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Bill Penetration by Nicholas Lawrence and Hansen Chen

Created by: Nicholas Lawrence, Hansen Chen

The Swiss Key is a versatile close-up magic tool that allows performers to execute a variety of effects, primarily centered around bill penetrations and key manipulations. Spectators witness a key seemingly penetrate through a bill, melt through it, or even vanish entirely. The gimmick is designed to look and handle like a normal key, making it highly deceptive. It works with any currency, whether paper or polymer, and requires no prepped bills or refills. The effect is organic and fits seamlessly into everyday carry, making it ideal for impromptu performances.

Where to buy

Card Bill Penetration by Asmadi video DOWNLOAD from Alakazam Magic
Alakazam MagicCard Bill Penetration by Asmadi video DOWNLOAD£12.64
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Key features

  • Versatile gimmick allowing multiple effects (bill penetration, vanishing key, melting key, etc.)

  • Works with any currency (paper or polymer)

  • No need for prepped bills or refills

  • High-quality, durable construction

  • Comes with a detailed 1-hour 14-minute tutorial

Pros

  • Highly deceptive and organic

  • Durable and built to last

  • No additional purchases needed (refills, etc.)

  • Detailed tutorial with multiple routines

Cons

  • Requires practice to master the nuances

  • Angle-sensitive; not suitable for surrounded performances

  • Sticker on gimmick may come loose over time

  • Slight noise from the gimmick (though often masked by performance)

Effect

The Bill Penetration trick, as performed with Swiss Key, creates the illusion of a solid key passing through a borrowed bill. The audience sees the key visibly penetrate the bill, leaving no visible damage. The effect is clean, visual, and happens in the spectator's hands, making it highly deceptive.

Full Details

The Swiss Key is a gimmicked key that allows multiple routines, including:

  • Bill Penetration – The key visibly pushes through the bill.
  • Melting Key – The key appears to melt through the bill.
  • Static Bill – The bill levitates or sticks to the key.
  • Gravitation – The key balances impossibly on the edge of the bill.
  • Vanishing Key – The key disappears inside a crumpled bill.
  • Key Dissolve – The key vanishes in stages, appearing to pass through the bill.
  • Zigzag Key – The key visually splits into two parts.
  • Signed Coin to Anywhere – A borrowed coin vanishes and reappears linked to the key.

The gimmick is well-made, resembling a real key, and can be handed out for inspection. It works with any currency (paper or polymer) and requires no prepped bills.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

  • Close-up magicians who want a visual, interactive effect.
  • Everyday carry (EDC) performers since the key can stay on a keychain.
  • Beginners to advanced magicians, though some routines require more practice.
  • Those who prefer organic, impromptu magic with borrowed objects.

Difficulty

The basic Bill Penetration is beginner-friendly, but mastering all routines takes practice. Fiddlin' Johnny notes:

"Even though it is a beginner level, it will require practice so that it looks good... I found that I really did require practice."

Some routines, like the Zigzag Key or Key Dissolve, involve more nuanced handling. The gimmick makes the method easy, but presentation and timing are key.

What Magicians Say

Fiddlin' Johnny praises the Swiss Key for its quality and versatility:

"The gimmick is really really good... I couldn't say one bad thing about the gimmick."

He also highlights its advantages over similar tricks like Phoenix:

"If I'm not set up and I'm in a situation where I don't have Phoenix bills set up, then this is going to be awesome because I just pull it off of my key ring and I'm ready to go."

A minor issue mentioned is a sticker inside the key that may come loose, but it doesn’t affect performance.

Overall, Swiss Key is a strong choice for magicians who want a durable, multi-purpose gimmick for impromptu bill and key magic.

What people are saying about Bill Penetration

fiddlinjonny says...

The Swiss Key is not just a simple bill penetration—it's like a Swiss Army knife of magic. The gimmick is high quality, and I feel comfortable handing it to a spectator because if I can't spot the gimmick, they never will.

Review videos