David Blaine Skull & Bones Private Reserve

[ICantShuffle]

I think the eBay item is one of the tour decks, the "Observers" deck that was signed. The back is his split spade logo mirrored top and bottom, it's not the S&B deck. There are a couple different decks using this design, one of them is the S&B, then apparently there was a "VIP" deck that was given to people that had VIP tickets to his performances. Those look like the S&B deck, but the tuck has "VIP" embossed and foiled on the top flap. The only signed copy of that, that I was aware of, was sold for like $450.

But, these are nice decks, just not sure I'd be willing to fork over $75 for one. Two for $30? Sure, why not. The tuck is really cool looking in person.

[Bradius]

Given that this deck doesn't look like it is going to be so exclusive, I went ahead and opened one of the decks.

The courts have for the most part custom faces, which I understand is typical of David Blaine decks. Otherwise the deck looks standard. The jokers are custom and nicely done, but not marked with "Joker" on them. The back looks like just brown ink and not metallic, but maybe it is metallic and I just can't tell. The cards are made by Expert Playing Card Company, but it doesn't say if they were manufactured in China or Taiwan. The cards seemed stiff to me and hard to shuffle compared to a standard USPCC deck. They also were definitely clumpy to me when I was handling them. Maybe they will get better with more handling, but not great out of the box.

Again, I don't have a Stoics or other David Blaine decks to compare it with, but I am not overly impressed. I do like the tuck case and the backs. Other than that it is okay and handling is not great.

[alric]

Thanks for the review, unfortunately it confirms my fears about the quality of the cards. Man, if you don't have any of Blaine's decks, you really need to get your hands on some Split Spades Lions. But yeah, don't bother with the Stoics, they're shit as well. Blaine really needs to get away from EPCC, especially the Chinese EPCC.

[ccralleo]

does anybody know exactly how many versions of the skull and Crossbones decks there have been? Im trying to figure out which ones i have and which ones i need...

I have:

Superior Skull and Cross Bones Phantom Edition
Skull and Crossbones Limited Edition (RED)
SKULL & BONES PRIVATE RESERVE
SKULL & BONES PRIVATE RESERVE (Signed)

I'm ordering:

Combo Set – Skull & Bones – Stripper & Regular Decks – Red/Silver
Combo Set – Skull & Bones – Stripper & Regular Decks – Black/Gold

Am I missing any?

[Pablo393]

I have two others that are described this way by Conjuring Arts:

Skull and Bones Numbered Reserve
(This special version of our Skull and Bones design comes with a soft touch tuck that is embroidered with gold thread and stamped with gold foil. The deck is beautiful and has a number on the seal. The released version came with a seal that said SAMPLE but this reserve version has a numbered seal)

Skull and Bones Premium Edition
(This deck was printed years ago when Conjuring Arts first started the Skull and Bones series. It was never offered for individual sale but instead was only given as a premium when a brick of cards was sold.)

[ccralleo]

I'd be interested in the purchase of those decks if you or anyone else with these decks would like to sell em' also have a ton of rare KWP decks to trade. In the mean time anybody have pictures of these? Maybe just PM me. I don't want to highjack this thread...

Thanks!

[KT52]

Really don't like these decks. I think my expectations were high going into it which may also by why I'm more disappointed. Here's why I regret buying a brick of these:

1. Handling is way too stiff.
2. Didn't learn his mistake from Stoics. Fool him twice, shame on him
3. Jokers are a worse version of the gatorback Jokers. If were not gonna get something new at least make it a better version of the old one
4. No gaff/ additional cards besides the two jokers.
5. No seal. We're just getting lazy/cheap at this point
6. Too many produced- still not sold out, probably because of #1-5 but don't call it private reserve, the term is misleading

At the end of the day, when other card designers are moving forward to produce better and better decks, blaine decks seem to be heading in the opposite direction.

[Eric Lee]

Thank you so much Brad, KT52 for the review and confirmation that these are in the Stoics category vs his other decks.

It is so sad that EPCC can't maintain their finish for one of their own signature decks, especially if it's for DB. He's ruining his name on the decks after such a brilliant effort building up his brand of cards with great design, handling and hidden stuff all over the cards.

