Yesterday I made the lash for a cowhide stock whip. This one is 5 feet long has a core, plaited belly and 4 plait overlay. Also FYI if I recall correctly technically this is a yard whip not a stock whip.
For this stock whip I cut out the core at 2.5 feet and it flares out to approx 35mm at the 6 inch point then tapering to a point at 2.5 feet.
Next I cut out the set for the belly:
These started at about 9mm and tapered to a point at about 6.5 feet. Next I braided the belly:
After braiding the belly I cut a hole in the yoke and trimmed it to make it attached to the stock whip handle. Next I cut out the overlay:
These were initially cut at about 19 mm tapering to a point at about 7.5 feet. However in paring I took a good 2 mm off of each strand. Finally I plaited the overlay, attached the fall and stuck it on an SKT Stock Whip handle:
I still need to make my own handle for this stock whip. I put my lash on the SKT stock whip handle was that I wanted to crack it right away! This whip has a good crack, but I think it can be improved. I’m going to have a bit more weight out in the point of it. That will give it a bit more oomph!
Currently I have something like 5 heavy cane handles and 3 slightly lighter cane handles. So that means my I’ll get a handle for this stock whip, then two pairs of stock whips. After that I’ll try to make one half plait handle with a kangaroo lash and finally a pair of kangaroo stock whips with half plait handles.
I was sort of amazed at how quickly I was able to make this stock whip lash. Honestly I really shouldn’t be that amazed because there’s not much to it (compared to a bullwhip with two bellies, two bolsters and a higher plait count).
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
