New Morgans vs. Old Morgans

[pmgilmer]

I am very curious to see some serious comparisons of the new and old Morgans. Does anyone have an example of both that they can post some photos of? Also, any descriptions of how recent Morgans handling and quality differs today, compared to 10 years ago, would be much appreciated!

Note: I am looking for feedback from people that have handled the "goods" and can give first had experience examples. Please, no bias "Its not a real David Morgan bullwhip so they just ****" comments . I want non-nostalgic feedback (despite the relevance).

Thanks!!

[midwestwhips]

Here are a few pictures I found that have some comparison pics that include an old Morgan from the very late 70's or very early 80's, along with a Morgan from 1999...

In this picture the old morgan is the 3rd from the right, and the newer (1999) morgan the second from the right:



Below are the same two whips together, the 99' Morgan on the bottom, and the old morgan is on the bottom:



Next are a couple of pictures that have the 99' Morgan next to a 2005 Morgan:







And these pictures are of a 2008 Morgan:



http://www.midwestwhips.com/indygearpho ... an%20D.jpg

http://www.midwestwhips.com/indygearpho ... an%20E.jpg

http://www.midwestwhips.com/indygearpho ... an%20F.jpg

Regards,

Paul Nolan
www.MidWestWhips.com

[midwestwhips]

Just found this other pic of the old Morgan:



- Paul

[ST]

And a 2009 Morgan.

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr27 ... G_0437.jpg

ST

[BullWhipBorton]

Here are 4 David Morgan bullwhips to give you more examples to compare. (L–R) They were made by David in late 1999, 2001, 1996 and 1989





Dan

[Indiana County Jr.]

Here is a 2006 David Morgan:





Crack On!
Allen

[DarenHenryW]

At what point did David stop making the whips himself and how would one be able to verify that a whip was made by David as opposed to one made by his apprentices/current whipmakers?

Daren Henry

[Indiana County Jr.]

I am pretty sure mine is apprentice made. I think David may have stopped around 2003, but I am not sure.

Crack On!
Allen

[Marhala]

At what point did David stop making the whips himself and how would one be able to verify that a whip was made by David as opposed to one made by his apprentices/current whipmakers?

Daren Henry

If memory serves me well, I remember they changed whip description at their site at the beginning of 2008 from handmade BY David Morgan to handmade AT David Morgan. I even, vaguely, remember Lauren posting something about it (can't find the post right now).

Hope that helps.

Aldo.

[midwestwhips]

Just found this picture on the computer that shows a pretty good 30 year span. From top to bottom 1980, 1990, 2000 (roughly within a year or two):



Regards,

Paul Nolan

[knibs7]

Paul,
The middle one looks almost identical to the TOD whip

Kyle

[DarenHenryW]

Here is a picture of a circa 2000-2001 Morgan on the Left next to my 2009 Del Carpio.

The Morgan was not used by the previous owner, by the way, which accounts for its virtually brand new appearance.

DHW

[Indiana County Jr.]

Congrats on the Morgan Darren!

I knew you were looking for one.

Crack On!
Allen

[Gaucho]

Here is a picture of a circa 2000-2001 Morgan on the Left next to my 2009 Del Carpio.

The Morgan was not used by the previous owner, by the way, which accounts for its virtually brand new appearance.

DHW

Hi

This Delcarpio is 10 inches handle?



Regards.

[tomek9210]

It's standard Indy bullwhip, so it has 8 inch handle, the ringknot is located at the top of spike so it looks like the handle is longer. In Morgan's whips ringknots are located lower, so the handle looks shorter.
Darren, you BDC whip has darkened a lot! Looks like you have a great time with it

[WhipDude]

This thread should be called "Evoution of the Morgan." It would be really neat to see a whip from each year starting with the 70's. We are practically doing this now and each year really does have it's own difference. Some of these differences are drastic.

[moses]

Does anyone know why exactly the Morgans have nearly doubled in diameter over the years. Did the early ones have no bolsters? Did he use lighter weight leather? Was the core thinnner? I am curious.

[hollywood1340]

Does anyone know why exactly the Morgans have nearly doubled in diameter over the years. Did the early ones have no bolsters? Did he use lighter weight leather? Was the core thinnner? I am curious.

Call and ask?

[moses]

I just wrote an email.

[Gaucho]

Here are a few pictures I found that have some comparison pics that include an old Morgan from the very late 70's or very early 80's, along with a Morgan from 1999...

In this picture the old morgan is the 3rd from the right, and the newer (1999) morgan the second from the right:



Below are the same two whips together, the 99' Morgan on the bottom, and the old morgan is on the bottom:



Next are a couple of pictures that have the 99' Morgan next to a 2005 Morgan:







And these pictures are of a 2008 Morgan:



http://www.midwestwhips.com/indygearpho ... an%20D.jpg

http://www.midwestwhips.com/indygearpho ... an%20E.jpg

http://www.midwestwhips.com/indygearpho ... an%20F.jpg

Regards,

Paul Nolan
http://www.MidWestWhips.com

Paul


Really, the Morgan's whips have 8 or 6 inches handle?


Regards.