I've got his Split Spades silver, White Lions B, Black lions seconds and Gatorbacks. All of them, you can tell they are worth the hype when you see and handle the decks. I'll probably wait for Black Friday or other similar sales to pick up the DB S&B PR, if I have any spare $. I've a feeling there'll still be decks left come Nov unless they sell them off like the Stoics.

[KT52]

If anyone wants to buy two of these, PM me and I should be able to give you a slightly better price than what it's selling for on DB's website.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

"It is so sad that EPCC can't maintain their finish for one of their own signature decks,"

It's because they are cutting corners and using a CHINA printer and not their normal Taiwan printer

I didn't pick them up - after STOICS there was just no way, but here is a video review of them from someone else

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_wWKeV6JcY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[shermjack]

"It is so sad that EPCC can't maintain their finish for one of their own signature decks,"

It's because they are cutting corners and using a CHINA printer and not their normal Taiwan printer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_wWKeV6JcY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don’t think that Bill is trying to cut corners with the China printer, but instead is trying to get them to improve and hopefully perfect their techniques so that he can really move away from the Taiwan printer, who breached their contract with him (and Legends) and produced decks for other companies (using techniques that Bill had a large part in developing), which became their competitors. This is why I am giving EPCC the benefit of the doubt...for now.

[sinjin7]

I really have no sympathy for Kalush in regards to the Taiwanese printer. It may be bush league for the printer to incorporate techniques he helped develop for use to other companies that utilize the printer as competitors, but did he go through the proper channels and expense in patenting any of these techniques, or drafting iron clad exclusivity contracts? And even if he did, it's karma that he's getting shafted in this way because of his own disregard for rules, regulations, and laws, as evidenced by his practice of putting out decks printed in China into tucks that claim they're printed in Taiwan. And if he thinks the Taiwanese printers show little scruples for any of his alleged IP rights, wait till he gets a load of how things are done in China.

[Bradius]

shermjack, thanks for your comments. I can understand your position and I am sympathetic given the situation.

However, as a consumer I am just not impressed with the Skull & Bones Private Reserve. Unfortunately for David Blaine, I have not previously collected his decks and this is my first deck to collect of his, and I went in for a brick. For essentially $15 per deck, and I am not impressed. The customization don't wow me and the handling is really bad. I just compare that to a brick of snake oil decks I have and I would take the snake oil brick any day over the Skull and Bones Private Reserve. The decks are still out there for sale, so they don't seem so private or reserved as an issue (at least not as I expected when I quickly snapped up a brick). On the other hand, I have a snake oil deck that came in a plain white brick box. The deck has nice unique art on the cover, the backs are not my favorite, but I love the courts and the number cards. It has a nice cohesive them. So, for like $5 per deck (with shipping) and USPCC made with great handling, I much prefer it over the Skull and Bones that have a nice back design, really nice tuck and brick box, but poor handling. I mean it fails to wow me much with its art and underwhelms me with handling (the cards are so dang stiff, even I notice). I am sure playing cards is not his big money-maker. So, I would rather have a $5 deck over this $15 deck to be honest. I guess as long as I don't unwrap it and keep it in the nice tuck box, I will not mind to much if I can just forget that they don't handle well. Hopefully, he can get his new printer up to speed. In the meantime, if he plans on selling premium priced decks, he needs to use a premium printer.

[Smocito]

Unfortunately for David Blaine, I have not previously collected his decks

You should really try to get some decks of the Lions (black and white), Gators and Split Spades, they are really good.
The Mystery Box may be a good choice if you don't have any of those decks.

[Eric Lee]

Brad, if you're afraid of getting burnt, go in for a deck of Black Lions Seconds first. Only $5 and try to find the error (hint: it's on one of the red kings ). Look through the tuck box and try to spot the reveals. Then try and find the marking system on the deck. There's so much packed into that deck and with amazing butter like handling to boot for only $5.

It was my intro into DB decks . I was amazed at the quality that I went ahead to get the others still sold at regular prices. If you like 'em, wait for the Black Friday sale to get the rest of the decks on the site for 20% off. It's only 1 .5 months away. Makes up for your S&B brick