Post by Daubee on Mar 13, 2008 1:41:23 GMT -5
Stock whips, including bullwhips and the Australian stockwhip are a type of single-tailed leather whip with a very long lash but a short handle. Stock whips are primarily used to make a loud cracking sound to move livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, etc.) away from the sound. It is generally not used to actually strike an animal, as it would inflict severe pain and is difficult to be applied with precision.
Australian stockwhip
The Australian Stockwhip is often said to have originated in the English hunting whip, but it has since become a distinct type of whip. Today, it is used primarily by Australian stockmen. Unlike the short, embedded handle of a bullwhip, the stock whip handle is not fitted inside the lash and is usually longer. A stock whip's handle is connected to the thong by a joint typically made of a few strands of thick leather (which is called a keeper). This allows the whip to hang across a stockman's arm when not being used. The handles are normally longer than those of a bullwhip, being between 15 and 21 inches. The thong can be from 3 feet to 10 feet long. Stock whips are also almost exclusively made from tanned kangaroo hide.
The Bullwhip
A bullwhip consists of a handle between 8 and 12 inches in length, some whips have an exposed wooden grip, others have an intricately braided leather covered handle. The lash is a braided thong, between three and 20 feet long. Unlike the Australian stock whip, the thong connects in line with the handle (rather than with a joint), or even engulfs the handle entirely. At the end is the fall and the cracker or popper. The fall is a single piece of leather between 10 and 30 inches in length. During trick shots or target work, the fall is usually the portion of the whip used to cut, strike, or tie the target. The cracker is the portion of the whip that makes the loud noise known as the "sonic boom," but a whip without a cracker will still make a sonic boom, it is simply not as loud.
Additional types
There are other variations and lengths of stock whips. The yard whip is a type of smaller stockwhip. The yard whip is used on ground in cattle yards and other small area where speed and precision is needed. The yard whip is also used by younger children that aren't quite strong enough to handle a large stock whip.
The Rose whip is another variation of the stockwhip that was pioneered in Canada in the early 19th century, though it largely fell out of use by the 1880s. The Rose whips were effective in animal yards and other small areas. It was pioneered by an American farmer, Jack Liao[citation needed].
Florida stockwhip
The Florida stockwhip or Florida cow whip used by Floridian cowboys is often known as a cracker. It is a two-piece unit like the stockwhip and is connected to the handle by threading two strands of the thong through a hollow part of a wooden handle before being tied off. The cowwhip is heavier than the Australian stockwhip. Early cowwhips were made mostly of cowhide or buckskin.
Modern cow whips are made of flat nylon parachute cord, which, unlike those made from leather, are still effective when wet. Most cowwhips have handles that average 16 inches, and thongs that average 12 feet. A good cowwhip can produce a loud crack by a simple push of the handle. This can make it more convenient to use than a bullwhip in a thick vegetated environment with less swinging room. The Tampa Bay Whip Enthusiasts give demonstrations of the Florida Cracker Cowboy in costume at the annual Heritage Village Civil War Days festival, located in Largo, Florida every year in May.
Signal whips
a 4' (1.2 m) signal whipSignal whips or signalwhips are a type of single-tailed whip, originally designed to control dog teams. A signal whip usually measures between 3 and 4 feet in length. Signal whips and snake whips are similar. What distinguishes a signal whip from a snake whip is the absence of a "fall". A fall is a piece of leather attached to the end of the body of the whip. In a snake whip, the "cracker" attaches to the fall. In a signal whip, the cracker attaches directly to the body of the whip.
Snake whips
Snake whips or snakewhips are a type of single-tailed whip. The name snake whip is derived from the fact that this type of whip has no handle inside and so can be curled up into a small circle which resembles a coiled snake. They were once commonly carried in the saddlebag by cowboys of the old west. A full sized snake whip is usually at least 4 feet in length (excluding the fall and cracker at the tip of the whip) and around one inch in diameter at the butt of the whip.
A pocket snake whip can be curled up small enough to fit into a large pocket, and ranges in size from 4 feet to 6 feet in length. The pocket snake whip is primarily a whip for occasional use, such as in loading cattle. Both of these types of snake whips are made with a leather shot bag running approximately three quarters of the length of the whip.
Blacksnakes are the traditional whips used in Montana and Wyoming. The blacksnake has a heavy shot load extending from the butt well down the thong, and the whip is flexible right to the butt, ranges in size from 6 feet to 12 feet in length
The other type of whip is a long tapered flexible length of single-strand or plaited (braided) material (usually leather) with a stiff handle. Some whips of this type include the bullwhip and the stock whip. Each design has many variations and lengths for different purposes, often with different names.
As well as these traditional whip types designed for use on animals, there are whip designs that had historic uses for inflicting pain on humans, such as the "cat o' nine tails" and others. These devices are used as flogging instruments, a means of control, corporal punishment or torture.
