Club Obi Wan

Not much comment here - just a simple comparison shot of my new 10ft Strain (saddle tan) and a 6th month old Morgan (natural tan)

The Strain is modelled on a 1984 Morgan and as such is slightly lighter than Joe's usual Indy whips

IMAGE REMOVED

Just out of interest, does anyone have a good pic of an "aged" saddle tan whip? I'm familiar with how natural tan looks after a year or two of use and would like to see how the saddle tan develops over time.

Wow, that saddle tan is beautiful! That is a gorgeous whip.

I've never used a Morgan before (or even seen one in person, for that matter), but it just seems it would be more difficult to use with a handle that short. It just seems like it would give you less control over the whip -vs- one with a longer handle.

Not tearing it down, just an observation ~ that's all!

The handle on that Morgan is not as short as it may appear in that photo. When I crack my Morgan, my hand doesn't even cover the whole handle. And I'm a pretty big dude, a large size glove is pretty tight on me. I really need an X-large. The Morgan is not a stock whip, but the handle length is not a problem.

here's a six month old saddle tan that gets plenty of use I took a few pics in different lighting to help you get a feel whiskeyman

Beautiful whips there, fellows!

Whiskeyman - how does the Strain feel in comparison to the Morgan in terms of weight and all that? I got to use Bufflehead's Morgan at the last QM and I think it felt about the same as my Stenhouse. I've tried out a Winrich too and I'm not really too fond of those because they feel too light for me, but they do look very nice.

What do you think?

In Christ,
Shane

Whiskeyman, those are beautiful whips!

One of mine is an 8 foot natural tan Strain that I've had for a couple years. I love it. But that saddle tan of yours is outstanding! You've got me thinking I may need yet another whip. Hmmmm......

It was the same for me when I first laid eyes on the saddle tan, I tried to resist but it was futile, I love my saddle tan, its my favoeite of my whips

Thanks for those pics - that's just what I was hoping to see.
I really like the Strain whip, it's flawless in my opinion. BUt I had a few reservations about the colour as it looks pretty red in sunlight. I tihnk as the shellac gradually wears off and the leather darkens a little, it's going to look great.

In terms of weight: The Morgan is heavier and has a thicker thong - much thicker strands. To me it feels like a mexican 8plt in comparison.
The Strain is not as heavy as a typical Strain - but it the weight distribution is perfect. I used to own a Winrich and that was heavier than my Strain.
In terms of handling: The Morgan will crack with very little effort, but it also got floppy very quickly as it was braided very loosely to begin with. It doesn't feel like a well made whip. When you coil it you are made aware of the inconsitencies in the strand widths (some are actually twice as thick as the neighbouring strands), weak points and lumps.
The Strain also cracks with little effort but feels like a masterpiece of braiding. If you run your hand down the thong it is extremely difficutl to work out where the strands were dropped - there are no bumps at all.
My old Winrich whip was similar - excellently constructed!
I no longer own the Morgan - and have no intention of replacing it.

don't worry whisky man, the red mellows out and your whip will turn brown, has you can see mine has already started to mellow out and is just starting to get that rich brown color just like the screen used whip that K on the run posted pics of recently

I am fortunate to own 8 Morgan whips from the 80s-early 90s and 6 Strain whips of recent vintage. While I respect Morgan greatly, I do not believe there is a better whip maker than Joe Strain.
This from someone who is fortunate enough to own whips made by Murphy, Jacks, Davey, EM, and Simon Martin.
In my humble opintion, Joe Strain makes a whip as good as anybody in the business.

I have one Strain whip and 3 whips by Russell Schutlz, and I've seen several whips by both makers. I'd say that Russell edges out Joe just a little in terms of plaiting and how his whips crack. In one was I attest this by the fact that I have one Strain whip, and 3 Schultz whips with 4 more on the way.

