From falls & poppers to plaiting & cracking technique, this section is dedicated in memory of Sergei, IndyGear Staff Member and Whip Guru. Always remember to keep "Celebratin' Life!"
I just wanted to share my trip to see David Morgan with everyone. It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive for me (one way). He spent a good amount of time with me. Showed me how he cuts strands and braids. Showed me how and where he works. He has a huge amount of history and information in his head. He showed me prints of a new book he is working on that should be out around spring or summer of 2008. It's a step by step, very detailed book on how he makes his different whips.
I have to say I was very impressed and shock when how he cracked a whip in his store.
There wasn't much room but he cracked that whip with very little effort and room.
It was a real joy talking with him. I wish I had taken more photot's but I was so caught up with talking with him that I almost forgot to take any pics. I did take a couple with him and 4 of his shop. I must say Mr. Morgan is very generous with his time. I'm just going to post the pics and let them do the talking. Please feel free and ask question. I think the questions will help me remember all the things we talked about.
Last edited by BendingOak on Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I just wanted to clear it with nick about what Mr. morgan said about his whip before I post anything public.
He stood in his store about where I'm at in the first 2 photo's. He looked at and just started to get ready to crack it (in the store). I thought for a minute that he not really going to try this in this small place is he. He tried a couple of cracks and he did this with no effort at all. He said it cracks nicely and with very little effort. He rolled it up and looked at it. He said it had good tapper but thought the fall was a little long. When he was looking at it he asked me a couple of questions about Nick. How long has he been making whips and does he do it full time. I said " around a 1 1/2 to 2 years and he's a teacher so only part time. He then said " He's way ahead of his craft.
ah man i wish i had thought to go up to his shop while still on this side of the state...now i'm moving about 5 more hours away. that long pole stock whip is very cool looking.
Thats a bullock whip with 4 foot long handle. The handle is that long so you can poke them in the belly with and you would use the crack of the whip to scare them.
great post oak! i am green with envy that you got to meet the whipmaster in person. good for you. 3 1/2 hours is nothing compared to having a memories that will last a lifetime.
i've always heard that mr. morgan was a true gentleman. i'd love to make the trek myself one day.
did you get a chance to check out his akubra explorer?
I'm so grateful to Bending Oak (and to G-Mann for lending out the whip) for agreeing to take one of my whips with him on his visit to Mr. Morgan. Getting his opinion on my work was a great thrill. I phoned him today to ask a few more specific questions about weight and balance among other things - his comments and advice ( and compliments ) are invaluable!
And now... more pics of your new Morgan whip please, Oak!!
G, you are right. The drive is nothing compared to what I got out of it.
Wiskyman, You are very welcome and I'll take some pics today but it is very overcast. I wan't to get some good pics. I haven't even had a chance to crak her yet.
Yes, David can easily crack the whip just there on the carpet with about 6 feet of width or less, just by giving it a gentle roll and flick. That is where he taught my 11 year old daughter to crack a whip.
In other news, I just got my latest DM catalog and it appears prices have gone up, I thought 10' 455's were $770 (I think that's what I paid), they're now $840.
anzac you are so right. With just a tiny flick of the wrist he got a good crack out of Nick whip. Speaks alot not only on Mr. morgan's skill but Nick whipmaking.
Yes I did see that before I went up to visit. I was a little worried that I have to pay the new price because my order was placed but he said to wait to pay fo until I came and picked it up. He honored the old price and I didn't have to pay tax ( no sale tax for Oregon).
He did sign both of his books ( of his ) that I already owned. I don't normally ask for people to sign things. I'm not a big fan of it but I will ask poeple who have writen books.
I did see a brown Indy like akubra in his shop.It had a teardrop bash in it. He has many, many Akubra's in his shop. He said he was working with them on getting some of the specs worked out but didn't have any in the shop right now. The hat looked and seem to have a lot of air in the felt but softer that the fed akubra.
In other news, I just got my latest DM catalog and it appears prices have gone up, I thought 10' 455's were $770 (I think that's what I paid), they're now $840.
i think i need to thank bullwhip borton for the heads up on the price increase. thank you sir
Great report and photos BendingOak, I really enjoyed this post. It’s always nice to see pictures from David’s shop and of the whips they have there. Glad to hear you had such a good experience too. That’s a great looking bullwhip you got from him. I really liked the comparison pictures between the Morgan bullwhip and Joe Strains too. It looks like David is also putting the knot higher up on the handle, which is a good thing for Indyfans. Was anyone helping him plait while you where there?
Whiskyman, David doesn’t give compliments out on other people whips unless they really deserve them so you should be very pleased.
Indiana G I know lots of people who deserve to have there bullocks whipped BTW Your welcome.
whiskyman wrote:Wow, that's about the most screen acurate whip I've seen from David Morgan since the early 90s!! Very nice indeed!
Thats a big statment coming from you. Makes me feel good about laying out the big bucks on this whip. I'm happy with her so far.
I got to go out and crack her for a little. I have to say after having owned 3 diffferent whips made by different whip makers and having John's pagey whip for a few days. I can start to see the differences in eah whip maker. I'm not saying that I'm any kind of expert because I'm far from it but David Morgans seems to be the loadest out of all of the ones I've seen.
Last edited by BendingOak on Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That's a good looking whip you got Oak. I cant wait to get my 10 ft now.
I really like the tapered handle, looks a lot like a screen used 10 ft I saw at an exhibition once. It was a LC whip.
Congratulations.
And congratulations to you Nick, you deserve it
I'm the proud owner of a Whiskeyman 10 ft. All the whip cracking people I've shown it to is truly impressed and I know that at least one of them ordered one straight away.
Best regards,
Kim
PS. I'm green with envy I'll probably newer get to meet Mr. Morgan in person so I really enjoyed all your pics. Thanks for sharing Oak.
) are invaluable!
I'll probably newer get to meet Mr. Morgan in person so I really enjoyed all your pics. Thanks for sharing Oak.
