Vegeta Posted:
It is IMHO.....
David Morgan used 3 laces for the knot instead of 2.......
Well, sorta. Its usually only one lace but "passes" are repeated. As you said DM did 3 passes and JS did 2 passes is correct, but they are two different knots also... though not all that different. DM uses the 5 part by 4 bight turkshead. JS uses a 7 part by 6 night turkshead knot and probably for a couple of reasons. One to not completely copy DM and two, that the 7 x 6 does a neater turkshead. The 7 x 6 is actually from the 5 x 4 and is longer, thus needing only 2 "passes".
Its hard to say whether DM is better than JS or vice versa. I just wouldn't.
Its probably true natural roo is difficult to get from anyone. Roohides are difficult to get any kangaroo leather retailer.
WSP is a good "off the shelf" store when you need and want a whip immediately. They have a tremendous stock of whips. With convenience you also pay a premium.
I just got in 20 something natural hides from Australia a couple of weeks ago as my supply was dwindling too. They are still having a rough time in Australia with the drought and the consequences thereof from smaller hides, ticks and just poorer kangaroo hides going to the tanneries. There's not much vegetation to survive, and then there's the battle scars on them as they are protecting their waterholes, etc. I noticed that a lot of my skins are much smaller than usual.
My backorders are around a 2 month wait now... I am so busy and would presume all whipmakers are also. That's a good thing and shows whipcracking is on the rise.
My thanks to everyone around the world who have ordered my bullwhips this year - Japan, Germany, Austria, UK, Italy, France, Canada and especially Denmark.
Robert Duke
http://www.DukeWhips.com