Gaucho

[hollywood1340]

I think the handle has always been an 8" spike. Where the ring knot falls has varied. Same leverage, but visually different.

[midwestwhips]

Hi Gaucho,

As far as I know Hollywood is right, the handle foundation has always been an 8" splike, but the placement of the ring knot has varied over the years.

Regards,

Paul Nolan
www.MidWestWhips.com

[pmgilmer]

Ok Paul...WHO'S 99 morgan is that??? It is drop dead gorgeous!

Does anyone make a morgan with the modern specks? I know SA is what many people want, but I admire David for not letting that influence his craft. He set out to make quality products, and he has stayed true to that driving force. I'm of the option that if Henry Jones Jr. walk into David's shop needing a new whip, he'd say "To #### with SA, old man. Give me what YOU think is your best." Of course he'd also say "To #### with $900!"

Who can make me a modern Morgan for a fare price?

[DarenHenryW]

Who can make me a modern Morgan for a fare price?

Bernardo Del Carpio

DHW

[pmgilmer]

Thanks Daren! I admire Bernardo's work, however I've only see his SA stuff. You know him better...you think he'd make a "modern morgan"?...all nice, fat and stumpy? )

Also, I know you have a good collection... do you notice any difference in your Morgan's handling compared to the others?

Thanks a lot!

[DarenHenryW]

Thanks Daren! I admire Bernardo's work, however I've only see his SA stuff. You know him better...you think he'd make a "modern morgan"?...all nice, fat and stumpy? )

Also, I know you have a good collection... do you notice any difference in your Morgan's handling compared to the others?

Thanks a lot!

Yes, I believe that Bernardo's forte is for SA whips, but he has made it his life's work to emulate David's work, new as well as old. I know that he is as familiar with what goes into a Raiders whip as well as a Last Crusade as well as the whips David made just before he retired. If you say to Bernardo "I want a Morgan style whip from 2000, and then another from 2001", he's knows the difference. I believe he is that good, and I KNOW that he has that kind of knowledge. There are plenty of brilliant whipmakers who can copy the aesthetics, but who build their whips their own way, for better or worse. But I believe Bernardo has the entire Morgan package. He wants his whips to be David's whips. And now that I've handled a few Morgans and finally own my own, one that David actually made, I can say with confidence that Bernardo's whips, more than any of the whips I have from other whipmakers,( I own four Strains, two Jackas, a Nolan and a Morgan, all amazing whips) are more like David Morgans to me than the others.

Secretly I think that Bernardo must be David's love child because I think he knows David's work better than anyone else.

Now, all of that said, this hobby is fairly new to me. There are plenty of other people here whose opinions carry a heck of a lot more weight than mine. I do not claim to be an expert and I've never built a whip myself, but I know a good whip when I see one, and as I've said, I now own enough of these to be able to compare. From everything I've seen, Bernardo's whip is as good as they get for a DM copy, no matter what style or era.

'Nuff said.

DHW

[DarenHenryW]

.. do you notice any difference in your Morgan's handling compared to the others?

Thanks a lot!

To answer the handling question, my Morgan handles surprisingly well. It was made in 2001, though I bought it recently secondhand, in almost unused condition. It is very "fat and stumpy" as you say, and at first I didn't think I would like it, but it's great. I assume you've seen my comparison video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTwyFU_v7FE

In that video, you should notice how impressed I am as I'm cracking it. I'd only had it for about a day at that point, and I was surprised at how smooth it was. I had a notion, since I'd only seen and cracked a couple of Morgans (one owned by Anthony De Longis, and one made more recently by David's apprentices) that I wouldn't be super impressed, but I was and I am. I would say that since David doesn't put much (any?) binding above the transition knot, and he braids a bit more loosely than Strain, Nolan or Jacka, that his whips have a different feel and responsiveness. Bernardo's whip feel the same way. Joe Strain's whip are very stiff and take a while to break in. My Paul Nolan whip feels similar. Terry Jacka uses a lot of binding in the transition above the ring knot, and he also braids very tightly. David and Bernardo don't construct their whips with this sort of stiffness. This is NOT a judgment, by the way. I think all of the whips I have in my collection at this point are each absolutely top notch, but there are differences no doubt.

To be honest, it's a bit hard to explain, but I guess you could say that Bernardo shares David's approach, which is building a whip that is tight and soundly constructed, but not stiff and springy.

That's the best I can do tonight. Hope that is helpful.

DHW

[pmgilmer]

Haha...you're awesome Daren! We're practically chatting you respond so quickly! Thank you for your insight!

I DID see that youtube of yours! Maybe it was me, but it seemed like magic happened when you picked up the Morgan! It seemed to flow so perfectly and easily! It seemed to out shine the others, despite their exquisite quality.

I sold my 8ft Morgan and bought 9ft Strain (which I absolutely LOVE). I would have ordered a 10 Morgan if I could have afforded it. After I order a 7ft Lone Star (16p and black) from Joe, Bernardo will be hearing from me. That said, since it's Bernardo, I'll have to decide if I should go with the standard 10 footer (don't have one), or our favorite length...9 foot. Hmmmm...