I've worked very hard developing my kangaroo hide whips and I make them the very best I can. Some people have told me that my plaiting is just as good as Joe's, and in one instance Mark Allen compared a whip by Joe and a whip by me and felt my plaiting was better, at least when it came to executing patterns.

The one thing with Joe that I can't get is the extreme tightness of his braiding, and the consistency of the tightness throughout the whip. Of the whip I have from Joe, it's not really my favorite whip to crack, but the plaiting has the most amazing tension. That's the main reason I'll keep the whip.

I'm still learning about whipmaking. Given that someone like Russell Schultz seems to be trying new things all the time and he's been in the business since the 70s, I'm sure I'm going to keep learning things for as long as I make whips.

-Adam
www.winrichwhips.com

Hello Boggstandard, Welcome to Club Obi Wan. I think I recognize your screen name from a particular online auction site. You have a distinct habit of out bidding me . I tend to agree with you about Joe Strain, he makes some really great bullwhips and in my own humble opinion his Indy whips today are better then the ones David Morgan is currently making. If you can, post some pictures of your collection, I know we would all like to see them, especially the early Morgan’s.

I always consider it difficult to say one whip maker is better then another as long as the whips are being made with sound construction techniques, are made well balanced, have a smooth action and prove to be long lasting. So much of it is about personal preference and everyone mentioned has their own different styles and ways of doing things and those characteristics show up in their product. Russell Schultz for example is unquestionably one of today’s great whip makers, his plaiting is top notch, some of the best and I am a fan of his stockwhips and Australian bullwhips, but I think he cuts the lace on his Indy style bullwhips too thin and narrow compared to Joes or David’s for my taste.

We have a few very talented whipmakers who hang around here also, including that Winrich character, you might want to look around at some of their products and consider adding some more whips to your collection.

Dan

Hey Dan,

You are right about personal opinion. Everyone has their own preference. One of the neat things about whips is that they can be appreciated/valued on a variety of levels: fit, finish, form, function, and artistic expression. One of my favorite whips is an old, nicely plaited 9' cowhide snake whip. It is ugly as sin, but it is perfectly balanced, fits my hand comfortably, and cuts and cracks beautifully.


On the other hand, I have another whip that I favor because of its aestetics-its fit and finish and its beautiful colors and plaiting. It is too light for my tastes, and the handle just doesn't feel comfortable, but I admire the craftsmanship, and I respect the amount of time and effort required to render it. There is the age old debate about form vs. function, which can apply to whips as well as any other artistic endeavor.

Keep well Dan.
Boggs

I've cracked a couple Morgans, and didn't care much for them. They seem just heavy, flacid and clumsy compared to Strains. I don't like side-to-side movement around the handle transition, and Morgans seem to do that out of the box. Nothing wrong with it. I've heard Mike Murphy likes his personal whips like that, (though I've never cracked a Murphy whip that did.) Cracking a Morgan wears me out, while I could crack Strains all day, (and have on multiple occasions.) But that's just a personal preference, and a difference in my technique, as opposed to others technique. I've seen Adam W. make a Morgan dance, (literally!)

The favorite whip in my bag right now is a 6' Jacka "Australian Whip" Model with a 12" handle, and a beefed up transition, I'm only throwing about 4 foot of whip, but MAN is that 4 foot brutal! I know Morgan crackers who can't get that thing to do much more than pop.

The whip is an amazingly personalized tool. Because each is hand made out of natural materials, each one is completely different. I've cracked three Strains, made exactly the same way, around the same time, and they feel completely different.

On top of that, the way you crack the whip while it's breaking in effects how it throws. So, while you're learning the eccentricities of that whip, it's learning yours. On the Indy whips, the lead in the knot will reform a little to fit the thrower's hand. I just traded one whip for another, (an 8' I rarely used anymore for a 6' I definately do.) The new whip is an Strain Indy, about 7 years old, and the knot has already morphed somewhat, and is the lightest whip I've ever cracked. I love it.

