“Ultimate Shells Review” for the “Three Shell Game” by J C Sum

This is a review of shells that are currently available on the market (as of this writing, Sep 2010). This review was originally supposed to be part of my “Close-up & Underground” lecture notes but after completing the review I felt it would be a waste if this resource was not available to everyone. So here it is!

As I have no commercial interest in any of the manufacturers, this is an impartial review of a variety of shells that I have personally owned and worked with since 1994. While I did not have a chance to review every single shell set on the market, I do cover the most popular shells available. The shells are all photographed under the same lighting conditions and camera so the colours can be seen in consistent relation to each other.

I have performed the “Three Shell Game” extensively for tradeshows, hospitality events and parlour-setting private parties. Currently, they are part of my “Close-up & Underground” show that is a formal close-up show.

The focus of this review is also only on walnut-type shells and does not cover other variants on shells such as thimbles, insect shells, matchboxes, mini cups and other “shells”.

I’m also not going to discuss specific routines. There are several resources available that will give you more than enough material to develop your own routine. My recommended (and also widely considered the best) resources include:

• Intro to the Shell Game Volume 1 by Bob Sheets & Whit Haydn
• The Scoundrels Touch Volume 2 by Sheets, Anton & Haydn
• Golden Shells by Bob Kohler
• The Pea & Shell Game by Phil Cass
• Super Shells by Gary Ouellet

If you are fairly new to the shell game and are choosing just one resource, I would 100% go with the “Intro to the Shell Game Volume” 1 by Bob Sheets & Whit Haydn. It goes through all of the basic techniques needed to perform virtually any routine.

If you can afford one more DVD, you can’t go wrong with “The Scoundrels Touch Volume 2” by Sheets, Anton & Haydn. This video explores more advanced techniques and strategies that will bring your shell game to the next level. The two volumes together are the most comprehensive instruction on a wide variety of techniques, handlings, moves, strategies, routines and sequences.

“Golden Shells” is an extremely commercial routine with excellent sequences and a killer finish. It is hailed by many magicians as a must-have reference.

Phil Cass’s video is a lesson in presenting the routine as a psychological game with the audience. Having watched this performed live, I can attest that the routine is a presentational masterpiece and a lesson in engaging the audience even if you do not intend to perform the shell game as a psychological challenge.

“Super Shells” is possibly the original routine that inspired many of the routines in the above videos. It is a completely commercial routine with a powerful ending.

You can read more resources here http://www.threeshellgame.com/resources.htm

For history buffs, check out http://www.threeshellgame.com/allure.htm

One final note, the shells are only half of what makes a good set of props for the “Three Shell Game”. You also need a good pea to go along with the shells.

The unanimous current standard for the pea to use is the “Perfect Pea” manufactured by School for Scoundrels. It is available in traditional green, red or white and also comes with most professional-grade shells. Regardless of shells you buy, use the Perfect Pea with them.

Now, onto the “Ultimate Shells Review”!

“Real Walnuts”

I worked with real walnut shells for 8 years and they finally gave out on me and cracked. I’ve now got them glued up and retired. My first set (also my first ever set of shells) was made by Davenports, England, and were the smallest shells I have worked with since but they did the job admirably.

Davenports “3 Shell Game” Shells varnished finish

I highly recommend them as a first set of shells and also encourage you to make up your own shells if you can find walnuts (dependent on location and season). You will need some tools, time and patience to make your own set but if you are handy, it is a fun project to embark on. I recently had our illusion workshop churn out a limited number of sets that look beautiful.

My own set “natural” finish

The drawbacks of real walnut shells are that they are fragile (although mine lasted 8 years with a modest amount of care) and fairly lightweight. The issue with lightweight shells (and the weight issue applies to all shells) is that they may accidentally flip over if accidentally hit or if they accidentally stick to your fingers as you move your hands away from them. If you do a sequence with a shot glass, a light shell might flip over when moved under the glass.

However, real walnuts no doubt look real (duh!) and are fairly inexpensive for a good-looking set of shells.

Naturally, the specifications of the walnuts depend on the type of walnut you use. The average specs for my real shells are:

Overall size rating – Small to Medium (Depending on the walnuts you use)

The Davenport set’s specifications are:

Length – 3.72cm
Width – 3.28cm
Height – 1.6cm
Weight – 3g

Price: N/A

My own set:

Length – 4.5cm
Width – 3.51cm
Height – 1.72cm
Weight – 3g

Price: N/A

“Three Shell Game” by Vernet

These are entry-level shells made of plastic and look exactly like what you would expect from plastic shells. They have a high profile design (tall) and are fairly large. While they are very lightweight, they do not flip over easily due to the high profile, so that is good.

Vernet Plastic Shells

The biggest issue is the quality and finishing of this set of shells. The bottom edges are extremely rough and unfinished. You will need to sand them down before even using them. Once that is done, they are fully functional but feel a bit too toy-magic-set-like.

This is a great set if you want to “muck’ around to see if the shell game is for you as they are very inexpensive. If you do buy this set, I suggest you buy the “Perfect Pea” to replace the pea that comes with them.

Overall size rating – Large 

Dimensions of the shells: 

Length – 5.17cm
Width – 3.64cm
Height – 2.13cm
Weight – 2g 

Price: US$7.00

 “Street Shells” by School of Scoundrels

These are very popular shells with many magicians because they are very well made and while not considered cheap, are mid-level market priced shells.

School for Scoundrels’ “Street Shells”

They are very realistic-looking low profile (short) shells that incorporate the Chanin Dip design that facilitates the movement of the pea on hard surfaces. Essentially, the Chanin Dip is a gentle convex curve of the bottom of the shells that tapers up slightly at the front and back of the shells, like a rocking horse. When you press down on the front of the shells and move them forward, the back of the shells raise up slightly.

There is a debate on the necessity of the Chanin Dip and its effect on the handling of the shells. Personally, I do not think the Dip is necessary and is not a deal breaker for me when choosing shells.

This is a very well made set of shells cast from resin and should last a lifetime. Personally, I find these shells a bit too lightweight for my liking and because of their low profile tend to flip over with a shot glass move. I also find the colour a bit too light but that is a subjective opinion of personal taste.

Many magicians like the size of these shells and find them easy to use, especially if you do not have very large hands. In fact, these are Ning’s favourite shells to.

Overall size rating – Medium (leaning towards Small)

Dimensions of the shells:

Length – 4.55cm
Width  – 3.26cm
Height – 1.63cm
Weight – 5g

Price: US$45.00

“Superior Walnut Shells” by Black Fox

I think Black Fox’s walnut shells are very underrated shells. If you like a larger, high profile shell, as compared to the low profile “Street Shells”, you will love this set. The shells are heavier and have a dirty stained colour/ finish that is very accurate in my opinion. They look very realistic, more so than the “Street Shells” and they are also slightly cheaper than the “Street Shells”.

Black Fox “Superior Walnut Shells”

The shells are made of a “hybrid plastic” and are very sturdy and durable. The peas supplied with these shells are also very good, as good as the “Perfect Pea”. As a great bonus, you will also receive a sucker “plug” shell that you can ring in for a kicker finale. Essentially, this is a completely filled-out solid shell. (I understand that the first to offer the sucker “plug” shell was Absolutely Magic who offered them with their La Maggiore “Solid Shell Set” reviewed later)

I think this is extremely good value for money and highly recommend this set if you can handle larger shells.

Overall size rating – Large (leaning towards Medium)

Dimensions of the shells:

Length – 5.71cm
Width – 3.98cm
Height – 2.13cm
Weight – 12g

Price: US$40.00

“Jack Chanin Tribute Shells” by Black Fox for School for Scoundrels

As mentioned above, I feel the Black Fox shells are underrated and this set is really beautiful. It is also the largest set of shells I have come across based on height and length. I particularly like the rich dark realistic texture of these large shells.

There are the shells I personally use now because ergonomically, they fit me the best, based on the grip I use, the moves I perform and the sequences in my routine. Even though the shells are really big, I can perform my one-handed sequence without issues. While the sides of the shells are a little slippery, the high profile design allows you to maintain a good grip on the shells.

“Jack Chanin Tribute Shells” by Black Fox

There is an argument that bigger shells dwarf the size of the pea and one should use smaller shells to emphasize the star of the routine, the pea. Honestly, I disagree with that on the basis that the overall absolute size of the shells and pea are so small that a bigger shell in no way pulls focus away from the pea.

If the shells were the size of “Cups & Balls” cups, I would agree that the small pea will be lost, but a marginal increment in size will not pull focus from the pea but in fact make the routine play bigger… so the bigger the shells, the better. But then again, I’m an illusionist so nothing is ever too big!

These shells fit my idiosyncratic needs perfectly although I’m sure a fair share of people will find these shells a bit too large to handle. While my hands are not very large (just large enough fully palm a poker-sized card in classic full palm) and I can handle these shells comfortably.

If you intend to use a shot glass finale with this set, you will unlikely be able to find a shot glass that fits it. You will have to hunt around for an odd shaped glass to fit the shells. The glass must fit snugly over the shell otherwise two problems might arise when you to the load-into shell under glass move. One, the shell will flip if it is too small and light. Two, the pea will go under the glass but not under the shell. For my set, I use a small dip or sauce bowl that just fits over the shells.

The Black Fox “Master Shells” are the same shape and size as this set except the colour and finish are different. They are closer in colour and finish to the “Superior Walnut Shells”.

Overall size rating – Large

Dimensions of the shells:

Length – 5.71cm
Width – 3.98cm
Height – 2.13cm
Weight – 13g 

Price: US$65.00

“Copper Shells (Antique finish)” by School of Scoundrels

These use the same mold as the Street Shells” but are cast in heavy pewter and plated in copper. They are also low profile shells and incorporate the Chanin Dip design. They look beautiful and have a great weight i.e. these are hefty shells.

Copper Shells (Antique Finish) by School for Scoundrels

However, the heavy weight and material also make it almost impossible to do certain moves. For example, I perform a one-handed sequence in which the shells are gripped between my fingers (ala Multiplying Balls) but the shells always slip because of the weight and smooth surface of the copper shells. This is the only reason I’m not using these shells in my show.

The cousins to this set are the Golden Shells (US$100), Colorado Silver Shells (US$450) and Brass Shells (US$250), all manufactured by School for Scoundrels. I do not own these shells so cannot accurately comment on them although I suspect they will be similar in feel to the Copper Shells but heavier in weight.

These shells have my highest recommendation if you have the budget to spend on shells that look great and are heavy in weight but only if you do not intend to do any one-handed sequences.

Overall size rating – Medium (leaning towards Small)

Dimensions of the shells: 

Length – 4.34cm
Width  – 3.00cm
Height – 1.5cm
Weight – 50g

Price: US$70.00

“La Maggiore” Shells by Absolutely Magic 

These are big shells but not as large as the “Jack Chanin Tribute Shells”. They are shorter in length and height, although wider. The shells are made with a virtually indestructible “high impact resin” and have a decent weight. They are also the most expensive resin shells on the market.

“La Maggiore” Shells by Absolutely Magic 

The colour is darker than the “Street Shells” and in my opinion look more like regular walnuts. In fact, it is closest in colour to the type of real walnuts I have than any of the other shells. However, I do have to say that the colour and shape do not look like how they are pictured in the website and marketing copy, at least on all the computers that I viewed the photos from.

The shape of these shells is rounder than all other shells. This does make it harder to see which is the front & back (I often got them back to front during performance) and some may prefer a more traditional tapered-look set of shells. However, if you use a shot glass (or sake glass which is wider and fits perfectly), these fit perfect within the mouth of the glass and are impossible to flip over due to the shape.

These are the shells I used before switching to my current ones because they are big but I can perform all my moves and sequence without issues. I do have to stretch a bit for the one-handed sequence but the sides are textured and have a great grip.

I should highlight that there are two versions of these shells, a “classic” and “natural” version. The “classic” version has a perfectly smooth finish on the underside of the shells that looks a bit unnatural. However, the “natural” version has the underside of the shells in a more textured natural finish. Most dealers stock only the “classic” version and  the “natural” version is currently a limited edition that must be bought direct from the manufacturer.

Absolutely Magic also offers a “Solid Shell Set” for both the “classic” and “natural” versions that includes a sucker solid plug shell, a feature that they originated for the shell game.

Overall size rating – Large

Dimensions of the shells:

Length – 5cm
Width – 4.2cm
Height – 2.06cm
Weight – 13g 

Price: US$75.00 with a lifetime warranty

“Trade Show” Shells by School of Scoundrels

I included these shells for the sake of completeness although they do not fall under the category of the regular shells.

Due to the sheer size of these shells, the handling is completely different from the regular-sized shells. The necessary peas are included with the shells but I did not find them adequate and they do not last regular use. You might have to source for a better pea yourself.

The paintwork of the shells also is a bit “off”. The colour does not look very walnut-shell like. It is far to beige with a pinkish hue so the shells look like, in Ning’s words, “human brains”. I actually repainted my shells with a combination of acrylic paints using two painting techniques and finally had them professionally lacquered with a high gloss lacquer by a craftsman. You can see the differences below:

“Trade Show” Shells by School for Scoundrels
(The original shell is the one on the right front)

For the high price (US$495), buyers might justifiably expect a better product. While I understand the cost of production must be high for a low quantity of these super-sized shells, I wish the colours were more accurate and less “brain-like”.

While I think most will not feel this set is worth it, I use these shells professionally and I have a finale phase in my regular shell routine that brings the whole game to another level. I will not tip my routine here but it is shared in the lecture of my “Close-up & Underground Magic Show”.

