7 foot snake whip

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:27 am

Hi Everyone,
I finished up a snake whip and I wanted to share with everyone on the forum its a 7 foot snake whip made from kip. There are 4 plaited bellies and a 12 plait overlay its not shot loaded its all natural weight and it cracks well. I will post photos here in a minute.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:35 am

Hey, another Tennessean pops his head up above the rocks. Howdy from just South East of you!

Quick question....what makes this design a 'snake whip'? I always thought it was determined by the length of the whip, and those were usuall no longer than 4 feet. Inquiring minds what to know!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Tyrloch · Post by **Tyrloch** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:44 am

Michaelson,

Snakewhips in general have no stiffened handle section -- it's flexible from the turkshead knob all the way to the fall hitch. This made them easier for cowboys to coil it up small enough to fit in a saddle bag....

~Jace

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:44 am

Very good. I thought that MIGHT be the case, but wasn't sure. THe only one's I've ever seen or handled were the short versions.

Thanks!

Regards! Michaelson

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:56 am

ok i'm attempting to load the images does anyone know how?

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:00 am

Ok I think this will work

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:01 am

VERY nice!!!

Regards! Michaelson

Tyrloch · Post by **Tyrloch** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:02 am

Not bad at all...actually, it's very good! I'd like to see your interpretation of Indy's bullwhip...

~Jace

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:09 am

Thanks for the good comments I appreciate it, I am going to start on a bullwhip this week and I will post those pictures as soon as that is done.

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:17 am

hi Michaelson thats a good question Tyrloch is correct instead of there being a nail at the base of the handle its all leather or shot bag, I did not use a shot bag for the core on this though.

nick

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:17 pm

Very nice nammann. I have to admit, I am not usually the biggest fan of snake whips, however I do I like that one. Look forward to seeing the bullwhip. So, How is the sport whip-cracking scene in Nashville these days? I haven’t been down that way in a while, but I remember a group of whip enthusiasts used to get together in one of the city parks once a month to practice.

Michaelson, as mentioned, what makes a snake whip a snake whip is the lack of the handle section. There are actually two types of snake whips though. Pocket snakes are usually made shorter (usually under 6ft) and narrower so they can be easily coiled up to fit into a pocket or saddle bag. Snake whips, which are also sometimes called blacksnakes are larger and heavier, much like the American style bullwhip minus the handle. These are usually made longer then the pocket snakes, ranging from 4 feet up to well as long as you want to get one made. Both styles usually (but not always) use a lead shot loaded bag in the core of the whip to add weight to the thong so they are sometimes just referred to as shot whips. Snake whips are also sometimes confused with signal whips, which look similar. Signal whips are the classic “Musher” dog sled style whip. Again they have no stiff handle section and are rarely made over 4 ft. Signal whips have the popper plaited right into the end of the thong unlike snake whips, which instead utilize a fall and popper.

Dan

Mola Ram · Post by **Mola Ram** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:40 pm

Very nice!

Where did you get that Kip from? Its got a really nice color. I tried looking for some around here and all the ones at tandy seemed to stretchy or thin to make a whip out of.

Cant wait to see the bullwhip

Adam

thefish · Post by **thefish** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:33 am

Woah! That is a nice-lookin' snakewhip!

I, like the other Dan, have never been incredibly partial to snakes, but that one IS good looking. Plaiting is nice and smooth. And no shot bag? Quite cool!

Kudos, Nammann! Looking forward to pics of the bull!

-Dan

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:44 am

Hi BullWhipBorton,

Thanks for your comment, I do prefer the bullwhip myself and I don't own a snake whip so I figured I would go ahead and make one that looks like a bullwhip since I am a big fan of the bullwhip. I havn't ran into any enthusiasts here in Nashville yet but I havn't really been online alot to check around but I am checking into it because I really need to find a place to go and crack these whips.

Nick

nammann · Post by **nammann** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:47 am

Hi Mola Ram,

I purchased the Kip at the Local Tandy supplier, Its natural and it darkens to that color when I am plaiting it I use alot of plaiting soap and it darkens just the way I like it, Thanks for your comment.