When a bullwhip handle is rapidly and properly moved, the tip of the whip can exceed 340 m/s (760 mph) producing a small sonic boom described as a "crack". Whips were the first man-made implements to break the sound barrier. This loud noise is commonly used to drive or direct livestock or teams of harnessed animals, such as oxen or mules.
Whips have been used as weapons in movies, from films such as the original Zorro to Indiana Jones movies and Catwoman. Movies show action heroes tripping or disarming an adversary, breaking furniture, or other doing other dramatic activities. Because of popularity of whips in film and television, people often want to learn to use the whip as a weapon.
However, while the whip as a weapon looks dramatic on screen, in practical terms it has some major disadvantages. It is true that bullwhips in particular can generate considerable energy and damage a person’s body severely. The tip of the whip can cut and slice like a knife in the hands of a trained individual. However, while fancy whip work appears fast and is impressive to watch, as a defensive weapon the whip is nearly worthless. The user is handicapped by requiring time to throw the whip, having sufficient space to build speed with the lash, and having adequate physical strength and accuracy to be effective in a strike.
Another basic problem with the whip as a defensive weapon is the amount of open space required. The whip is used in movies to give the user the ability to strike from a safe distance. That makes it appear that he or she has an advantage. Unfortunately, in defense, this is the whip’s Achilles’ heel. Someone using a 6-foot bullwhip needs about an 18 foot clear area on all sides to get a powerful whip shot at a target. Without clear space, particularly behind and to the side of the handler, the whip strike cannot even occur; the whip will catch or strike other objects, rendering it less powerful or even useless.
That space between the whip handler and the target can also rapidly disappear if the subject runs at the whip-wielder. This would render the use of the whip completely ineffective. If the subject gets inside or outside the target distance, the handler cannot change the length of the whip. Thus the whip can only be an effective weapon in rare and specific circumstances, and generally, only in the movies.
Another weakness of a whip's defensive abilities is its material. On account of whips are generally made out of leather or similar material, it can easily be severed by a sharp sword or axe. Also, it makes a poor pair for a shield.
For a whip to be a useful tool, it would be in limited circumstances as an offensive weapon. Just about the only circumstance that would give a whip handler the advantage in a fight is the element of surprise with a single strike.
As an example, the storylines in the Zorro films and books use examples of whips used effectively as offensive weaponry, particularly to surprise an opponent. For example, in “The Mask of Zorro,” Zorro (Alex Green in that scene) uses a whip to surprise a firing squad and disarm them momentarily. Once exposed, he must use his whip in conjunction with other weapons to fight a battle or to escape. It is no longer effective as a direct attack weapon.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip
Australian stockwhip
The Australian Stockwhip is often said to have originated in the English hunting whip, but it has since become a distinct type of whip. Today, it is used primarily by Australian stockmen. Unlike the short, embedded handle of a bullwhip, the stock whip handle is not fitted inside the lash and is usually longer. A stock whip's handle is connected to the thong by a joint typically made of a few strands of thick leather (which is called a keeper). This allows the whip to hang across a stockman's arm when not being used. The handles are normally longer than those of a bullwhip, being between 15 and 21 inches. The thong can be from 3 feet to 10 feet long. Stock whips are also almost exclusively made from tanned kangaroo hide.
The Bullwhip
A bullwhip consists of a handle between 8 and 12 inches in length, some whips have an exposed wooden grip, others have an intricately braided leather covered handle. The lash is a braided thong, between three and 20 feet long. Unlike the Australian stock whip, the thong connects in line with the handle (rather than with a joint), or even engulfs the handle entirely. At the end is the fall and the cracker or popper. The fall is a single piece of leather between 10 and 30 inches in length. During trick shots or target work, the fall is usually the portion of the whip used to cut, strike, or tie the target. The cracker is the portion of the whip that makes the loud noise known as the "sonic boom," but a whip without a cracker will still make a sonic boom, it is simply not as loud.
Additional types
There are other variations and lengths of stock whips. The yard whip is a type of smaller stockwhip. The yard whip is used on ground in cattle yards and other small area where speed and precision is needed. The yard whip is also used by younger children that aren't quite strong enough to handle a large stock whip.
The Rose whip is another variation of the stockwhip that was pioneered in Canada in the early 19th century, though it largely fell out of use by the 1880s. The Rose whips were effective in animal yards and other small areas. It was pioneered by an American farmer, Jack Liao[citation needed].
Florida stockwhip
The Florida stockwhip or Florida cow whip used by Floridian cowboys is often known as a cracker. It is a two-piece unit like the stockwhip and is connected to the handle by threading two strands of the thong through a hollow part of a wooden handle before being tied off. The cowwhip is heavier than the Australian stockwhip. Early cowwhips were made mostly of cowhide or buckskin.
