Why is the Indy Whip called a Bull Whip? Is it because Bulls used to be whiped with them. If anyone has a bit of history or a explanation why; I would be interested to know.
Paul
Why is the Indy Whip called a Bull Whip?
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MustangLoverMex
- Archaeologist
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- Location: Mexico City
OK...To put it simply, you DON'T hit the cattle with them. That ruins the hide and the meat. You use the whip to make noise to startle the animal. You crack the whip by his ear, and he's going to run in the other direction. So, you use the whip to steer a cow, (or rather, steer a steer...har har...)
It's a BULL whip, because in order to move herd animals, all you have to do is control where the lead animal goes, and the others will follow, (OK...That is HORRIBLY simplified, I know. Trust me, I know professional cowboys. It ain't THAT easy, but that IS the basis..) The lead animal of the herd is going to be the bull. So, the whip used to direct that animal is the Bull Whip.
The name stuck, and the design and construction methods that set it apart from other types of whips became apparent regardless if you're talking about a European, American or Australian bullwhip.
The characteristics of a bull whip is that it has a rigid, integral handle, a braided thong, a fall and a popper. THAT'S what makes a bullwhip. The thong is attached in the handle in a contiguous straight line. Even a swivel-handle whip works like this, because the central core of the handle around which the gripping surface rotates provides the foundation for the thong.
Traditional American style bullwhips had a wide, flat fall, used to actually contact an animal if it was being stubborn. The size and shape of the fall allowed it to smack, so it stung rather than cut like a rounded Australian-style fall is prone to do when travelling at speed.
Australians traditionally didn't use bullwhips, favoring their own Stockwhip design, which closely followed the construction and design of the Engish style hacking or hunting whip.
A stockwhip has all the same features as a bullwhip, (braided thong, fall, popper,) save rather than a rigid handle, it has a separate handle that is lashed to braided thong via a hinged knot.
A snakewhip has all the same parts as a bullwhip save it doesn't have the rigid handle.
A signal whip is a snake whip without a fall, where the popper is braided directly into the last few inches of the thong, (these are typically not classified as supersonic whips, though you CAN get them to pop, and longer ones will actually crack, but these were designed more along the lines of the Mongolian type of whips which actually strike an animal/person, but certainly not with the same force as a supersonic whip can.
The bizarre somewhat apocryphal history, (according to Morgan's book "Whips and Whip Making (2nd ed.) is that The American bullwhip followed more closely along the lines of what Morgan classifies as the "Mongol Whip," (used throughout Europe, Africa, etc.) Then American soldiers in WWI who were stationed in the Pacific, saw Australian Stockwhips, (which had been based on what Morgan Classifies as the English Whip,) and how much more efficient they were than the 4-8 plait cownhide bullwhips used back home, so they asked Aussie whipmakers to make them whips using the same Australian stockwhip design, but with integrated "Bullwhip-Like" handles. The aussies complied, (because a Yank and his money are soon parted,) but they tended to make them lighter and with longer handles than what the American's were used to.
David Morgan, when he began to sell his own whips during the Kangaroo Embargo of the 70's, tried to integrate even more of the classic American Style of whip design into his own work, first making them out of calfskin, cutting his strands thicker and wider than most Australian makers, (making it more durable,) and giving them shorter heavier handle.
This became David's 450 series "American Classic" bullwhip that was favored by Hollywood stuntmen, and became associated with Indiana Jones thanks to Glenn Randall. Just about EVERY whip maker does their own version of it now, regardless of where in the world they're from.
So, there ya go!
If anyone wants to correct anything, or add something I left out, please feel free. It's 5:45 AM here, and I haven't slept yet. My brain is FINALLY shutting off, and I could have EASILY left stuff out or misrepresented something.
It's a BULL whip, because in order to move herd animals, all you have to do is control where the lead animal goes, and the others will follow, (OK...That is HORRIBLY simplified, I know. Trust me, I know professional cowboys. It ain't THAT easy, but that IS the basis..) The lead animal of the herd is going to be the bull. So, the whip used to direct that animal is the Bull Whip.
The name stuck, and the design and construction methods that set it apart from other types of whips became apparent regardless if you're talking about a European, American or Australian bullwhip.
The characteristics of a bull whip is that it has a rigid, integral handle, a braided thong, a fall and a popper. THAT'S what makes a bullwhip. The thong is attached in the handle in a contiguous straight line. Even a swivel-handle whip works like this, because the central core of the handle around which the gripping surface rotates provides the foundation for the thong.
Traditional American style bullwhips had a wide, flat fall, used to actually contact an animal if it was being stubborn. The size and shape of the fall allowed it to smack, so it stung rather than cut like a rounded Australian-style fall is prone to do when travelling at speed.
