Whips

B

Bookworm

Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
484
I know that everyone who watches Indiana Jones comes away wanting a whip. But how many people here actually have one? I've been playing with whips since last august, and they're great!

My first whip was when I was maybe 8 or so. I had a "Donald Duck" fishing rod (the ones that are like 3 feet long) with some rope on the end. It worked! I loved it.

skip 9 years or so

picked up a $5 whip from Olvera St. in LA (one of those immigrant-booth swap-meet knockoff-everything places) It survives 2 weeks of VERY light use.

Picked up another $5 whip from Olvera St. It survives 2 days of medium-level use (once I got the hang of cracking them they wore out faster)

Went to Broken Horn (biggest equestrian supply west of the Mississippi) was dismayed by their 2 choices of bullwhips, and came home with a 10' bull. A lot harder to crack than the POS Olvera St ones, but I got the hang of it. Now it's as loud as a rifle (when I want it to be) and I can crack it above me, as well as all the o'clocks around me.

But after several months of good use, my 10-footer is worn out as well (hooray for rope core...............not) and now I'm waiting for my built-to-order 9-footer from new zealand ($135 final price) which should perform better than any whip I've handled so far (save a couple $600 ones. holy CRAP).


Anyone else here enjoy this hobby, once a trademark of the American West? (along with the Colt Revolver, Winchester, etc.)
 
My wife is all excited about the new Indiana Jones movie. She found this weird monkey lamp at Lowes that has an Indiana Jones look to it. She wants it. She also suggested a bull whip for the wall. Not sure how that would look to most people!

(Sometimes I'm not sure if she's 35 or 8.) :)
 
There's this tall redhead gal at Mistress Victoria's House of Pain in Washington D.C. that will teach you all about whips!:eek:
 
Bookworm had to know that this was going to happen to his post. :D
I do hope someone chimes in with some serious answers, though. It's an interesting topic--especially with the new Indy movie coming in May.
 
I recently got a Latigo as a gift and start playing with it. I've taken a few good stinging hits to the back of the hand (at least I was smart enough to wear eye protection :) ). I'm going to pick up the book "The Filipino Fighting Whip" to pick up some pointers on proper technique. I've seen a few video demonstrations on YouTube for longer whips but haven't found anything as far as indepth video instruction on the use of the short whip.

BTW, has anyone seen the video "Improvised Flexible Weapons" by Scott Homschek? It sounds like something that might be a help in learning how to use the short whip effectively.
 
Well, if anyone wants a whip you could play with Miss Victoria with, I reccomend Coyote Whips. they work well for that purpose.
 
I've had a quality whip since I was 8. My first was a 8' whip with a ball bearing handle that lasted 30 years. My next one was a 12' that I have had since 1983. It's about time to replace it but I think that I'd rather get another knife;).
 
2edgesword said:
...I'm going to pick up the book "The Filipino Fighting Whip" to pick up some pointers on proper technique. I've seen a few video demonstrations on YouTube for longer whips but haven't found anything as far as indepth video instruction on the use of the short whip...
Click to expand...

Tom Meadows' book is a good intro to the use of the Filipino Fighting Whip. Although Anthony deLongis' 2 DVD set is about longer whips, there is a brief segment in the second volume with Tom Meadows demonstrating his technique with the short whip. Mr. deLongis has some FMA background through Dan Inosanto so he makes a point of showing that influence as well on his DVD's; what he shows with the long whip you can easily translate to a shorter whip once you see what Tom Meadows does.

Best,

Steve
 
Someone on this forum posted pic of whips they made. Very nice as I recall.

Hopefully they will pop up here in this thread.


Paul
 
I have a few whips, one purchased and a few that I made. I prefer a 10' 12 plait roo bullwhip. And there is a reason I no longer make them. It is murder on the hands. It takes a lot of practice and skill. And if you thought they were expensive...well, try making one then put a dollar amount to the number of hours you put in.
 
2edgesword said:
BTW, has anyone seen the video "Improvised Flexible Weapons" by Scott Homschek? It sounds like something that might be a help in learning how to use the short whip effectively.
Click to expand...

No there shorter than youve got but its a good dvd for like 3 foot whips. You shuold try Keatings dvd at the bottom instead.
 
kamkazmoto said:
I've had a quality whip since I was 8. My first was a 8' whip with a ball bearing handle that lasted 30 years. My next one was a 12' that I have had since 1983. It's about time to replace it but I think that I'd rather get another knife;).
Click to expand...
wow! those are some quality whips! My new one should last much longer than my previous ones since not only is it properly built, but it's synthetic, whouch should help prolong life. What's your opinion on swiveling vs. fixed handles?

ednemo said:
I have a few whips, one purchased and a few that I made. I prefer a 10' 12 plait roo bullwhip. And there is a reason I no longer make them. It is murder on the hands. It takes a lot of practice and skill. And if you thought they were expensive...well, try making one then put a dollar amount to the number of hours you put in.
Click to expand...

I have great respect for you in that you built any whips at all. I look at a lot of whipmakers' sites, and the prices may be astronomical, but I can't hold that against them, to plait 2 or 3 layers of up to 36 precisely cut leather strips in a perfectly uniform pattern for up to 10 feet is a MAJOR commitment. I know I could never do it. I wouldn't even finish a 3-footer.

I wish I had the cash for a roo hide whip. Maybe in a few years if I'm still cracking away.
 
I had my 6 foot nylon made by Colorado Saddlery for over 12 years. And I love it.

I also have a 14 footer as well, which you really need a lot of room to gain enough steam to get it to pop right, and when you do, it's amazing.
 
how does your 6-footer treat you? I'm thinking that I might pick up a smaller whip over summer, and I'd like to try out different makers.
 
Bookworm said:
What's your opinion on swiveling vs. fixed handles?
Click to expand...

I prefer the swiveling handles. The handle on the one I had was made from a piece of pipe about 9" long that was covered with some thick leather. It provided a balance to the whip that is missing from the one I have now (made a great club too). BTW, I used to oil my whips with neetsfoot oil about every 6-9 months.
 
Bookworm, the 6 footer works great, problem is, they quit making nylon bullwhips years ago.

I love nylon becuase it can take so much abuse and still keep going. A friend of mine in the sideshow industry constantly uses his 12 plat bullwhips made by western stage props.
 
I've heard good things about Coyote's nylon whips.

I have a 4' 12 plait shot loaded kangaroo signal whip from Viper Leatherworks - excellent quality. It cost me $240. And their 24 plait whips are really incredible, but more expensive.

I don't have room to swing anything longer.

Whips are fun to play with, but I wouldn't recommend one as a weapon. They're too limited in range, need a lot of space, are awkward to carry (though I know one woman who regularly carries one on her belt - I doubt most want to make that fashion statement), and don't generally do serious damage. With a whip you can make a loud noise, put out an eye, or break the skin, but it won't break major bones, knock someone down, or knock someone out. Their effectiveness is severely limited if your target is wearing a jacket or any thick clothing, and they're not that hard to defend against.

Good call on the eye protection while learning to use one. Leather jacket, pants, and gloves can be good too. I know some guys who recommend practicing while wearing a motorcycle helmet.

I've taken several classes on whips, but still need a lot of practice.

If anyone in San Francisco is interested in learning how to use one, there's a class offered once a month, IIRC it's $10. There used to be something similar in San Diego, but I don't know if they still do it. Feel free to email me for details on those if you want them.
 
After looking at this DVD I've been tempted to invest in a "real" whip. they're not cheap!

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-- FLIX
 
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