Single Tailed Whips

by Mistress Michelle Peters

A single tail is any tapered single thonged whip- quirts, snakes (flexible right to the wrist strap), bulls (has a stiff handle section), stock whips, buggy whips, signal whips, lunge whips etc. What is most often used in play is the 3 or 4ft Signal whip (Signal and Single are often incorrectly used interchangeably which can be confusing). It's flexible right to the butt but it doesn't have a fall, the cracker is braided into the body of the whip. It's fast and accurate especially when braided in 16 or higher plait (the higher the number of strands generally indicates greater accuracy) the drawback is that when the cracker wears down to the braided leather it has to be replaced ($20) but that shouldn't happen for 2-5 years depending on usage. The other drawback to a signal is that if it draws blood there is no easy way to clean it, it's either not enough or it damages the leather, so some people like the easily detachable cracker that comes with a fall.

On most single tail whips the braided part of the whip is attached to a fall, a long narrow strip of rounded off latigo leather that takes the brunt of abuse, from energy expended, to hitting things. So instead of the braided thong wearing out the replaceable fall wears out. The cracker ( usually twisted nylon can be softer buckskin) is attached to the tip of the fall and as the name implies makes the noise (technically its the sound of the tip of the whip exceeding the speed of sound, a sonic boom). It is easily and quickly replaced when worn out or contaminated.

What is plait and why should I care?

When whips are described there is usually a number followed by the word plait or sometimes strand as well as the length of the whip. Whips can be anything from 4 plait up to an amazing 64 plait. Plait describes the number of strands plaited together to form the outermost layer of the whip. Whips made from white hide, redhead and latigo are generally in the 4-12 plait range. Kangaroo hide whips are generally in the 8- 24 plait range but can be higher.

A high plait count doesn't guarantee a high quality usable whip. A well made 4 or 6 plait white hide stock whip can be fast, accurate, durable and cheap to boot, whereas a 64 plait bullwhip, while beautiful to look at, will simply not withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. A 16 plait whip may look good but not be as good as a 12 plait because it is plaited over an inferior base.

But all things being equal a higher plait whip will tend to outperform a lower plait whip of the same quality. A whip focuses kinetic energy, from the butt down to the cracker. Uneven plaiting, poorly dropped strands or a poorly shaped and tapered belly or core act as interference. Instead of smoothly.

How to tell what plait a whip is?

On most whips there is a section of plaiting variously called 4 seam work or whip makers plait. As the name implies there are 4 seams running up and down the whip. Each strand when it is visible on its quadrant goes over one quarter of the total strands that make up the whip. By noting this number and multiplying by four you come up with the Plait of the whip.

What is a core?

The core is the foundation on which the whip is built. On cheap whips the core may be rope, strips of fluffy chrome tanned cow, bound up with tape giving the right shape but poor handling and longevity. On well built whips the core may be the lead filled leather shot bag of a snake whip, or the 4 or 6 plait mini whip plaited over a spring steel, cane or fiberglass handle of a bullwhip or the narrow tightly rolled and tapered kangaroo or red hide core of a stock whip. Over this is built the layers of plaiting and leather bolsters that give the shape performance and durability of a fine whip.

Shot loaded core

The core of the whip is a long narrow leather bag filled with very fine lead shot, it adds weight and density usually giving an easier crack. Snake whips, signal whips and some bullwhips and quirts are shot loaded. Because of the increased weight and therefore energy, long snake whips tend to have a shorter life than comparable bullwhips.

What is a plaited Belly?

Means that under the outer layer of plaiting, the overlay, there is another layer of leather plaited over the core of the whip. It adds durability and accuracy, balancing out any weaknesses in the individual strands. I plait my bellies generally 4 strands under the overlay strand count e.g. for a 16 plait overlay a 12 plait belly. On higher plait work 20 plait and up I use double bellies e.g. on a 24 plait bullwhip an 8 plait inner belly, a bolster, then a 16 plait second belly, then the 24 plait overlay. Bellies generally extend about three quarters of the way down the lash. A full length belly with the 4 plait end hitched to the fall will add durability and shape retention.

What is the overlay?

The visible surface layer of plaiting on the whip. It is the finest plaiting and on high end pieces especially on stock whips, can have lots of fancy decorative plaiting.

What is a Fall?

A fall is a length of replaceable tough leather between the plaited body of the whip and the cracker or popper. It's purpose is to absorb the brunt of wear and tear that a whip undergoes, especially longer whips used outdoors, protecting the more easily damaged plaited point of the whip. Falls can be anywhere from 6-8 inches on short indoor "play" whips up to 3ft long on some Australian whips. Texas style falls are wide and flat and have a tendency to plane through the air inhibiting accuracy and slowing down the whip. I prefer Australian style falls that are narrow, rounded and tapered to continue the lines of the body of the whip. Falls are generally cut from red hide, white hide and latigo although oiled heavy grey kangaroo and oiled rawhide can also be used.

Replacing a fall is generally fairly simple, though if the whip is old or dry it may be better to send it to a whip maker.

What is a Cracker or Popper?

The cracker is the very tip of the whip. It is usually easily replaceable as it deteriorates even when the cracker doesn't contact anything. It can be made from various materials but nylon in various forms is the most common. When the whip is cracked the cracker is accelerated past the speed of sound and a sonic boom results. Making and attaching crackers is a pretty simple matter.

Construction

Generally: Everything is hand done, hand cut, dyed, plaited. It takes a long time; 5-25 hours per piece. A lot of the work you don't see, it's under the overlay.

I use oak tanned 3-4 oz English kip calfskin for shot bags and bolsters, 8-9 oz latigo for quirt falls, purposely tanned red hide and white hide for falls and medium and heavy vegetable tanned, drum stuffed kangaroo (Harvested Red and Grey roos approved by US Fish and Wildlife Service for importation). I use a homemade plaiting soap made from beef kidney fat, soap and beeswax. I make my own leather dressing with hard fat, beeswax and a few other things for a final dressing. Except for some (bright) colors I use oil based leather dyes.

Sequence of Bullwhip Construction

Spring steel rod stiffens the handle I sometimes also use a tapered fiberglass rod set into a mild steel rod to give a gradual transition zone between handle and lashes on target bulls.

The core is a four or six plait 'roo over a rolled 'rooor red hide lace Can also be a small shot bag Over this goes a calfskin bolster, a long triangular piece that encircles the whip And then the 8,12 or 16plait plaited belly and then sometimes another bolster and then the 12, 16 or more plait overlay.

There is sometimes another plaited belly on high end whips

Then the fall, wrist strap, (attached by wrapped waxed nylon thread, glue and shoemakers tacks) and finally cover knot (the knob is formed by waxed nylon string, and sometimes epoxy putty mixed with lead shot for balance) are attached.

Snake Whips, Pocket Snakes

A long triangular piece of calfskin or chrome tanned cowhide is sewn and glued to form a long conical bag that extends 2-4 ft down the whip. This is filled with fine Free flow lead shot, closed off, bound with waxed nylon and forms the core The rest of construction follows the bullwhips.

Construction sequence for a 24 plait signal whip with 12 plait belly.

Signal Whips, Mini Snakes

Again the shot loaded leather bag but the overlay is plaited directly onto it.

Quirts

Cores can be twisted rawhide (back plaited quirt) Tapered and wrapped strips of leather (fancy Quirt) or a shot loaded bag (Heavy Quirt).