Club Obi Wan

I know that the Morgan is the whip of choice - what I am looking for is the definitive make of whip and why? + (and length).

Its all about prefrence.

Some makers say they make the best whip but its all how they feel. Id do some reasearch as to which whip you want. There is plenty of information on this board allredy that you can read from to make your choice.
Adam

mollet44,
Are you referring to who makes the best whip for usage, or are you just referring to who makes the whip which best resembles the whip used in Raiders? If you are referring to the usage, then that will all be personal preference. However, if you are referring to which is most screen accurate, you are more likely to get answers.

Mike

This is my opinion... Joe Strain. Joe Strain makes the most consistent bullwhip bar none. He is the benchmark for all the others. The way he cuts his laces with the most percise taper. The seams all lay down perfect in a straight line. The whole thong is evenly tapered. And there are hardly any visible lumps when he drops his strands from begining to end. In addition Joe does a superb job of weighting and balancing his whips, in that it is an effortless crack. I am wary of beautiful looking whip that when I pick them up they have the feel of a rope - not good.

Joe Strain, whips are absolutely a work of art. It's hard to believe a human makes those whips, it's almost machine like.

A picture says a thousand words:




Just my .02....
-Sergei
p.s. A close second is Paul Stenhouse - Indy style. I have to admit, I haven't held in my hands most of the newer guys whips - I have seen pictures. But be careful... pictures only tell part of the story, there is the weighting and balance that is very important as well. I have seen beautifully braided whips, but be dissappointed when the weight and balance was totally off. But the choices are really great now, compared to a few years ago. The bar has really risen in the past few years.

Well, my whip is by Adam Winrich. Go to www.winrichwhips.com and check out his pics and stuff. He's a really nice guy, and I got my whip (8' 12 plait Roo-hide) for a VERY reasonable price.

This is just my suggestion, but if you are looking for a great quality whip, just look him up (he's the maker of the IOAB Whip as well). He also can make custom ajustments to your whip if you ask him.


for more info on MY whip - http://www.indygear.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10672

Thanks Andiana for your post.

I think that the answer for the definitive Indy whip is a tricky one. I saw a movie about the 'first' supermodel, Gia, a while back. She had been glamorized in so many pictures and fantasized about and idolized by so many people that she eventually became a dissapointment to fans who met her in person.

I feel that the same sort of thing has happened to the Indy whips. Everybody has created a set of expectations that are difficult (or impossible) to completely live up to, so I would say that the definitive Indy whip is kind of a myth that only exists in the films and the minds of the viewers.

As far as real whips go, I would agree with Sergei that Joe Strain is at the top when it comes quality Indy-styled bullwhips and his work is priced accordingly.

-Adam, www.winrichwhips.com

Hi,

Everyone has its preferences, but I think Sergei is right about Joe's work: its about as perfect as it gets! I've just got my new Strain Indy 8 footer and the craftmanship is more than impressive. I'm about to take some pics of it, and post them here soon. Stay tuned

Bernardo

Another recommendation is Mike Murphy. His "American Pattern Bullwhip" is my favorit. The balance is unbelievable, the whips rolls out so clean and cracks so easy that you believe you have a living thing in your hand.
I have also a 8footer from Joe Strain. There is no difference in quality, these guys are the reference in whipmaking. It's more a question of taste. Joe's indy style is more solid and very, very tight braided (you need much time for breaking in but the whip will goes better and better from month to month ).
Mike's whips have thinner cutting strands, so the surface of the whip looks and feels beautyfull smooth like the skin of a snake. Both guys make perfekt whips and are my suggestion.

I agree with you Richie about the Mike Murphy but the question was regarding the best "Indy" whip and Mike's whips are too thin for the Indy style although his whips are the most fluid whips I've ever cracked. The Murphy bullwhip I cracked was too skinny for an Indy. I'd say go with Joe for the Indy whip.

Have to agree on Strain. If Morgan kept the art of whipmaking alive in North America during the 60's-80's, it has been Joe Strain who's taken that art to the next level.

Someone who hasn't been mentioned yet, and I feel that should be, (because he's too modest to toot his own horn,) is Paul Nolan.

If you buy an Indy whip from Mark Allen, chances are you're getting a Nolan. His whips not only look fantastic, but roll out fluidly, and are VERY accurate. Paul's a great guy with fantastic attention to detail.

Joe Strain said to me that Paul's whips now look like his from a couple years ago.

Both just keep getting better.

Got my Strain whip for Christmas.

My next whip will be a Nolan.

Cheers,

-Dan

I totaly aggree!
I should have piped in earlier!
Im currently getting a 8 foot indiana jones style bullwhip from Paul Nolan. Paul is an incredibly nice guy to deal with. Ive talked with him for the past 3 years about whipmaking and just recently decided to buy a whip from him, so I had known before what a great guy he is.




heres some pictures he sent me of his work. If you mind paul let me know. His work looks great and the prices are very reasonable. Plus
you can customize it anyway you want to. Heres some more information about paul
http://www.gldenterprises.net/paulnolan.htm
Adam

Does Joe Strain not make whips for WSP (Mark Allen) anymore?

Dan, Adam,

Thank you so much for the kind words.

And I'm stoked that Joe said that!!!

Just an FYI on the pictures



These Lil' Zorro's were made about 6 to 8 months ago.



This whip was made just this past January and is a 6ft whiskey.



This 10ft Blacksnake, and 4ft Saddle Tan were made this past December.



I can't remember exactly when the 10ft in this picture was made, but it was some time in the past year.

