Whip Basics. The Forum

Hi Ron! Thanks! Yessir, a cow whip like I usually make with the wood handle and the thong fitting into the cup is used, as you know, for moving stock from horseback.

An ox whip is the same as a Bullock whip, which has a handle nearly as tall as ones’ shoulder, and the thong is usually made to fit with the user’s height and length of that handle. This is for the Mississippi style of driving an ox team, used often in logging. My understanding is the driver is standing next to the shoulder of the ox and the thong must be able to reach the heel of the off side ox.
This will be a training whip, and a kangaroo thong will be made for a show type whip.

Very nice, Rachel!

Ron, I've always thought an ox whip had a very much longer handle than a cow whip....

Ah, Rachel's post arrived just as I sent mine. She confirms my thought.

Flemming, I am too! Yessir you are referring to the kangaroo hide whip that the gentleman will be using at fairs and such, I am anxious to see that too

Thank you, Mr. Robert!

Thanks for the clarification, Rachel.

Ron

Beautiful work as always. Interesting fall hitch.

Superb work!

I second what Mark posted, the fall hitch of the ox whip is something I have not seen before, but it looks very good.

Over the years, Rachel became one of the best whip makers. If there is a top ten list - she is in my top 5.

Robby

Good to see you Robby.

Ron

Thank you, Ron. To be honest - my life was a mess. Lost my partner, lost all my jobs and lost my home. Now I have a new place and am still figuring out. It'll take some time to be back on force, sure. But I'm still here.

Thanks to all of you who keep Whip Basics alive.

Yours,
Robby

Robby, we do our best, but there is no substitute for YOU! Thanks very much for looking in this evening!

Robby, LEGEND,
So good to “see” you! I thank you for your words. Life throws many curves in the road, but we keep to the road and keep one step at a time.
The glass may be at differing levels, full or partly full, but there is a glass. Always there is something to work with and build from. Where there is breath there is life and hope. You inspire us.
Happy, happy birthday, Friend.

Ron, Mr. Robert, you are welcome

This is a web photo (not mine) that illustrates it a little better.


Mark, Ben, thank you. That fall hitch is something I began putting on my cow whips some time back, about 18 months ago or so. It keeps the fall in line better (in my opinion) and also has very little risk of the tip coming untwisted. My way of doing it is a little different for the most part to what is out there, but I first saw something similar from Roy Partin. That is the first maker I saw to use something similar.
The fall won’t slide off at all, and stays in line with the tip.

Very cool, Rachel. Thank you for explaining that.

Robby, happy birthday!!!

Rachel, thank you very much for your explanation!

Mark, Ben, y’all are sure welcome!

Here is a little tri-colored snake whip I built recently.

I love the color combination, and the craftsmanship is super.
What is the length and how does it crack?

Ron

Hi Ron! Thank you! I completely missed that info, didn’t I!
It is a 12 plait with a single belly, TT core, 36” length and Twisted English Eye.

...and cracks sharp! Fast action, but still rolls nicely. The Twisted English Eye and loaded falls help.