Club Obi Wan

Try to catch this week’s episode of the History Channels show Pawn Stars, which airs tonight (Sunday Sept 6th) at 10PM EST (Check local listings) and replays agian at 2AM EST

This particular episode features a “supposedly” authentic Indiana Jones bullwhip and a guest appearance by Mark Allen of Western Stage Props.

If you miss it, Episodes usually air online a day or two after the original televised air date at http://www.history.com/video.do?name=Pawnstars

This was an interesting episode, even if some of Mark's facts about the Indy whips are a little off

It's Pawn Stars and I saw it. I must say, I did like some of those facts about the stunt doubles. Makes me wish I could have worked on the set But I was quite sure it was a fake. It looked TOO nice for something that was used in the movies

I wanted to watch this so bad once I read this so searched and search and found this link to the full episode http://tvshack.net/tv/Pawn_Stars/season_1/episode_11/ it may work or it may not I am watching it right now to see. Hope that helps those who missed it like me and can't wait till the history channel gets it up on there site.

Keep Crackin
James

Hi James,
The link worked and a big thanks to Dan for mentioning this!

After watching this, it makes you wonder if the guy that had the whip had been taken or was just trying to pull a scam over them. Mark Allen was very professional and always a gentlemen even when letting the guy down with the truth about the whip and it's origin. You can almost see the poor guy turn green when he realized that the money he was expecting was not going to happen. He seemed genuine about it, and if he was not trying to scam them, then I hope he did not pay alot for the whip (however, asking for $15,000 seems to make me think he did). That whip looked almost brand new to me as well, you can look at the popper and tell that it was hardly used. He should have asked for a COA or some proof as to where it was from and who may have used it or owned it. I have worked for a short stint in the pawn broker business and I have to tell you, it is sometimes like playing poker with people who try to sell items to a shop like that, you don't always know if the person is sincere in what they are telling you.


Crack On!
Allen

I missed the episode and am 100% happy you were able to post a link to the episode. It was great! Thank you.

Just goes to show, you have to know what yer talking about when dealing with this sort of money... I may be wrong here, but I don't remember ever hearing that Russel Schultz made whips for the Indy movies... If Mark Allen thought it was a RS, then that's yer first sign right there...

The look on the poor guys face was priceless, I almost felt bad for him. As an admitted whip collector though he should have known to be more careful.

Still, It’s not too hard to fool someone even with "documents of authenticity". One of the big auction houses recently fell victim to this too, Fortunately that Indy bullwhip never sold. The last authenticated film used Indy bullwhip however sold for over $70,000 at auction in Las Vegas, so even Mark Allen’s estimate was modest.

I really would not be surprised if the whip on this show was one of a Indy stuntman’s personal whips, or that it was on the set of Indy 4 at some point. In addition to the official bullwhips supplied by David Morgan, Joe Strain, Terry Jacka for the production, some of the stunt men did purchase their own Indy bullwhips from Western Stage Prop’s, as Mark Allen commented on in the show. Russell Shultze is also one of their whip makers for the Indy style whips. I had to laugh a bit when he said how sure he was that it was used and cracked in the movie, given that there wasn’t much whip cracking in KOTCS. What litte of it there was, Harrison Ford did because he was better with the whip then the stunt men where

As for the explanation of the origin of the Indy whip, He's told that story before. The fact is though David Morgan was making those short handled American “cowboy” style bullwhips well before anyone ever asked him to make whips for any Indiana Jones move. They where never any sort special request, the original Raiders were not even made for the film, they where the bullwhips that by Glenn Randall had them in his own inventory. Also the bullwhips used in Kingdom of the Crystal skull movie did not have longer handles.

Dan

Thanks for posting Dan. I enjoyed watching it and have to agree with everybody else. I felt a little bad for the guy when the news was broken to him. I would almost be 100% positive that it was never used for the film at all. One of the stunt mens? Maybe, but even then I'd be very suspicious.