Molorom wrote: heres some pictures he sent me of his work. If you mind paul let me know. His work looks great and the prices are very reasonable. Plus
you can customize it anyway you want to. Heres some more information about paul
http://www.gldenterprises.net/paulnolan.htm
Adam

I don't mind, Adam, actually I appreciate it, I don't have anywhere to host them at the moment.

I encourage the whip to be customized in any way, it makes it interesting.

That link you posted was last updated over a year ago, maybe two, I believe. I've been working on a website for years, and I've scrapped it and started over more times than I can count on my one hand, maybe two. But I'm almost done with one version that I am happy enough with, and it should be up some time this year, I'll announce it when it's up. The web address will be www.midwestwhips.com, I've owned the domain for so many years I figure I should finally put it to use, )

By the way, unfortunately look for everyone's prices on roohide whips to be going up a lil bit again. With the drought not getting any better, and the australian exchange rate going up, roohide prices are going up again. It seems to be a double threat. Just Charles Hardkey prices went from $7.75 a square foot to $8.35 a square foot as of January this year. The first roohide I ever bought from them was around $4-$4.50 a square foot, so you can see how much it's gone up.

Thanks again Adam and Dan for the kind words.

Regards,

Paul Nolan
MidWestWhips

Paul,
If you would like , i can host all of the pictures you sent me.
Need any help with the website? I could probably help you
make a temporary site if you want, or a permenant one.
Adam

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:Does Joe Strain not make whips for WSP (Mark Allen) anymore?

Yes he still does. It's not in the same quantities anymore. But he still makes the Indy Whip at WSP. The confusing part is that there are other whip makers in the stable.

BTW, I rememer it was about two years ago where I met Paul Nolan right after he made a dead wringer copy of a 6 foot Joe Strain. And the great part, it cracked like one too. Remember, it's not only beauty on the outside, it's the guts inside that make a great cracking whip. I have burned too many times in the past, where I see a great looking whip - and then be dissapointed in the poorly made weighting and balancing that goes into the guts you can't see. The great whip makers mentioned above all do that.

-Sergei

My opinion is Joe Strain. That said, I haven't seen every whipmaker's offering (except in pictures), but I have seen and cracked quite a few.

Probably on the low end of things,
not because of quality but because of price. There are so many people whom you can buy cheaper copies from, who's quality could be better than morgan or equal, that these days its just more logical to most to buy a copy of the morgan than the actual thing.
Adam

Pagey,
Ive also handled a stenhouse and ive got to say that It was really tight, and the wheighting was great. The pictures on his website dont do him justice, and that would deffinatly be a fine choice if thats who you go with.
Kinsdest regards
Adam

I wouldn't right off Morgan yet. When he makes a whip, it's still great. I have just seen one recently and it was awesome. Just make sure the man, braids your whip.

I'd like to make the point that just because a whip maker can make a look-a-like David Morgan style bullwhip (i.e. the Indy whip) doesn't mean that they are all the same. Every whip maker adds their own stylistic attributes to the whips they make. Balance, plaiting, strand width, internal construction, purpose, etc. Joe Strain makes an awesome bullwhip…but it aint no David Morgan. It's actually quite a different whip with a different balance and a different design goal. Not bad, just different. Keep all of this in perspective. Those of you looking to buy an "Indy" style bullwhip are most likely concerned only with "the look." But each whip, while looking similar, is different in many regards. Only David Morgan makes a true David Morgan style bullwhip. To say that he factors low is a mistake.

Kyle,
Im only talking about price.
Most, like my self, are not willing enough to pan out the cash for a morgan, thats why is lower down. Of course handling and everything are diffrent from maker to maker.
Adam

Kyle,

Very, very good point. As I mentioned elsewhere, I recently got my first Joe Strain Indy style bullwhip. As some of you know, I have two Morgans, and I'm already saving for my third.

To me, there's only one "real" Indy whip: a Morgan. However, there are plenty of good whips and whipmakers out there, some of whom may be even better plaiters than Mr. Morgan.

For example, Joe's work is virtually flawless, as perfect as a human can do. BUT its a very different whip from a Morgan, even though the style is more or less the same.

For those Indy fans that want the real thing, not just a very good copy, I encourage them to get a whip from David Morgan, if you can afford it. You won't regret it. After all, he won't be braiding forever, saddly....

Just my thougths....

Bernardo

If you get a David Morgan you get a whip made by the guy who made the whips for the Indiana Jones movies. Yes, the handle may be shorter now but I can live with that knowing I have the "real McCoy". There will come a day when Mr. Morgan is no longer making whips and a lot of people who went different directions wish they had gotten one.

Morgan’s are more expensive but they are made for using and will last for years. The whips in the Indiana Jones movies show years of aging and use. They were chosen by the film’s whipmaster who used the best whips he could get at the time.

IMO too large a percentage of the crowd here is into looking at whips, the handle, and the taper… etc., but not cracking them. The real joy of the bullwhip is taking it into the backyard and giving it a workout. Like a motorcycle or fast car you can’t get the full experience until you get it out on the road.

My sons and I crack a couple of times a week. Seeing that my kids are better than me gives great satisfaction. We have 4 Morgan’s and a Paul Stenhouse. The Stenhouse is a great whip and is also made to use hard. All of my whips with the exception of my first Morgan were purchased used so cost was less of a factor. However, if I were buying just one whip today it would be a Morgan. The price difference for the above reasons is justified.

All this said, the next whip I get will probably be a Joe Strain. I would like to try his product and here nothing but the best about him.

Thanks
Bill Walton