Club Obi Wan

...Being somewhat of an outdoorsman, I am finding that I am in need of a whip that I can take camping, hiking, etc... I have heard the general opinion here that the Keppler bullwhip is tough, but I can't help but wonder:

How does it handle?

I suppose what I am asking is what types of tricks can you pull off with a Keppler whip? For that matter, how accurate is the whip? I know that the whip's eight-plate construction would make it less flexible, but does that truly affect the performance?

Any help from the experts here would be great.

High Regards, Indiana_Hall

...my 10 foot Kepler is a fine rough and tough type whip, and though not on par with the 12 plait roo or other type plaited masterpieces swung around here, for what you're talking about, you'll be well served with the Kepler cowhide. Once broken in (and well Pecarded), it performs fine. Regards. Michaelson

Many thanks for the quick reply, Michaelson! I didn't expect that the Keppler would be quite as flexible as a twelve-plait roo whip, but it sounds like the whip should handle fine for my intended purpose. Thanks again.
High Regards, Indiana_Hall

This is the 2nd thread on this in as many days. The Keppler whip is an excellent starter whip. For under a $100 you get, as Michaelson quotes, "a rough and ready" whip. You can do quite a bit with these whips and the thickness of the steer hide and fall really make the whip survive a tremendous amount of abuse. The $300 category whip and higher whip uses probably a roo hide and using roo you can cut the strands so much thinner. That means more plait count (strands) can be added per square inch, that means you can build into the whip bellies that add to the weighting and balance of the whip. The Keppler has no belly to it. If it did, it would cost more. It's like a first time driver starting out on a Chevy or a Farrari. Would they be able to tell from a first time driving experience the peformance and handling of a Farrari? And besides any decent whip handler can do just about anything with a 4 plait whip vs. a 16 plait whip. It's when your appetite and pocket book acts up and wants some higher performance car or, whip in this case.

Hope this helps...

-Sergei
p.s. This is the only whip I take camping.

Sergei wrote:The Keppler has no belly to it.

Pardon me for my ignorance, Sergei, but if the whip doesn't have at least one belly, how does it crack?
High Regards, Indiana_Hall

Well, have you cracked a wet towel before? The belly provides a foundation for a good taper, a body, weighting to the whip, but it's not necessary for a whip. But it's necessary for high end whip. The Keppler is made out of thick strands of cowhide, so there is some body to the whip. But again at that price point, one shouldn't complain. Add one or more bellies significantly adds cost to a whip. Labor costs as well as material.

-Sergei