So, saying Strain vs. Morgan is like saying Chocolate vs. Vanilla or Coke vs. Pepsi. There are differences that are great to discuss, especially to people who might be considering a new whip and have limited experiences.

In my experience if you like Morgan whips, you'll generally like Duke, Stenhouse and Winrich whips. If you like Strains, you'll generally like Murphy, Jacka and Nolan. That's not to say there isn't crossover. I know folks who like one but don't care for the other, or whatever. Then there's folks like me who have preferences, but generally just love whips.

For us, there is a special corner of #ell, called "Flat Broke." ;-)

Anyway, all the best!

-Dan

Hey thefish--

Very perceptive and eloquent comments.

I especially like the comments regarding people who like Morgan whips will usually like Duke whips, etc. There are certain attributes, certain qualities, in art (whip building is certainly an art) that help define our preferences and guide us in our choices. Sometimes a whip will present itself, and speak to you, in a very special way.

I am expecting a Nolan in the mail very soon. I am eager to examine it and to try it out.

--Best wishes--

By the way, AMEN to the flat broke remark.

Thanks for the kind words, Boggstandard! And welcome to Indygear. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum an....no wait...a more learned and fun group of folks!

And yeah. Flat broke. That's MY bog-standard ;-)

Between now wanting ANOTHER 8 foot whip, (I traded an 8 for a 6. Love the six, but sometimes miss the slow, sinewy flow of the 8,) wanting ANOTHER six foot Indy whip, as well as an Alex Green whip from Strain and also needing a matched set of 4' stockwhips from Janine Fraser, I have plans of becoming even MORE broke.

On top of that, I need a new car, want to either buy a new bass guitar or change out the pickups in the one I've got, and I need to do some software upgrades to my video editing suite as well as buy a new camera lens.

I just need to be independently wealthy! That's all there is to it ;-)

Again, welcome! And post pics of that Nolan when you get it. Unless Pauly is lurking here somewhere, and can post some pics to tease you with. What did you get from Paul? DETAILS!

I acquired an 8' 36 plait Nolan bullwhip from a certain nortoriously fickle auction site. It's a gamble- buying basically sight unseen, but I know Paul's work and I respect his artistic and personal values, so I took the plunge (a very high dive).

I will post some pictures as soon as I learrn how to do it on this forum.
--All the best--

Thanks for the kind words, Boggstandard! And welcome to Indygear. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum an....no wait...a more learned and fun group of folks!

Hilarious Dan still laughing .

Boggstandard,
I've seen that bullwhip on the unmentionable site, it is a real beauty, I also talked to Paul and he said it cracks like a cannon.

You have a true proformance whip , to be sure, the hight of excellence, along with form and functionality.

Can't wait to see some up close pic's and also to hear all about how she feels when being flexed in the air.

Welcome aborad.



ATB

Jim J.

Woe is me for being so lax in my whip-watching auctions lately, otherwise I might have seen it too! (Wouldn't have bit on it, so no worries there, Bogg! Too many finances needed elsewhere!)

I picked up my previously mentioned 6' Jacka for a song on that aforementioned unmentionable auction place.

It had barely been cracked. Ever. But had sat in a guys closet for about 4-5 years and was DRY. Soaked it down with conditioner and had to replace the fall, (dry rotted, but the belly is in great shape!)

Anxiously awaiting some whips from Jim as well ;-)

-Dan

BTW, does Joe put any extra stuff like extra crackers in the box with the whip when it's ordered from http://northernwhipco.com? I'm thinking of ordering an 8 feet 12 plait natural tan and a 16 oz tube of Pecards from him and was wondering if I get any extra crackers or if I have to start making my own right after a couple of cracks.

I just recently ordered a whip from Joe and he does include 5 extra Poly-pro crackers with his whips. At least he did with mine. I have to say that I just bought the same thing that your after and after a month of heavy cracking I still haven't had to replace the cracker yet.

