White Lions vs Split Spades

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

I have 2 of the original split spades "David Blaine" decks. (why did I put that in quotes?) And I have the 3 split spade "trick" decks that he released. Plus I have the deck that followed - the "MMVIII" split spade that had a "white lion" in the graphic - but apparently those ARE NOT the white lion deck (it's so confusing)

THEN - DB and D. Stutzman released a "true" White Lion deck - and many of you recommend it as a premiere deck and one worth picking up. And since I recognize the wisdom of this board and the valuable information you all have, I'd like to know - "in your opinion" what makes the newly released White Lion deck - better than the previous split spades predecessors?

Thank you in advance,

[The Quadfather]

I think there's actually even more variation than just those two. I might be wrong, but I think theres the original Split Spades released by Blaine( with Black, Red and Blue backs), White Lions series A (only in Blue I believe), White Lions series B (in Red, Blue and Black), and Split Spades Lions (in Red, Blue and Silver). There is also the trick decks you mentioned, but I don't know if they're any different from any of the other decks.

I only have the split spades lions so far so I can't compare them with the others. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'm just going on what little research I've done!

[Don Boyer]

Guys - next time, do some keyword searches.  We've talked a LOT about the various Blaine decks in the past...

Here's ALL of the David Blaine releases in approximately chronological order.

Split Spades (Tally Ho stock/AoS, black box) - red, blue, black
Split Spades (Bee stock/AoS, casino-style Bee box w/window) - black, inverse black ("white")
Split Spades Lions (revised SS back design) - red, blue, black, "sepia" (blue cards in a sepia-backed box)
Bicycle Split Spades trick decks w/SS Lions backs - black (marked), blue (stripper), red (Svengali)
Split Spades Lions "Magician's Set" - a red deck, a blue deck and a small collection of gaff cards
White Lions Series A - red (rare), blue, UV blue (rare), purple (very rare)
White Lions Series B - red, blue, "Black Label" (black)
Silver Split Spades - SS Lions with metallic inks
White Lions Stealth Cards - White Lions gaff deck in red and blue (very rare 37-card deck released in a set of 22 with new David Blaine leather-covered Porper clips; second release of full-sized deck due later this year).

This doesn't count the two-deck autographed sets of various decks that were offered after the original release of the decks had sold out, e.g.: White Lions Series A blue, 2 decks in a boxed set, one is autographed by David Blaine.

Split Spades (the first two sets) were, respectively, Tally Ho and Bee stock.
It's been theorized that the Split Spades Lions is made of 325gsm Bicycle stock (no longer in use).
The White Lions have a slightly softer/thicker feel to them, akin to the Aristocrat reprints.
All used standard finish except the Silver Split Spades, which used Magic Finish.  (Any modern USPC deck with metallic ink practically requires Magic Finish to perform well, because metallic inks cause the decks to perform poorly; MF compensates for it.  Furthermore, as of late last year, Magic Finish was made the default for all custom decks.)

Any questions?

[sr15]

http://playingcards.wikidot.com/split-spades

I wish this site was updated more tbh, but it still has a lot of good stuff

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Split Spades (the first two sets) were, respectively, Tally Ho and Bee stock.
It's been theorized that the Split Spades Lions is made of 325gsm Bicycle stock (no longer in use).
The White Lions have a slightly softer/thicker feel to them, akin to the Aristocrat reprints.

That's the info I was looking for, I did do a keyword search earlier, but the site (at least for me) is still rather hard to navigate.

I'm always fine, if you'd rather PM me a thread that would help - and you could just delete my initial inquiry. My feelings won't be hurt.

Thanks again everyone - great help!