Club Obi Wan

Four weeks ago I ordered a 10ft. 12 plaited bullwhip from Bernie Wojcicki
http://www.em-brand-whips.com
(one of the "whip-wendors" listed at IndyGear).

Bernie was really helpfull in answering my questions, and I ordered the whip pretty fast, assured that I was dealing with one of the best - in every way.

And I was right!!


DHL drove by my house today, just to find nobody home. My wife has just left (danm..). Well, I dont give up that easy, and a call to DHL made the driver return, and I recieved that big pack with my whip.

I slowly opened up, and looked down at my whip for the fist time (well.. actually Bernie had E-mailed me a nice picture of the whip, but that dosen´t really count).

I was terrified... Yes thats right ..terrified.

There it was lying like a big coiled snake - heavy - solid and so powerfull.
That power was like projekted from the whip, and it was pretty terrifying.
Suddently I understood why eye-protection, leatherjacket and a hat was a good idea wearing.

And I havn´t even toucht it yet!

It was kind of a weid feeling. I am an officer in the Danish Armed Forces, and therefore trained in all kind of weapons, both handweapons and heavier ones like anti-tank.

But this was different - that power of the whip was more "personal". It could hurt You as well as others if You didn´t offer it propper respect.
Of couse a firearm can do much damage as well, but it´s sort of more "unpersonal", I think.

I took my whip in the garten, wearing my Wested, fedora and eyegoggles, and tried it for a while.

It was awesome! After a few sving I got to get some fairly good chacks, eventhough the whip did hit my back a few times - just to let me know not to get to "cocky".

Well, actually I had to attend my children, so after 10 min. I returned inside, but what an experience!!

Beside the whip Bernie did send me a lots of extra crackers and falls, and
had even added a CD.

When I opened the CD on my computer it contained a personal greating from the maker himself, showing a few swing with MY whip - great.
And after that he got one of his own (to spare mine) and showed on video
how to do the basic cracks!!

The CD also included a good informative video how to make Your own crackers and how to replace them and the fall.

I must say, this is a very fine day indeed, and should any of You consider buying an Indy-bullwhip I can only give Bernie my strongest recommandations!!!

Let it be dry outside tomorrow as well

Best regards

JAN

Hey JAN, good luck with your new whip from Bernie. Yeah, I heard he was including a CD that covered replacing a cracker and a fall. But I didn't know he also had a demonstration on how to crack a whip.

What a wonderful idea. It seems Bernie is really getting more creative and customer focused as time goes by. I have one of his 8 foot, 16 plait whips and over time I have grown to appreciate it more. It's a bullwhip, but not really close to a David Morgan in style, but then again, I didn't order it that way.

Keep us posted on your cracking. Pictures are always a plus. Please post them.

-Sergei

Hey!

I just got my new whip from Bernie today too. It is an 8 ft. 12 plait "Indy-Style" and its great!

Here a pic

Dude, the purple popper has to go. )

Seriously, congrats Rob. Glad to see Bernie making them Indy style whips. Let us know how you are doing.

-S

I'm glad I read about the CD he included because I was about to throw it out by accident. He included a video of him cracking my whip, a video of some basic cracks/saftey warnings, and the one for replacing the crackers and falls. It's neat to see him in the video, and to hear his accent makes my roo whip more authentic. I'm very satisfied with his level of service and the whip of course! I Highly recommend Bernie.

Bernie's Whips

The current wait time from when I ordered was 3 weeks to my door.

Rob

Rob, since you have a whip you know what that means...you'll have to come out one Sunday to the Whip Enthusiast group and show it off. I got my 7.5 footer (ecwhips) and was going to go this past Sunday, but I've been sick with a sore throat. So I guess that means I'll be out there on their next go-round. I only have 2 cracks down. I'm anxious to learn more. Enjoy cracking!

Congratulations. Your comment about opening the box and seeing the whip >>lying like a big coiled snake- heavy, solid and powerful<< was verbatim of my first impression when I received my David Morgan. (you may still be able to find my original post, provided that its archived somewhere on the internet) But I had very much the same sort of awestruck reverence for the lash when I first beheld it. Quite a satisfying experience, actually. Enjoy.


-Dale

Thats a beautiful whip! Agreed, the purple popper has to go!
The maker of this whip sounds like a nice man to deal with! Have fun with your new whip!



Regards, Dan

Hey Rob, I am curious...why a purple popper? Sounds like something interesting behind that.

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:Hey Rob, I am curious...why a purple popper? Sounds like something interesting behind that.

It's whatever color strikes Bernie's fancy. When I got mine, it was turqoius.


-S

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:Hey Rob, I am curious...why a purple popper? Sounds like something interesting behind that.

I'm not really sure why it's purple. He says he just uses baling twine, so I guess his current crop is purple. He included about 8 or so extras and they are the same color. I'm not bothered by it and it cracks the same.

Rob

On my video, Bernie explains that the pink crakers is normaly used by him, because they are quite cheap, and close at hand, as they are made out of the string that´s used for haybales. They should crack just as good as the black poly/cotton ones.

The poly/cotton-cracker was on my whip, and there were 3 or 4 along as well, besides a bunch of the pink ones.

But anyway. Making these crackers and changing them is VERY easy, so just change it in the style You like.

Best regards

JAN

This thread on Bernie reiks of customer service and I love that in a vendor---even when he's half a world away.

Rob's whip looks to be a natural color that should darken with time and use. But Sergei, I like the color of the hide of your whip. Is that what Rob can expect it his to look like after awhile? Or, is that a particular color you chose?

I.J.

Indiana Joe wrote:This thread on Bernie reiks of customer service and I love that in a vendor---even when he's half a world away.

Rob's whip looks to be a natural color that should darken with time and use. But Sergei, I like the color of the hide of your whip. Is that what Rob can expect it his to look like after awhile? Or, is that a particular color you chose?

I.J.

Rob's whip should turn a brownish, mahogony color over time. My whip was drum dyed to this reddish color. It's very red. Over time I anticipate my Bernie whip to darken and turn very dark brown. I'm so sad, it's like watching them grow when they start to change color. It's amazing how attached you become to these things. They become family. Viva la familia!!!!!

Must agree, folks. Bernie's the Man!
I recieved my 8ft Indy about 2 months ago. when it arrived it was sooo darn stiff, but after everyday use it has now broken in very nicely. I may add that the colour has also darkened beautifully and looks more and more screen accurate everyday.
I too recieved the added CD, as well as 5 extra crackers (black) and 5 extra falls, and thanks to Bernie's tuition (CD), I've even made a few crackers myself. Pretty basic, really.

He's your best chance at getting a quality whip for a great price!
(P.S. thanks for your advice, Sergei.)

I how had had the pleasure of Bernie´s whip for some months now,
and I just say the whip is getting better and better.

I still have my respect for the whip, and its has been maintained by
stokes ones a while - danm that hurt

About getting the basic cracks right, I still have much to learn.
The video that goes with the whip is fine, but I am having a hard time
carrying the TV into the garden when I practice

So my hope is that Sergei will add a tuturial in whipcracking i a drawn version.
But anyway, it will take lots of practice to get it right...
It´s just that when I get it wrong the "punicement" is promt and suvier.

Best regards

JAN