletop. Stop suddenly several feet away, once your hand is in perfect alignment with the card (FIG. 2). Quickly, make a gun with your right hand and pretend to shoot the card. Once the card begins to topple over, mimic the action of the gun recoiling with your right hand. Afterward, pretend to blow away the smoke from the barrel of the gun; this subtlety brings your hand closer to you, emphasizing the magic.

This move is an essential part of the effect, so practice it over and over again until you can do it every time. Make sure you do not touch the tabletop. You don’t want anyone thinking you jarred it. Also emphasize the fact that your hand is several feet from the card when the magic happens. You will know you have the move perfected when the card seems to fall over seconds later, after your hand has ceased its motion.

Routine: After forcing the Jack, place it on a flat surface and ask the spectator to sign it across the face. Do not worry about him or her signing across the gaffed area; it will stay intact. Begin your story of how fast you have to be with your hands to be a magician. Explain that had you been born in the Wild West days, you might have chosen to be a gunslinger, using your special talent to defend your town’s honor.

Perpetuating the mood, create the bad guy, Cowboy Jack. Draw an ornery-looking cowboy on the back of the selected card. Be careful not to draw on top of the gaffed area; later it should appear as if the bullet has missed Cowboy Jack (FIG. 4).

Figure 4

Hold the card face down and proceed to bend the card lengthwise, back edge to back edge. Make just a slight bow in the card, enough to make it stand up. Use your left hand’s thumb and index finger to pinch the front and back of the gaffed area. Use the other hand to help bend it, with the same grip, so the hole will not accidentally pop out (FIG. 3). Stand the card vertically a few feet from where you are standing.

Speak of the showdown about to take place as you face your opponent eye to eye. Prepare Cowboy Jack, and the audience, by stating that you will draw on the count of three. After the count, suddenly go for your imaginary gun and execute the Vortex Move. Say "Pow!" as the card starts to fall over. The count of "1, 2, 3," and saying "Pow!", help assure that you did not blow Cowboy Jack over with your breath.

Once the card has fallen, your audience will be amazed. During this moment, pick up the tabled face-down card with your right hand, not calling any attention to it. Approach the card with your left hand and place your thumbnail on top of the gaffed area, and your index finger beneath it. Push the punch-out onto your waiting index finger with the thumbnail of your left hand. Using your right hand, slide the card into a position where you are not only pinching the uppermost portion of the card, but the concealed punch-out as well.

Finally, call attention to the newly formed hole in the back of the card. Show the audience that it seems you were a bad shot and missed the stick-figure cowboy completely. Let this idea sink in, then turn over the card to reveal, to everyone’s surprise, that actually the heart of the bad guy Cowboy Jack has been penetrated. Hand the spectator the signed selection as evidence, and to keep as a souvenir, while slipping the punch-out away with your index finger and thumb. Inconspicuously, let your left hand fall to your side to drop the punch-out onto the floor, or place it in your pocket as you put away the cards or the Sharpie marker.