Purple and orange magician knife

[Quasimodo]

I am trying to find information regarding this color combo. I bought one years ago in 2005-07, I think, but I can’t remember the model. From what I can remember it was small and smooth on both sides and the purple was neither light or dark and the orange was standard orange bone. For some reason it’s now missing from the collection along with a few other. Any information on this would be helpful. Thanks and have a great day.

[OLDE CUTLER]

I am trying to find information regarding this color combo. I bought one years ago in 2005-07, I think, but I can’t remember the model. From what I can remember it was small and smooth on both sides and the purple was neither light or dark and the orange was standard orange bone. For some reason it’s now missing from the collection along with a few other. Any information on this would be helpful. Thanks and have a great day.

It is going to be tough with the vague description, but maybe someone will recall one like it. Was it a folding knife or fixed blade? If a folder, how many blades and over all length may help.

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK. According to a search on knifedb.com Case made several versions of these “magician’s knives” during 2004-2011 time period. They were offered in multiple patterns, and various different handle cover combinations.

All those shown having orange covers on one side, had black on the other side. Depending on how the bone absorbed the dye and the result after hafting/finishing, black bone can appear anywhere from black to dark or light grey. I saw no purple bone listed, but black could possibly appear purple? I suspect your knife was “officially” orange bone with black bone on the other side.

There were several different patterns made in the orange/black combination. Based on your saying it was a small pattern with smooth bone, I’m guessing it was possible a tiny trapper or a tiny toothpick, both of which were made during 2004 with the orange and black combination. Others made in orange/black were full size trappers and Russlocks, and some having jigged bone.

Ken

[Quasimodo]

Thank you for replying guys I appreciate it. Is all the case knives with one side different than the other called a magicians knife? I bet you’re right and the purple side was actually black but just in case I’m wrong did they make any with purple and a different color?

* I found the knife, it’s a black/orange tiny trapper from 05. The knife has been in a curio cabinet for years and I’m assuming from the sun hitting it the “black” side lightened up to an almost whitish brown. Down next to the metal on the opposite side of the bone the darker purplish black is still visible. Now that I found this I’m on the hunt to buy another magician knife I spotted on eBay several years back. The one I’m looking for is white on one side and black on the other with wedding bells. I should have purchased it when I seen it but passed. I would like to get the blade engraved with mine and my wife’s wedding date. Anyways, thanks for all the help and if you know where to find the wedding case knife let me know.

[Mumbleypeg]

As far as I know, since the introduction of intentionally dyed colors by Case they have called knives having different color on each side of the same knife “magician’s knives”. That would include knives made in the 2000s. If you go back 50-60 plus years ago and longer, some cutleries made salesman samples having different materials (like bone and pearl for example). That was several decades prior to when your knife was made.

I saw no such knives on knifedb.com having purple on one side. And all those listed having orange on one side had black on the other side.

Ken

[dsutton24]

Not everything with two different scales is a magician's knife. Some manufacturers made knives this way as part of their normal line.

I used to manufacture magician's knives for a guy who owned a magic shop and did some distributing. The easiest were the tin shell teardrop jacks that Smoky Mountain sold. There was also a CamCo pen knife that came in several colors that was an easy conversion and looked a lot nicer. They were sold as either a two knife or three knife set, depending on how you did the illusion.

A little trivia: If you hear someone referring to a 'trick' he's not a magician. They get really cranky if you call an illusion a trick.

[Quasimodo]

As far as I know, since the introduction of intentionally dyed colors by Case they have called knives having different color on each side of the same knife “magician’s knives”. That would include knives made in the 2000s. If you go back 50-60 plus years ago and longer, some cutleries made salesman samples having different materials (like bone and pearl for example). That was several decades prior to when your knife was made.

I saw no such knives on knifedb.com having purple on one side. And all those listed having orange on one side had black on the other side.

Ken

I found the knife and it is black and orange! I edited a post above with the details. Thanks again for the help.

That’s really interesting regarding the other magician’s knives, I bet they’re extremely rare and expensive. I would love to have an older case from 50 years ago with 2 different handles.

[Quasimodo]

Not everything with two different scales is a magician's knife. Some manufacturers made knives this way as part of their normal line.

I used to manufacture magician's knives for a guy who owned a magic shop and did some distributing. The easiest were the tin shell teardrop jacks that Smoky Mountain sold. There was also a CamCo pen knife that came in several colors that was an easy conversion and looked a lot nicer. They were sold as either a two knife or three knife set, depending on how you did the illusion.

A little trivia: If you hear someone referring to a 'trick' he's not a magician. They get really cranky if you call an illusion a trick.

Wow!! That’s really cool you made knives for a magician! Did they only have different colored handles or did they do something special? Either way that’s really neat. I have always heard not to call an illusion a trick but now I know it’s true lol. Thanks for sharing

[Mumbleypeg]

I found the knife and it is black and orange! I edited a post above with the details. Thanks again for the help.

That’s really interesting regarding the other magician’s knives, I bet they’re extremely rare and expensive. I would love to have an older case from 50 years ago with 2 different handles.

Case made a lot of “magician” knives in the past 20-30 years. They’re not particularly rare (there are pages of different versions by Case shown on knifedb.com) nor were they made for magicians. They were made primarily to attract collectors. You can find one at Shepherd Hills Cutlery. https://www.casexx.com

As for “Case knives from 50 years ago with 2 different handles”, if Case made any they’re rare. They do exist from other makers - I’ve seen several from other makers offered on eBay but many of them are likely fakes. Caveat emptor. JMO.

Ken

[knifeaddict1965]

Here's a full-size trapper currently listed on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174761239279?h ... R4q-v_6mYg