BullWhipBorton wrote:
I really would not be surprised if the whip on this show was one of a Indy stuntman’s personal whips, or that it was on the set of Indy 4 at some point. In addition to the official bullwhips supplied by David Morgan, Joe Strain, Terry Jacka for the production, some of the stunt men did purchase their own Indy bullwhips from Western Stage Prop’s, as Mark Allen commented on in the show.

Thanks, Dan. I hadn't gotten that clearly. I thought they were talking about a whip from the previous movies, which didn't click since the whip looks brand new!!!!! . It makes a bit more sense the whip was from KOTCS, and thus, the guy falling for it. Although his little comments didn't seem to me IMHO, to be those of a whip collector (perhaps he liked the idea of becoming one and starting his collection with that whip. ) Besides, if the whip were from the movie, I would have waited a couple of years to let the price swell a bit. I guess.

I watched this and saw the whip in question. There is no way that the whip was used in ANY of the first 3 movies. As stated above, if he was really a whip collector, you would think he would've known better. I mean come on- the whip looked brand spankin' new!

Kyle

My Best friend Recorded this on his DVR just to show me and wanted to get my opinion while watching it, since he knows how obsessed I am and he's not. At the first sight of it I said "no, this wasnt used in the films". Too shiney. Plus it was made in that natural dark brown, so it really couldnt have been used in any of the original films cuz they aged that color, right? An "aside" whip like Allen said for kotcs maybe, but did any of the kotcs have white falls? Interesting episode to test ur skill on Indy whips though lol Looked like a nice piece, aside from the fact.

Okay. I just watched this after DVRing it. Here's my take on this whole thing from someone who works in the film and TV biz. Seems like to me - as with most reality shows - this whole part of the episode was as much "reality" as most reality shows usually are. Meaning it was totally set up and faked for the show - and to bring Mark for a little plug for WSP. Nothing wrong with that - just the way it seems. And this kind of thing happens all the time with "reality" TV.

The really strange part was what Mark said - the totally incorrect history of the Indy whips etc - and anyone who knows anything about whips would know in a sec that the whip wasn't from any of the films. And Russell Shultze? Didn't make any for any of the Indy films and that whip - unless Shultze has changed his whipmaking technique - doesn't look like it was made by him. But Russell does now make the Indy whips for WSP - so...a bit of a plug there no?

So anyway - par for the course for reality TV.

The link that classicbullwhip posted above is broken now, but the episode is in three parts on Youtube if you look for it. Good stuff, too - nice that Mark can identify a Schultz whip like that - just by the braiding and the work. Good eye. I know that there are a few guys here that can tell who made a whip just by looking at it - that's an impressive skill.

Might have something to do with the fact that's the main Indy Whip he sells now? Hmmmmmm....

I've seen several episodes of Pawn Stars, and while the show can be entertaining, it also appears to be bogus.

There's one episode that shows them buy an old Coke machine that was in horrible condition. After having it "restored" it was a completely different model (It was even a different size/shape)

Or to the fact that Mark Allen is the one who sold the “stunt guy” the Russell Schultz indy bullwhip seen on the show in the first place.

In anycase, Western Stage Prop sells Indy bullwhips made by a couple different whip makers besides Russell Schultz, including Paul and Lauren of Midwestwhips.

Dan

What I liked about this episode was it taught a lesson. Don't be a fool and buy something from someone, taking their word for it that it was a genuine movie prop. Always get documentation. As obvious as it seems, an awful lot of people don't know that.

Mike

Documentation doesn't exactly mean anything either. Profiles in History is notorious for providing documentation that looks authentic but is actually fake.

Documentation is a step in the right direction. Granted it's not a 100% gaurante all of the time.

You're right, Imahomer. I should have clarified myself more. A good step, but not guaranteed.

BullWhipBorton wrote:The look on the poor guys face was priceless, I almost felt bad for him.

Not me. I chuckled quite a bit.

Personally I felt bad for him. I mean you could see it coming but I hate to see anyone get ripped off like that.