Australians traditionally didn't use bullwhips, favoring their own Stockwhip design, which closely followed the construction and design of the Engish style hacking or hunting whip.
A stockwhip has all the same features as a bullwhip, (braided thong, fall, popper,) save rather than a rigid handle, it has a separate handle that is lashed to braided thong via a hinged knot.
A snakewhip has all the same parts as a bullwhip save it doesn't have the rigid handle.
A signal whip is a snake whip without a fall, where the popper is braided directly into the last few inches of the thong, (these are typically not classified as supersonic whips, though you CAN get them to pop, and longer ones will actually crack, but these were designed more along the lines of the Mongolian type of whips which actually strike an animal/person, but certainly not with the same force as a supersonic whip can.
The bizarre somewhat apocryphal history, (according to Morgan's book "Whips and Whip Making (2nd ed.) is that The American bullwhip followed more closely along the lines of what Morgan classifies as the "Mongol Whip," (used throughout Europe, Africa, etc.) Then American soldiers in WWI who were stationed in the Pacific, saw Australian Stockwhips, (which had been based on what Morgan Classifies as the English Whip,) and how much more efficient they were than the 4-8 plait cownhide bullwhips used back home, so they asked Aussie whipmakers to make them whips using the same Australian stockwhip design, but with integrated "Bullwhip-Like" handles. The aussies complied, (because a Yank and his money are soon parted,) but they tended to make them lighter and with longer handles than what the American's were used to.
David Morgan, when he began to sell his own whips during the Kangaroo Embargo of the 70's, tried to integrate even more of the classic American Style of whip design into his own work, first making them out of calfskin, cutting his strands thicker and wider than most Australian makers, (making it more durable,) and giving them shorter heavier handle.
This became David's 450 series "American Classic" bullwhip that was favored by Hollywood stuntmen, and became associated with Indiana Jones thanks to Glenn Randall. Just about EVERY whip maker does their own version of it now, regardless of where in the world they're from.
So, there ya go!
If anyone wants to correct anything, or add something I left out, please feel free. It's 5:45 AM here, and I haven't slept yet. My brain is FINALLY shutting off, and I could have EASILY left stuff out or misrepresented something.
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MustangLoverMex
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 346
- Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:23 am
- Location: Mexico City
Can I chip in here? Worked on Aussie cattle stations (Ranches); went on many musters etc etc...
Yes, you certainly don't hit the cattle. I can remember my head stockman yelling at us on one muster: "first one of you who hits one of them with your whip, accidentally or intentionally, I'll personally pull you off your horse and flatten you!" or words to that effect. We were walking them down to go off to sale, and they were prize beasts apparently. Yet we had to have, and use, the whips. It was a job requirement.
But..., I saw a contrary thing or two in my time on stations. Bulls often specialise in a studied disdain for any other form of sentient life other than themselves. Thus the whip is unfurled to command a little respect. In general, the whip is only ever to be used for making noise.
Also, you would be surprised at the leadership role of ....cows. Yes, it is often they who lead a mob of cattle in any particular direction. Bulls often reluctantly head off only when persuaded by necessity. That is why Americans probably named the bullwhip the bullwhip. It was probably kept in saddle bags (thus the small handle size) to be used when the tip of a rope, or loud shouting and hat waving alone was unable to impress a bull.
Is this where the word "impressionable" comes from I wonder? Impress-on-a-bull
Or maybe it comes from when the bull sits on you, making a neat impression in the dust of a whipcracker.
Yes, you certainly don't hit the cattle. I can remember my head stockman yelling at us on one muster: "first one of you who hits one of them with your whip, accidentally or intentionally, I'll personally pull you off your horse and flatten you!" or words to that effect. We were walking them down to go off to sale, and they were prize beasts apparently. Yet we had to have, and use, the whips. It was a job requirement.
But..., I saw a contrary thing or two in my time on stations. Bulls often specialise in a studied disdain for any other form of sentient life other than themselves. Thus the whip is unfurled to command a little respect. In general, the whip is only ever to be used for making noise.
Also, you would be surprised at the leadership role of ....cows. Yes, it is often they who lead a mob of cattle in any particular direction. Bulls often reluctantly head off only when persuaded by necessity. That is why Americans probably named the bullwhip the bullwhip. It was probably kept in saddle bags (thus the small handle size) to be used when the tip of a rope, or loud shouting and hat waving alone was unable to impress a bull.
Is this where the word "impressionable" comes from I wonder? Impress-on-a-bull
Or maybe it comes from when the bull sits on you, making a neat impression in the dust of a whipcracker.