How does the magic trick “sword swallowing work”
In: Biology
Sword swallowing isn’t (generally) a magic trick. Sword swallowing is what’s called a circus geek trick.
There are some factors that make it easier to accomplish, but the “trick” is that the guy spent a lot of time training his gag reflex and actually inserts a sword (blunt and oiled though it typically is) down his esophagus. There have been people who have done this and then taken x-rays that have proven that the blades are 100% down there in the esophagus.
Similarly, things like the “nail into the nose” routine actually involve pushing a real nail into your nasal cavity, and fire eating involves putting a flaming wad of cotton on a stick into your mouth and extinguishing it (and other tricks that involve getting some fuel on you and being on fire for a bit), and walking on broken glass (that’s actual real broken glass in their bed of broken glass). These things all involve some degree of real risk, and shouldn’t be done at home. Fire eaters are at constant risk of severe burns, sword swallowers can suffer internal bleeding, and nails being stuck in your nasal cavity are not a fun thing by any stretch, and the dangers of walking on broken glass are apparent.
Source: Amateur circus performer and magician, have seen people do all of this and researched all of it as well.
EDIT: There have been some attempts at a collapsing sword that goes into the mouth and collapses into the hilt but these don’t pass even basic scrutiny in most instances, it’s obvious that something is wrong with the sword.
Latest Answers