I assure you, the deck is brilliant!

Don, In the case of his most rare deck, could you argue that his full 52 gaff deck White Lions Stealth Cards  (not to be confused with the initial 37 gaff card release) is his more rare then the Purple or Create Magic? David himself has said that not only has the full 52 gaff stealth cards never been released but has only
been handed out to friends by himself, personally. Does this not make the white lions full 52 gaff deck his most rare deck to date? 

I know some this will boil a lot down to personal taste.  Im curious to what everyone here thinks.

Regardless of rarity (Microsoft Deck, UV Deck, etc)  What is your ranking of David Blaine's decks, considering
the stock, feel, design, tuck box..etc.

My ranking:

1) Gatorbacks
2) Split Spades 1st Edition
3) Split Spades Tally Ho's
4) Series A White Lions
5) Casino Bee's
6) Black Label White Lions
7) Black Lions
Series B White Lions

My personal list is mostly ranked by stock/feel, rather than design.

In the case of rarity, I'd def rank that Microsoft Deck #1 and UV Deck #2...

Just ready the whole story, Don.  Unbelievable!  Very jealous you got a chance to pick his brain!  If i had the chance to do card tricks in front of him, im almost sure the entire deck would be falling out of my shaky hands the entire bit. lol 

I have a lot of preferences for what a deck must have in order to be functional for card tricks.  The stock, cut, traditional faces, fanning ability...etc.  But I was wondering what the rest of you think.  What are your opinions on what makes a great deck for magic and why? 

Even the worst Black Lion is going to be better than the best Bicycle Standard (and world's better than the best newly-made Mavericks)!  In New York City, Bicycle Standards typically sell for more than $4 at a local branch of a typical drugstore chain or from the corner bodega.

On another forum, someone said a source close to David said he is notoriously picky about his signature decks, and that its rumored to have come down to just the type of seal (tax stamp) they used on the original run of tuck boxes that bothered him enough to weed them out.  Either way, I plan to grab a brick to practice/perform daily with as beater decks.

As I did to the black lion, I start with the face down faro and repeat that a few times then try doing the face up faro. If it doesn't work repeat the process. You can also add other things such as riffle shuffle, dribble, spring lepaul spread in between.

Thanks!  Did your black lions come traditionally cut as mine did?  A lot of people seem to have received theirs modern cut and arent able to faro them out of the box.  I think we may have lucked out and got some from a batch that was cut traditionally...   

Regarding faro shuffles, I noticed that the White Lions will faro top to bottom while the Black Lions are the reverse, faro shuffling from bottom to top.  It has to do with the cut made when the cards were die-punched from the paper.  White Lions use the "modern cut", where cards are punched face-up, from back to front as the die penetrates the paper, making them beveled for a top-to-bottom faro.  Modern cut is more efficient for manufacturers, but not as good for table shuffles.  Traditionally-cut cards are cut out face-down, with the die penetrating the face and coming out the back.  This allows for easier shuffling and bottom-to-top faro shuffles, meaning you can table shuffle them face down and make a faro rather than having to hold them face up.

I learned from USPC at the last 52+Joker convention that the company occasionally has trouble feeding paper in the cutter one way and will flip it before cutting it if this is the case, so the Black Lions were "accidentally" traditionally cut likely because of paper feed problems.  Many magicians prefer the traditional cut and casinos for the most part insist on it for their custom-made decks.

The quality of the paper is a little more subjective, but the consensus seems to be that the WLs had a better stock than the BLs.

Thanks Dan! You seem to have a plethora of knowledge when it comes to cards!  So, are  you saying that if I take my White Lions and flip them (face up), i should be able to faro them as normal as I can with the traditionally cut Black lions? 

My name is Priestley.  I've been a magician and card enthusiast for almost 15 years now.  Long time reader of this forum, and decided to finally register!