A Little Slice of Hand (aka Arm Box, Hands Off)

A Little Slice of Hand (aka Arm Box, Hands Off)
Illusion Main Category
,
Long Description

Designer: Magic Ian1
Builder: StageTricks

A spectator is selected from the audience and asked to place his hand in a box. His fingers extend out the end of the box. Two blades are inserted at the wrist, slicing his hand off. Then the hand is separated across the stage yet the fingers continue moving. The hand is returned and the blades removed. The spectator is unharmed. Received 4 stars in Genii magazine review. Originally produced around 1978.2 The wooden box measures 31 x 13 x 13 cm1 and the aluminum knives have a 11 x 31 cm blade.

Magic Ian actively defended his rights to the illusion, objecting to unauthorized copies,3 and announced a re-release in 2009.2 He passed away on July 4, 2013,4 and it is unknown whether anyone now holds the rights.

Sources

  1. "Arm Box Illusion by Magic Ian," Martin's Magic Collection. Credits the illusion to Magic Ian (Ian Garrison/Sutz), c. 1977, and reproduces the original ad copy, including the box size.
  2. Magic Ian (posting as "magicians"). "Slice of Hand coming in January/February," The Magic Cafe, Dec. 19-20, 2009: "this is an original effect by Magic-Ian 1977" and "I originally sold them for $99.99 in 1978."
  3. Magic Ian. "Illusion theft Arm Box," The Genii Forum, July 23, 2005.
  4. Sanders, Bob. "Magic Ian passed away today in Florida," The Magic Cafe, July 5, 2013.
  • A Little Slice of Hand (aka Arm Box, Hands Off)
  • A Little Slice of Hand (aka Arm Box, Hands Off)
  • A Little Slice of Hand (aka Arm Box, Hands Off)