Whips of the World

Australia

Stockwhip

The Australian stockwhip was originally used to herd cattle from horseback. The wooden handle, 18-24" long, is usually tapered and is frequently covered with plaited kangaroo hide, finished with a turk's head knot at the butt. Where the handle connects to the whip a "keeper" loop is lashed on. The whip is connected to the handle via a similar loop braided into it forming a universal joint. Many entertainers and performers prefer stockwhips because they provide faster movement changes between cracks which is essential when performing more complex patterns.

Bullock Whip

Bullock (oxen) were used in Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries in teams to carry heavy goods, such as wool, wheat, wood, sugar cane, agricultural equipment, construction supplies. The bullock whip is long whip (6-10 feet) attached to a long handle (4-6 foot long). The bullock whip is cracked using both hands.

China

Qilinbian

Qilinbian (麒麟 鞭, literally "Unicorn Whip") is a metal whip invented in China in the late 20th century. The 6" long handle is made of chain wrapped in leather. The individual chain links gradually decrease in size along the length of the whip. The length of the whip is 6-8 feet. Made of metal, these whips can weight 4-5 lbs.

Shaolin Whip

The Shaolin whip is also called the shepherd's or mountain whip (muyang bian 牧羊 鞭). The whip entered the Shaolin curriculum in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) when Kublai Khan banned martial arts training. According to legend, Shaolin abbot, Fuyu (福 裕), found favor with the Yuan and was allowed to develop and cultivate Shaolin kung fu during this period. The whip was then integrated from the methods used by the Hui (Muslim) people of Gansu. These handmade leather whips have a solid wood handle. They are about 7-8 feet long.

Czech Republic

Býkovec

Compared to American bullwhip, the Býkovec is more robust and heavier. The whip has a handle about 10" long, the transition between the fixed and flexible part of the whip is also relatively rigid. They are usually 10-12 feet long.

Hejbajče

Similar to the American bullwhip, the difference is in the transition between the handle and the body of the whip. An "accordion" braid is used to strengthen this transition. They are usually 5-6 ft long.

Hončíky

Constructed similar to the Australian stockwhip, these whips were usually around 9-10 ft long.

England

Hunting Whip

Hunting whips have been used since 1900. These whips have a handle with a curved hook on the butt end, used to open gates while remaining on horseback. At the top is sometimes a "crown" screw that helps push the gate closed. Traditionally, the hook was made with deer antler buffalo horn. The handle itself was traditionally made of lacquered cane, bamboo or reed, some where "steel-lined" to make them harder to break. These whips where typically was 8-10 feet.

Germany/Austria

Goaßl

The whip for Aperschnalzen (an annual celebration at the end of winter) is called Goaßl. Like the bullock whip it's cracked using both hands. The handle, made of wood, has a diameter is about 1" and the length is about 2 feet. The the thong of the whip is made from hemp rope and can be up to 14 feet long. Twisted from several cords, the rope is impregnated with black pitch. The thong is attached to the handle in a groove so that it can rotate around it.

Hungary

Ring Whip

To make the whip more mobile, the herders connected the body of the whip with a handle, a rotating ring. Hence the name "Ring Whip". These whips were used in Hungary, but they are also identical to the whips of other steppe nations such as the Kyrgyz. Another development became a design variant of the Australian whip, because the ring was replaced by leather. The handle is 12-16" long and has a diameter of 1" at the end. The herders adorned the whips richly. The handles are frequently decorated with leather, carved, or inlaid with metal. The beginning of the thong was covered with tassels.

Italy

Frusta

This whip, from northern Italy, resembles a carriage whip. It consists of a wooden handle 2-3 feet long. The thong may be made of hemp rope or braided leather and is about 3-4 feet long. unique to this whip is the use of unusually long crackers around 18" long. Used with one hand, it's a very fast whip and is mainly used to accompany music.

Slovakia

Pastýřský Bič

Shepherd's whip or also korbáč, čapor, kocar. It was used by shepherds to help herd cattle, sheep, and goats. Their length is around 10-12 feet. The handle is a wooden cone tapering from about 1" down to 1/2". The coupling between the body of the whip and the handle is about 6" long. The handle, beginning of the body of the whip are plaited and decorated with long triangles. They were connected by brass rings or by leather straps. The whip was finished with an 3 foot long fall.

Mexico

Chirron

These whips where of very modest origin and used in herding sheep and goats. They are makeshift whips, made from locally available materials. The thong is made of twisted natural fiber derived from the agave plant.

Slovenia

Bic

This whip was and is used in the tradition of the "First furrow", when a plow symbolically makes a trip around the village, symbolizing the beginning of work in the fields. This whip is made of rope and is attached to the handle in a groove allowing it to swivel about the handle.

Switzerland

Geissel

The whips for the "Chlauschlöpfen" tradition - the Christmas custom of waking St. Nicholas in Switzerland - are made of jute or flax rope and are braided in lengths of 5-15 feet. The body of the whip looks as if it is tied from individual pieces.

United States

Bullwhip

The core of the handle is wooden or metal usualy 8-10" long. The braiding of the handle passes smoothly into the body of the whip. The heel is finished with a turk's head knot and there is usually a decorative transition knot as well.

Snake Whip

The name snake whip is derived from the fact that this type of whip has no handle inside. It can be twisted into a small circle that could be easily stored in a saddlebag by cowboys from the Wild West. Sizes commonly range from 3ft to 6ft. To compensate for the lost leverage that a handle provides snake whips are usually "loaded" with a lead shot in the core of the whip.

Signal Whip

Signal whips are a type of single-tailed whip, originally designed to control dog sleds. The signal whip usually measures 3-4ft in length. They are also used to "give a signal" (eg instead of a starting pistol). Signal whips do not have falls and are not generally suitable for hitting targets. Like snake whips, signal whips have no handle.

Everywhere

Lunge Whip

Lunge whips are specially made for training horses. When lunging, the horse is guided in a circle by a long lead, or lunge, and learns to respond to aids and voice commands. This whip has a long, very light handle, often exceeding the length of the whip itself.

Wagon Whip

Used in many countries to control horses pulling a wagon, chariot, or carriage. Similar to the Lunge Whip, the Wagon Whip consists of a long narrow handle with a plaited thong.

Special thank you to Martin Štulla for his extensive collection of information on whips of the world and the history of whip cracking. Please visit his site to learn more https://www.historiepraskanibicem.cz