I thought it was about time I showed off my whip Bernie Wojcicki made for me in August of 04'. I remember the day I picked it up at the post office. The lady handed me the odd shaped, heavy envelope and asked "What's a W-H-I-P?". I explained that what the envelope contained whas a custom made kangaroohide whip from Tasmania. She only looked more confused.
My first impression as I removed it from the envelope an set it on my kitchen table was.....WOW! I celebrated with a glass of my best whiskey and just looked at the whip for awhile as I sipped it. After the initial high of finally recieving it settled down (or the whiskey took effect) I took it outside for a good session. I was amazed by the power locked inside the plaited roohide. It screamed through the air with an authority I had never experienced with any other whip.
It was so easy to crack. Really, with a gentle motion it would crack itself, and with precision. I was slicing apples tossed into the air after an hour. Now, 4 year and many falls later, it is better than ever. It is much more supple, and every time it goes outside it gets a tan, but the tan never fades like mine does. I'm down to my last good fall, though thanks to Paul Nolan I now have a source to get years worth of falls.
It has been an excellent companion on many adventures, providing hours of joy, relaxation, stress relief, and just plain fun! You can barely see it in my avatar, but that is how I carry it, slung over the shoulder Aussie style.
I know this is getting long winded, but I'm sure my thoughts echo those of many of you who finally got a real whip from a true craftsman. Thanks Bernie, whip #1608 alive and well!
[img][img]http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1395/1006658au7.jpg[/img]
Weston[/img]
My EM-Brand whip 8ft, 4yrs old
Moderator: BullWhipBorton
Nice whip Weston. Here's an image of my EM whip I got in December '04. Whip #1667. This is my favorite whip. It cracks so easily and it's extremely loud. Just a flick of the wrist is all it takes. Yeah...I remember when I first laid my eyes on it. I always told myself that one day I would buy myself a whip when I finished school and had a full-time job. Well, my girlfriend at the time knew I visited IndyGear, so she did her research and decided to contact Bernie. What a Christmas gift!!!!! The girlfriend is gone but I kept the whip . By the way, is that the whip where you redid the hitch? It doesn't look like the way Bernie ties the knot?
Forgot the link
http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa11 ... brand1.jpg
http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa11 ... brand1.jpg
- Weston
- Museum Curator
- Posts: 1250
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:14 pm
- Location: The jungles of Oh-ree-gahn, USA
Yes, this is the one I redid the hitch on. After I undid it and snugged up the plaiting at the end, I tied it back the only way I knew how. I learned that hitch from an old book on whip making by a guy named Dennis Rush. It looks kind of like the way Strain does his.Mr. Kent wrote:By the way, is that the whip where you redid the hitch? It doesn't look like the way Bernie ties the knot?
Bernie, your kids have found good homes.
Weston