Modern cow whips are made of flat nylon parachute cord, which, unlike those made from leather, are still effective when wet. Most cowwhips have handles that average 16 inches, and thongs that average 12 feet. A good cowwhip can produce a loud crack by a simple push of the handle. This can make it more convenient to use than a bullwhip in a thick vegetated environment with less swinging room. The Tampa Bay Whip Enthusiasts give demonstrations of the Florida Cracker Cowboy in costume at the annual Heritage Village Civil War Days festival, located in Largo, Florida every year in May.
Signal whips
a 4' (1.2 m) signal whipSignal whips or signalwhips are a type of single-tailed whip, originally designed to control dog teams. A signal whip usually measures between 3 and 4 feet in length. Signal whips and snake whips are similar. What distinguishes a signal whip from a snake whip is the absence of a "fall". A fall is a piece of leather attached to the end of the body of the whip. In a snake whip, the "cracker" attaches to the fall. In a signal whip, the cracker attaches directly to the body of the whip.
Snake whips
Snake whips or snakewhips are a type of single-tailed whip. The name snake whip is derived from the fact that this type of whip has no handle inside and so can be curled up into a small circle which resembles a coiled snake. They were once commonly carried in the saddlebag by cowboys of the old west. A full sized snake whip is usually at least 4 feet in length (excluding the fall and cracker at the tip of the whip) and around one inch in diameter at the butt of the whip.
A pocket snake whip can be curled up small enough to fit into a large pocket, and ranges in size from 4 feet to 6 feet in length. The pocket snake whip is primarily a whip for occasional use, such as in loading cattle. Both of these types of snake whips are made with a leather shot bag running approximately three quarters of the length of the whip.
Blacksnakes are the traditional whips used in Montana and Wyoming. The blacksnake has a heavy shot load extending from the butt well down the thong, and the whip is flexible right to the butt, ranges in size from 6 feet to 12 feet in length
The other type of whip is a long tapered flexible length of single-strand or plaited (braided) material (usually leather) with a stiff handle. Some whips of this type include the bullwhip and the stock whip. Each design has many variations and lengths for different purposes, often with different names.
As well as these traditional whip types designed for use on animals, there are whip designs that had historic uses for inflicting pain on humans, such as the "cat o' nine tails" and others. These devices are used as flogging instruments, a means of control, corporal punishment or torture.
When a bullwhip handle is rapidly and properly moved, the tip of the whip can exceed 340 m/s (760 mph) producing a small sonic boom described as a "crack". Whips were the first man-made implements to break the sound barrier. This loud noise is commonly used to drive or direct livestock or teams of harnessed animals, such as oxen or mules.
Whips have been used as weapons in movies, from films such as the original Zorro to Indiana Jones movies and Catwoman. Movies show action heroes tripping or disarming an adversary, breaking furniture, or other doing other dramatic activities. Because of popularity of whips in film and television, people often want to learn to use the whip as a weapon.
However, while the whip as a weapon looks dramatic on screen, in practical terms it has some major disadvantages. It is true that bullwhips in particular can generate considerable energy and damage a person’s body severely. The tip of the whip can cut and slice like a knife in the hands of a trained individual. However, while fancy whip work appears fast and is impressive to watch, as a defensive weapon the whip is nearly worthless. The user is handicapped by requiring time to throw the whip, having sufficient space to build speed with the lash, and having adequate physical strength and accuracy to be effective in a strike.
Another basic problem with the whip as a defensive weapon is the amount of open space required. The whip is used in movies to give the user the ability to strike from a safe distance. That makes it appear that he or she has an advantage. Unfortunately, in defense, this is the whip’s Achilles’ heel. Someone using a 6-foot bullwhip needs about an 18 foot clear area on all sides to get a powerful whip shot at a target. Without clear space, particularly behind and to the side of the handler, the whip strike cannot even occur; the whip will catch or strike other objects, rendering it less powerful or even useless.
That space between the whip handler and the target can also rapidly disappear if the subject runs at the whip-wielder. This would render the use of the whip completely ineffective. If the subject gets inside or outside the target distance, the handler cannot change the length of the whip. Thus the whip can only be an effective weapon in rare and specific circumstances, and generally, only in the movies.
Another weakness of a whip's defensive abilities is its material. On account of whips are generally made out of leather or similar material, it can easily be severed by a sharp sword or axe. Also, it makes a poor pair for a shield.
For a whip to be a useful tool, it would be in limited circumstances as an offensive weapon. Just about the only circumstance that would give a whip handler the advantage in a fight is the element of surprise with a single strike.
As an example, the storylines in the Zorro films and books use examples of whips used effectively as offensive weaponry, particularly to surprise an opponent. For example, in “The Mask of Zorro,” Zorro (Alex Green in that scene) uses a whip to surprise a firing squad and disarm them momentarily. Once exposed, he must use his whip in conjunction with other weapons to fight a battle or to escape. It is no longer effective as a direct attack weapon.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip