Klinger

P.A.P.E.R. C.L.I.P. and the United States Navy

I served my country proudly under President Clinton from 1991 to 1995. My final day in the Navy was also my brother, Jeremy’s 11 birthday and 16 years later would be my daughter, Oliveah’s birthday, April 11th.

What that has to do with this effect, not much, except that April 11th is a magical day, and the final days of the Navy were marked with a Paper Clip. It’s been said of the Navy that it’s a “Million dollar experience that I wouldn’t pay a nickel to do again.” That about sums it up.

It was a somewhat secret code in the Navy (and likely all branches of the military) to wear a paper clip on your uniform somewhere – typically this was done at the end of your term of service. It was an acronym:

P.eople A.gainst P.eople E.ver R.enlisting . . . C.ivilian L.ife I.ncentive P.rogram.

So if you were wearing a paper clip, you were making a statement that you were against people reenlisting.

The Presentation

[Jeff’s wearing a ring on his pinky that looks suspiciously like a paper clip twisted into a ring.]

Fellow Sailor: Hey Jeff – what’s that on your finger?

Jeff: It’s my secret statement . . . [Jeff Turns the ring into a paper clip with the wave of his hand. His hands are clearly empty before and after].

Fellow Sailor: Ah . . . The P.A.P.E.R. C.L.I.P.

Non Navy Presentation

Obviously not everyone (if anyone) reading this is in the Navy, so here’s how you handle it. First, if you’re just in a casual setting, you don’t need to say much of anything. But if you wanted to make it more of a “performance” then here’s the plan:

Magician: You know I read a lot of Clancy novels and others, and the one thing I’ve found is that the military seems to be full of secrets. Here’s a simple but important political example . . . The Humble Paper Clip. Did you know that in the military wearing a paper clip on your uniform is actually quite the political statement. You are boldly declaring that you are again re-enlisting in the military. Paper clip is actually an acronym for P.eople A.gainst P.eople E.ver R.enlisting . . . C.ivilian L.ife I.ncentive P.rogram.

However, some military officials frown on such political statements. Many men in uniform were able to secretly make their statement while the upper brass never knew what was right in front of them.

[You then show your hand which is donning the paper clip ring.]

Magician: This is my paper clip. It’s been altered allowing it to be hidden in plain site. However, this presents it’s own set of problems. The rest of the true Paper Clippers frown on such wussery and lack of boldness. So when in their presence, I show my stripes . . . [Change the ring into a paper clip] . . . and my paper clip.

The Method

It’s stupid simple to pull this off. However, you will need a PK ring. But other than that, two paper clips. Take one, and form it into a ring by straightening it out, then bending it into a circle and twisting the ends, much like you would a loaf of bread twist tie. The paper clip ring goes on your left hand on whichever finger suits you.

The PK ring goes on your right ring finger. The un-altered paper clip is finger palmed in the right middle finger. That’s it. The beauty of this is that you can have the regular clip on your ring the whole time, and then at the right moment before performance, simply reach over with your left hand and put it in finger palm. Or it can be in your pocket where you can easily get it when you’re ready.

The basic mechanics are simple. Remove the ring from your left hand and place it at your left hand finger tips. Bring your curled right hand (due to the finger palm) in front of the clip-ring. Place the clip-ring directly onto the PK ring. Next, with your left fingertips, grab the finger palmed paper clip. The left hand now holds the paper clip. Grab it at your right hand finger tips clearly (but not overtly) showing your left hand empty. The Ramsay Subtlety hides the clip-ring in your right hand. However, you can be much more free and natural with your right hand since the clip-ring is stuck to the PK.

Further you could ask the spectator to hold out their hand so you can drop the clip into their hand. Doing so, you can drop the clip and have very open and wide spread fingers (with your palm face down) giving quite the illusion of empty hands.

Watch the video below for a quick “performance” of it. One thing you’ll notice is that my right middle finger is a bit more bent than it should be. Mainly, this is because the paper clip was too small, and I couldn’t find a bigger one kicking around, so I went with the smaller ones. Play around with the clip until you get what fits your hand size.

This effect can easily be reversed. While the paper clip is in the hands of the spectator, it takes a nano-second from your right thumb to insert itself into the clip-ring that is stuck to the PK ring. Simply slide it over into middle-finger-palm, and you’re ready to change the paper clip back into a ring. Simply hold the clip at left finger tips. Then bring the curled right hand in front. Place the clip on the PK ring, and grab the clip-ring with your left finger tips. Then put it back on your finger thus coming full circle.

Presentational Point

This is effect is not earth shattering but is very baffling. If nothing else, they’ll wonder where the heck the clip-ring went. You hope for more, but sometimes that’s all you’ll get. It’s extremely deceptive and extremely simple. What makes this effect is the story. What makes all effects is the story. Take the time to really set up the story.

It’s fascinating. The military is interesting to many people. Secrets are interesting to most people. But military secrets are interesting to all people. Take advantage of that and really sell this as a bona-fide military secret.