SleightfulColor Changing Knife Routine by Craig Petty
Created by: Craig Petty
Key features
Modern twist on the classic color-changing knife routine
Uses Sharpies, making it practical and organic
Highly visual with multiple color changes
Includes a one-hour tutorial by Craig Petty
Three Sharpies provided (one gimmicked, two standard)
Accessible to most magicians, with a classic P move
Nearly 360-degree angle-proof, instant reset
Pens aren't examinable post-performance
Pros
Visual impact and practicality
Organic feel with everyday objects
Easy to learn and perform
Highly practical for close-up performances
Instant reset
Cons
Pens aren't examinable post-performance
Not ideal for parlor or stage magic due to small logo changes
Effect
The Color Changing Knife Routine with Sharpies is a modern take on the classic color-changing effect. Instead of knives, the magician uses Sharpies, which are common tools magicians already carry. The routine involves visually changing the ink color and logo of the Sharpies through simple motions. The changes happen in the spectator's hands, making the effect interactive and deceptive. The routine ends with a multicolored Sharpie, creating a strong visual finish.
Full details
The routine includes:
- A gimmicked Spectrum Sharpie and two standard Sharpies (black and red).
- A one-hour tutorial by Craig Petty, covering the routine, live performances, and additional ideas.
- No internal gimmicks, meaning the pens remain fully functional and can be refilled.
The method relies on the classic P move, making it accessible to most magicians. The routine is nearly 360-degree angle-proof, with the only weak angle being from below. The reset is instant, and pocket management is simple, requiring only two or three Sharpies.
Who should consider the trick
This routine is ideal for:
- Close-up magicians who perform walk-around or table-hopping.
- Magicians who already carry Sharpies and want a practical, visual effect.
- Performers who enjoy color-changing routines but prefer using everyday objects over knives.
It is less suitable for stage or parlor magic, as the small logo changes are hard to see from a distance.
Information on how difficult it is to perform
The routine is easy to learn for most magicians. It uses the classic P move, which is a fundamental sleight. Beginners can pick it up quickly, and experienced performers will find it straightforward. The handling is smooth, and the angles are forgiving, making it a low-risk effect in performance.
What magicians say
Sebastian Toca, a reviewer, praised the routine for its visual impact and practicality. He rated it 8.5/10, highlighting its organic feel and suitability for close-up settings. He noted that while the pens are not examinable post-performance, this is rarely an issue since Sharpies are common objects.
Sebastian said, "If you're a fan of the color-changing knife routine, this is a really good solution that doesn't have you carry knives. It just has you carrying your normal Sharpies that you would use anyway in performance."
The routine is described as fun, visual, and easy to carry, making it a strong option for magicians looking for a practical color-changing effect.
What people are saying about Color Changing Knife Routine
sebastiantoca9208 says...
This is a very fun routine because he uses a prop that we all carry around and a prop that everyone knows and that pretty much anyone that's ever seen a magician knows that at one point you'll probably have to sign a card and most people use Sharpies. [...] I think it's a fun routine. Will I be performing it all the time? No, because it's not necessarily the style of magic that I always do. I'm more in the mentalist field, but I still think this is fun.
Review videos
Spectrum Sharpie by Craig Petty and TCC - Magic Review
sebastiantoca9208 mentioned this magic trick in this video.