Metrokane Houdini Lever-style Corkscrew, Blue

by Metrokane

Product Features

• Innovative engineering from the makers of the Rabbit corkscrew
• Removes corks in seconds
• Compatible with wine bottles of all sizes
• All-metal gears and ergonomic grip; comes with foilcutter
• 5-year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 7.2 x 2.5 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000068FNW
• Item model number: 2804
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,338 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Like the handcuff king it's named for, the Metrokane Houdini lever-style corkscrew works so easily it practically defies explanation. The Houdini was designed by the innovative company that created the Rabbit corkscrew, and is both simple and effortless to use. Just close the side handles over the neck of the bottle, pull up, and--voila!--the cork's removed. Another up-and-down movement pops the cork off the corkscrew. Metrokane corkscrews are independently tested for 20,000 cork pulls; tests assume replacement of the spiral after 1,000 pulls. Made with durable all-metal gear parts, the Houdini works with any size wine bottle. Its polycarbonate handles are ergonomically-designed and finished with a polished luster. Metrokane includes a matching foil cutter and a five-year warranty. --Emily Bedard

Product Description

Works like magic!
Push down, pull up and the cork is out of the bottle!
Push down, pull up again and the cork is off the corkscrew!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you Archimedes!, October 21, 2002

By 

Bookseller "pbtad" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Metrokane Houdini Lever-style Corkscrew, Blue (Kitchen)

I just can't get over how easy this corkscrew is to use. Instead of having to pull the cork from the bottle, you use lever action to do all of the work for you. Since switching from a tradition corkscrew, I haven't had a single cork break or get stuck in the bottle. Also, since you need less of the 'screw' in the cork, I haven't had any cases where the corkscrew went through the entire cork, meaning no little bits of cork in the wine.

The only thing I can think of to improve this product would be some way to secure the two handles for storage. They tend to stick out quite a bit, which takes up a lot of space and since they are spring loaded, if you close them and put them in a drawer they spring out and make getting it out of the drawer a challenge. I solved the problem by simply using a rubber band, but someone clever enough to come up with such an innovative design should be able to solve such a trifling problem.

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars buy the rabbit instead, August 6, 2004

By 

R. Treynor (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Metrokane Houdini Lever-style Corkscrew, Blue (Kitchen)

Man...I thought our Houdini corkscrew was cool, until I saw my friend's Metrokane Rabbit corkscrew. The Rabbit is much more sturdy and well worth the extra couple dollars.
The joints on the Houdini start getting a bit wiggly after a few uses, which really impedes on the usability of the product. My friend's Rabbit doesn't seem to have that problem.
If you're looking for a spiffy contraption, yet only open about 5-10 bottles of wine in a year, than the Houdini should do you just fine. If you plan to use this on a regular basis, then splurge and upgrade to the Rabbit.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the cost, good, but otherwise..., December 9, 2003

By 

"epikure" (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metrokane Houdini Lever-style Corkscrew, Blue (Kitchen)

For the same cost of traditional / "ah-so" prong type openers, this screwpull knockoff is a good buy (but must consider the bulky size tradeoff). However, when compared to the expensive versions it is a sorry substitute. I have used a LeCreuset Screwpull daily for the last year or two and it has been basically no-brainer flawless even with challenging corks. The Houdini requires one to manually confirm the point is going in centered and one must play with the grip to ensure the point "catches" in the cork. In the first week, I have ripped one cork and plunged another -- mistakes that the expensive models make nearly impossible. The unit is stylish and looks a lot more expensive than what it is going for, but the adage you get what you pay for still holds. If you open a lot of bottles pay the bucks and eliminate frustration. If you are debating between a "waiter's" corkscrew and this for the same price, and you don't mind the bulk, then this will suffice.