A inexpensive obsession this isn’t , I miss the days when you could get a great kangaroo hide whip for less then half of what they cost now. Still there are some deals to be had if you look for them and are careful. Anyway I am looking forward to seeing the 36 plait Nolan bullwhip, I missed the auction too. From what I have seen of Paul’s work it continues to impress me, I have no doubt your getting a great whip.

VP, The Last Joe Strain Bullwhip I ordered directly from his Northern Whip Co. came with a set of 5 nylon poppers and a spare white hide fall.

Dan

I received a stockwhip from Joe yesterday and he included an extra fall, and some extra poppers also.

Yep. Joe included about 5 polypro poppers and a spare fall with my 8 foot Lonestar I ordered from him two years ago.

Did you guys get poly crackers or nylon? I think that Joe usually sends nylon crackers with his whips, unless he's changed that since the last time I ordered. He sent me a spare fall & 5 nylon crackers, which are much harder wearing than the poly ones. Poly crackers are best when using 2 whips, since they seem to tangle less frequently than nylon...

~Jace

Why does this conversation give me a mental image of a big bird saying, "Poly wants a cracker".

Because your mind is twisted.

I just wanted to mention that Boggstandard's whip is on it's way to him, and I posted some pictures of it in a fresh thread.

Thanks for the wonderful compliments by the way, the hat I'm wearing right now is starting to feel like it's getting tighter.

And Whiskeyman, thanks for posting that comparison pic of the Strain and Morgan. How come it is removed though?

Regards,

Paul Nolan
MidWestWhips

I think I must have accidently erased the picture from my photo account

Can anyone give me a quick course in how to post pictures to the forum?
I am not a total twit but, in this case, I am at a total loss.
Thanks.
ATB
-Boggstandard-

Boggs, It took me a while to figure it out too. Someone else might beable to give you better advice, but here is the jist of it. First You need to find an online image host like imageshack, www.imageshack.us Then follow their directions on how to upload an image to their site. Once thats done It will give you url address of your picture that you can link to in your posts here by clicking on the "Img" box in the reply or new message menu, Adding the link given by your image host and then clicking the "Img" box again to seal it up. It should look sort of like this as an example.

If you've done it correctly the image will appear in your message when you hit submit or preview.

You can also try searching the forum for more info on image posting, there are some other threads on this topic somewhere around the site. good luck.

Dan

Much obliged. I'll give it a try.
ATB
Boggstandard

thefish wrote:Yep. Joe included about 5 polypro poppers and a spare fall with my 8 foot Lonestar I ordered from him two years ago.

Aren't polypro poppers the ones that can put slice marks in the leather fall? I prefer the nylon ones myself but I'm trying to remember from a few years ago if it was a polypro cracker that I had used that sliced up my fall on my 8 foot Strain.

I myself find that polypropelyne poppers do not slice up falls. Crackers usually cut falls when the falls are too long.

If you're going multiple cracking or cutting with a whip, an ideal fall length is found when the whip no longer bucks when you do volleys. This method for tuning a fall works best with stockwhips and australian bullwhips, probably less well on Indy whips.

For body wraps I've found that a longer fall does come in handy, as it means there's more 'whip' out there to wrap around the person, tree, anubis statue, or whatever.

-Adam

Joe, You might be thinking of Kevlar poppers. They can cut into a leather whip if your not careful. Never had any problem like that with polypro poppers.

Dan

BWB,

You beat me to it -- I was going to say he must be talking about the kevlar poppers. Yes, they can slice up your fall, and the point of your whip too, if you're not careful! But they are terrific for target cutting...

~Jace

Kevlar poppers---that must've been it. I had a couple of others but got rid of them altogether when I noticed some slices in my new (new at the time) whitehide fall. Thanks for the info---bulletproof crackers, eh?

that whip looks great i especialy like the beer can in the backround