Now the masked magician will attempt one of the world's most dangerous illusions.
Catching a speeding bullet in his teeth. He begins by loading the rifle with
gunpowder.
A warning: please do not try this very dangerous trick at home.
11 magicians have died attempting this illusion.
I hope tonight doesn't make it an even dozen. Now for the bullet.
He drops it into the barrel and pacts it down tight.
Next the magician will take a practice shot to show you that the gun is real
and that it actually fires the bullet. Again, please do not try this at home.
He cocks the rifle and takes aim.
Then he fires.
Looks like a real bullet hole to me.
Time for the moment of truth.
Again the magician loads the gun powder in preparation for the next shot.
Now for the bullet he will attempt to catch in his teeth.
He uses a knife to carve an X in the bullet so you'll be able to identify it
after he catches it.
See there's the X.
He drops the bullet into the barrel, then packs it down tight.
He hands the rifle to his assistant.
Let's hope she's a good shot.
The other assistants bring out a pane of glass. As soon as the magician sees the
glass shatter he'll have just a fraction of a second to catch the bullet in his
teeth.
Timing is everything. In this case it could mean the difference between life
and death.
She takes aim and he gives the signal.
Is the masked magician all right? He looks stunned.
Look.
There's the bullet. Somehow he's managed to catch it.
See?
X marks the spot.
Let's see that one more time.
How did he do it?
Here are the secrets.
Obviously the masked magician isn't crazy enough to try to catch a bullet in his
teeth. Some magicians actually have their assistants use a real gun and bullet,
then deliberately miss when they fire.
Unfortunately once in a while they don't miss and that's how 11 magicians wound
up dead. But the masked magician is smarter than that.
Your first clue that he wasn't using a real gun should have been the musket.
When's the last time you saw a gun loaded like that? While it looks like
he's filling the barrel with gunpowder.
He really isn't. The gun never actually fires anything. Just some Hollywood
special effects. Hidden on the other side of the gun is a battery-powered
mechanism that creates a small explosion at the end of the barrel when the
trigger is pulled.
So how did the bullet appear to hit the target on the practice shot?
Take a look.
Behind the target there's an electronic charge that set off the moment the
trigger is pulled.
That's what creates the bullet hole
It's the same thing with a pane of glass. Another electronic charge concealed in
the frame and wired to a detonator operated by a magical stage hand.
Now the masked magician must pretend to be shot.
Pretty good acting but no Oscar.
I know what you're thinking. How did the bullet get into his mouth?
It's all sleight of hand. At the end of the plunger there's a tiny magnet that
goes down inside the barrel of the gun.
There it is. Instead of packing the bullet down tight
he's actually pulling it out. See if you can catch the sleight of hand.
There, did you see it?
When the magnet lifts the bullet out of the barrel the magician palms it in his
hand.
Then while you're distracted by the assistants he quickly slips it into his
mouth.
The gun is fired.
The magician spits out the bullet and x marks the spot.
No need to check the obituaries in the morning paper.
The masked magician lives on.