Visually the plaiting was quite impressive. The heel knot was closer to a Mark Allen-Western Stage Prop whip than a Morgan, but close, very close. The diameter of the thong was more like Joe Strain would have done for a Mark Allen whip. But what amazed me, the tightness was just like a Joe Strain. I mean it was stiff. I have to tell the readers something. I really, really appreciate a tightly plaited whip now. Some of my recent whip acquisitions were plaited too loose and some of my current stock are looking like limp ropes. The 4 seams were straight as an arrow. Usually an indicator for me that the whipmaker has his stuff together. All the knot work was professional.
The taper of the laces were cut nicely all the way down the thong, which produced an overall nice taper of the thong. There were hardly any visible lumps, no gaps. It was so tight. Rock Hard.... Not squishy, like the whips I saw last summer from ECWhips.
The next thing was the performance. It was much better balanced and weighted than the one from last August. There were also issues with weighting and balance of the whip I saw from last summer. But what I saw and cracked this one was very, very good. I had to send the whip back today to the new owner, Zohar. So I placed an order to Jim for a 7 footer. I will have it hopefully in time for the Queen Mary Summit (end of May). But if not, I understand. So for those that are attending, you can see my ECWhip there as well as the rest of my collection of Morgan's, Strain's, Stenhouse's, Murphy's, Kyle's Pocket Bull, Bernie, McMaster's, Robert Duke, etc. Hopefully, I will have my Janine Fraser stockwhip by that time too. Sweeeeet!
I think we all owe Jim a hearty congrats for sticking through these past few months and watching him not give up and improve his work. I guess what I am saying that normal people would have given up, but he persevered. Good Job, Jim.
-Sergei
Heck, the regular ones get in the way, but I can't imagine what one like that must be like.
