The "Making of" Gallery - Rachel McCollough

[Rachel McCollough]

Mark, I sure have wondered about Mr. Marcus too. Mr. Curly Dekle produced a whole lot of whips as well.
Ha! Yes we have a LOT of plaiting to do to catch up!!!!

There seem to be three distinct styles of Florida Cow Whips.

1- fitted in the cup

2- out of the cup but somewhat tight to the handle. Still a cup there. Acts like a hinge similar to an Australian Stock whip.

3- more like a bullock whip, a thong tied to a stick type handle. No cup, a notch cut around the stick

[Roy Partin]

Most cow whips were built with a very small cup and they hinged like a stock whip. Those whips were typically 12 or 14 plait. On the heavier 16 plaits, I like to run them in a deep cup, so they feel more like a bullwhip.

[Rachel McCollough]

Most cow whips were built with a very small cup and they hinged like a stock whip. Those whips were typically 12 or 14 plait. On the heavier 16 plaits, I like to run them in a deep cup, so they feel more like a bullwhip.

From someone who knows! Thank you, Roy. I can only base my ideas on the pictures I've seen and talking to people, but you have the real experience. I sure appreciate it.

[Mark Elliott]

Thanks Rachel and Roy, whip history is as fascinating as whip building.
Also that number was supposed to be 3975, not 3575. I'm getting lazy with my proofreading again.

[Rachel McCollough]

And here is the final photo:
An ox whip. Full 100% kangaroo. 7 1/2' long with an 18" long twist on the end and plaited from the tip (to spec for client). 8 plait to 6 plait to 4 plait. 5×4 two tone Turks Head. Twisted Taper core, single plaited belly (6 plait) with twisted taper ends, no bolsters.

[Ron May]

That looks super Rachel.
Is that long flat piece on the end the fall, with out a cracker?

How does it crack when put together?

Ron

[Jessie Edwards]

yay! its looks pretty cool Whippy Sistah

[Rachel McCollough]

Thanks, WS!


Thanks Ron, the "fall" will serve as more of a gentle tap on the oxen and won't cut their hair or mark them. It is a single piece of roo.
It will tie on with a doubled sttand of paracord looped around the end of a long stick with a notch cut in it.

[Brandon "Sparky" Lam]

Aww yiss that looks great Rachel!! ^_^

[Scott A. Cary]

Neat!

[Mark Elliott]

Rachel, that is so cool! Excellent job as always.

[Jyri Haveri]

Rachel it looks wonderful!

[Robert Gage]

Very good indeed, Rachel. It looks wonderfully 'period'! (By that, I mean sort of 1870s - but that may be historically wrong.)

[Flemming Bo Christiansen]

Racehl - That is a special construction. What is the reason and what do it do, when you don't build it with a bolster inside. More alive , slower, durabel or .. ?

Is it fun to crack - or can it crack (like a gunshot ) at all ? or is only ment for give the cow's that little tap to stear them ?

Sorry for all the questions, but the world of working with Cattle the way you do "over there" is completely unknown to me

[Sir Roger Tuson]

That is a superb piece of work, Rachel. I love the twisted tail to the thong.

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank y'all very much,
Flemming, no bolsters mainly means less diameter and less weight to the best of my knowledge. Yes it is meant for a softer tap to steer the oxen. This would be for a pair or a team in a yoke being driven from the ground. With a loaded fall and cracker it would (will!) Crack well.

[Roy Partin]

Very nice Rachel. It looks like you are getting really good at cutting those strands. I bet this design works perfectly for its purpose

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank you very much, Roy. I hope to gain much more practice on cutting those strands!

[Flemming Bo Christiansen]

Thanks for the explanation Rachel

[Rachel McCollough]

You are very welcome!