The first picture is of both of the whips. The top one is my first attempt. I have refered to as the "Shorty Snake Mistake". It is three feet long and made out of poly-cord. I had no idea how to taper so the only taper is the last 8 inches. The one below it is my second whip. It is designed after Cracker's bullwhip. It is 6 feet long.
The next pictures are some closeups of the bullwhip. I am very proud of it. Para-cord construction, 8inch X 1/4inch steel handle, shot loaded core, 8 plait belly, and a 10 plait overlay. Chessboard/checkerboard handle 5part/4bight TH ring at the transition and 3 pass 5part/4bight TH knob, and 4 flat braid wrist strap.
After completing the whip, I see that I need to focus on better dropping of the strands, rounding out the knob better before the Turks Head, more practice on tying Turks Heads, plaiting tighter, and much more. I think I needed to built the handle up more and used more strands. It seems a little thin.
I have not had any experience whit a real whip. First time I took it out, it popped loudly with a quick circus crack. I always wear my safety glasses, and hat when I practice, but have now added gloves, zigged when I should have zagged, got a nice rope burn on the back of my hand while trying an overhead crack. Just today I popped my forearm through three layers of shirt doing an overhead crack and have I nice lump, I may have to popst the pictures. Now on to the next whip.
So in closing, Thank you for such a great forum. If it was not for you guys I would have never made a whip. Now I am planning more.
