Jacka whips

[basil]

Howdy all.

So about a year ago I tried to sell my whips because I thought I was over the whole Indy thing. Well who was I kidding I can never be over Indy!

That being said I am looking into purchasing a terry jacka bullwhip. I wanted to know if anyone knew what the differences between his Indy whip and straight handle bullwhip?

I so far only have experience with my two joe strain whips. I prefer my 12 ft because its a heavier harder cracking whip. I'd love to get another heavy cracking whip. I just love the sound it makes. Like nice loud thunder!

Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say.

[jeremym]

What exactly are you asking about? The balance? Action? Weight? Literal loudness?

One thing I can say abou the noise, its been pointed out to me that terry puts tapered crackers on his Indy IV whips. Tapered crackers, even in a short and light whip, make the whip so much louder! People who have had a chance to try out my tapered crackers can attest to that. I've had people tell me the whip they had it on was the loudest they had ever heard.


The thing about Terry's work, is that he makes them practically opposite of how David Morgan ( and a lot of other popular whip makers ) make the whips. David set the bar , so to speak, with a loose transition and heavy handle. A lot of people like that. Terry, on the other hand, makes his whips with an extremely stiff transition and extremely light handle. Going from one to the other can be extremely strange on the body!

Once you get used to the weighting, the jacka has the potential to be controlled easier because of the stiffer transition. That said, just the overall balance turns many people away because its so different from what they normally use. Terry makes a great whip, and h makes it how he likes them. You may get to cracking one and after a couple weeks decide you love it! When I first made myself a light handled bullwhip ( not quite and light a handle as terry makes his, but still very light compared to most American styled whips ) it took me a week to get used to the balance, and probably a month to build the wrist strength to properly control the whip. That's how I like my whips now! For the whips I make customers, I make them fairly balanced ( unless otherwise requested ) because one, I know so many people like it that way and two, its easier on the arm.

I'm getting off track. Anyway, if you can tell us more specifically what you're wondering about, or if its more of a general question, we can better help.

Also I wrote this in my phone and sort if proof read it as I went, hopefully autocorrect didn't mess me up too much

[basil]

Sorry I was thinking more the construction. Are they made pretty much the same or does one have a stiffer transition than the other.

Also is one thicker than the other?

[jeremym]

Ok, the jacka whip is made thicker and has a MUCH stiffer transition, which will loosen with use but will never loosen to what what a normal whip will.

Aside from the that, the internals are completely different as well.

[basil]

Hmm I'm interested to know what the internals are like now?

I know the jacka whips are different then normal whips. I meant the difference between the Indy branded whip and his straight handle one.

[jeremym]

First of all, I'm curious what you mean by straight handled whip? all whip handles are straight, but perhaps you mean the way the handle is shaped in that, having a taper or bulge?

For the internals of his whips, here's a quote from him...


"Tom (Tom Hill who taught Terry how to make whips ) used greasy chrome split cowhide for the inside workings of his whips and that is the leather I use now. It's soft, easy to work and has a sponge like ability to soak up plaiting soap. "

So it's not kangaroo below the overlay, there are several layers of chrome split cowhide. That also adds to the stiffness of the transition because it's rough on both sides of the leather - more friction. That with the intense binding and the type of material he uses to bind, makes for a very tight transition. He one told me how he binds and how he determines how much to bind his Indy IV whips. I won't take the time to explain but it's definitely a lot!

[basil]

I mean straight handle by what he calls them on his website.

So from what you are saying looks like his Indy whips have more stiff of a transition.

[jeremym]

There's no doubt about that.

I guess he says that because when using a really long handle foundation, and using fiberglass, like terry does, it has the potential to flex some when used. The Indy 4 whip had a 7" handle foundation.

[basil]

Thanks for all the info.

I've really been enjoying whip cracking lately and would love a new whip. I wasn't sure between a Morgan and a jacka but I think the jacka will be the next whip.

The Morgan already looks so much like my strain whips. I think a 10 ft jacka will be a great addition.

[jeremym]

I hope you enjoy it!

Just remember not to write it off too quickly, it's going to be a big change from what you're used to, it'll take some time to adapt.