Overall size rating – Gigantic

Dimensions of the shells:

Length – 20.8cm
Width – 15.5cm
Height – 8.02cm
Weight – 400g

Price: US$495.00

An alternative to the “Trade Show” shells is to use real coconut shells (the round type). They are smaller than the “Trade Show” shells but will be cheaper if you can find them. You will need to put in some work to shape and smoothen them out but it will save you a few hundred dollars.

Coconut Shells

Here are some considerations when choosing which shells are best for you and may help you decide how much you are willing to spend on a set of shells:

Personal Philosophy for the “Three Shell Game”

My personal approach to close-up has always been to play big. Even when I did strolling magic, I never performed to small groups of people but always did mini-shows by drawing large groups of people (15 –20) together. So, I generally believe that big is better for props and performers should always try to use the biggest props they can handle; like the biggest coins for a “Coins Across” or the largest balls for “Multiplying Balls”.

With that personal philosophy in mind, I designed my shell routine to play as big as possible with a commercial entertaining presentation. That is the reason I use the “Jack Chanin Tribute Shells” (largest shells available) as well as the giant “Trade Show” shells in the routine, along with poker chips, a glass and a leather cover that fits over the glass.

Personally, my routine was designed for formal work, behind a table on a close-up mat. So, my current set of shells and additional props work well for that. I also work out of a case for the show so do not have space limitations.

My personal set of props for the “Three Shell Game”

Your personal philosophy will determine what you are looking for in a set of shells. For example, if you feel the shell game should be presented as an authentic con game, you might only want to use shells that look like the real thing. You might feel that the metal shells or the “Trade Show” shells look too “prop-py” or “showy”.

If you feel the routine should be presented as a light hearted comedy piece with lots of interaction, you may even want to look for shells that look distinctively “unnatural” or even choose one of the novelty shells (such as Black Fox’s “Scarab Beetle Shells”) and use a bright red pea instead of a green one.

Where You Intend to Perform the “Three Shell Game”

Your performing venue and your primary audience will determine what shells will best fit you.

If you are a distinguished corporate entertainer working hospitality suites who wishes to present the shell game as psychological challenge ala Phil Cass, the metal shells might fit your style and image better.

If you are a street busker who wants to use the game to draw and stop a crowd, you may not care what your shells look or feel like, as long as they do the job.

If you primarily perform strolling magic and intend to perform the shells on a variety of table surfaces, you will want smaller shells that can fit in your pocket and can work well on a hard surface.

If you are an amateur magician and intend to perform the routine for friends and family in your home or private gatherings, you might want a set of shells that fit your personal image, style or even home furnishings. Also, unlike a professional performer who can recoup his investment in the shells from performing it in shows, an amateur is basically making a purchase; so this might factor into your budget

Physical Attributes of your Hands

This is a purely practical issue as the size of your hands, flexibility and whether you have sweaty palms/ hands will all affect what shells work best for you.

If you have large hands and sweaty palms, the heavy, more slippery metal shells may be difficult for you to handle. If you have smaller hands, the bigger shells might not be as comfortable to handle.

The Moves & Sequences You Want to Perform

Watch different routines or buy the resources recommended to see what type of routine, moves and sequences appeal to you. Different moves work better with different shells. For example, if you are using a shot glass, a light shell has the danger of flipping over.

As mentioned, while I love the look and weight of the Copper Shells, I do not use them because I cannot perform a particular one-handed sequence and was not willing to cut out that sequence for the sake of the shells.

So, figuring out what moves and sequences you intend to perform can help you decide what shells to buy, although I also know it is many times a chicken or egg situation. You might not be able to determine what moves you would like to do without physically having the shells in hand.

Final Overview

If you are looking to start learning the “Three Shell Game”, I recommend you start with real walnut shells. They will last long enough for you to determine if this routine is for you.

After you have developed an audience-tested routine that works for you, you can consider investing in a more expensive set of shells. This will also allow you to determine what size shells you think works best for you.

If you are willing to spend some money on a mid-level set of shells, I recommend the “Street Shells” or “Superior Walnut Shells” depending on what size/ design shells you think would work best for you; “Street Shells” if you prefer smaller, low profile shells and the “Superior Walnut Shells” if you prefer larger, higher and heavier shells.

My recommendation is to go down to your favorite magic shop or visit a friend who might have a collection of different shells and experiment with what feels good for you. This will save you some money in trail & error purchases.

Happy shell shopping!

If you would like to add to this review on shells that I have missed out, please email me at jcsum@conceptmagic.biz