How to Plait Bullwhips
A frontiersman's bullwhip is the simplest type of whip to make. The pioneers used this type of bullwhip to drive oxen-pulled wagon trains across the prairies. The frontiersman's bullwhip is still commonly used today in many activities such as ranching, recreation and historical re-enactment. Bullwhips are are typically made from rawhide. However, they can also be made from white hide which is tanned with alum or red hide which is vegetable-tanned. To plait a bullwhip, you create four strips of hide and braid them around a twisted leather core.
Things You'll Need
- Rawhide
- Waxed thread
- Cutting board
- Skinning knife
- Shears
- Wooden handle (optional)
Instructions
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1
Click on the plans included with this step and print them out. Use the measurements on the diagram to cut out a 2-foot, 7-inch piece of hide for the core and an 11-foot, 6-inch piece of hide.
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2
Cut the longer strip of hide into four strips, leaving the upper portion intact, to create a plait piece. Roll and twist the core piece along its length to form a long, narrow spiral. Wrap the core twice around with waxed thread to hold the spiral in place and tie off the ends of the thread.
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3
Place the plait piece of hide with four strips finished side down on a flat surface. Place the wide end of the core on top of the wide end of the piece with the four strips. Wrap the edges of the four-strip piece around the end of the core piece. Clamp the ends of both pieces in place.
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4
Take the two middle strips of the plait piece of hide and cross them up and over the core piece. Take the right side strip of the plait piece and thread it under the core and over the left middle strip. Then bring it over the top of the core.
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5
Take the left strip of the plait piece and bring it under the core piece. Then bring it over the right middle strip and over the core. Pull the plaits tight.
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6
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you reach the end of the strips of hide. Bind the ends of the strips tightly together by wrapping them several times with wax thread and tying the thread securely.
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Tips & Warnings
You can attach a tapered wooden handle by inserting it tapered end first into the thick, hollow end of the bullwhip. Refer to the bullwhip plans to see how to make the handle. Place hide glue on the wood, then wrap the rawhide around the tapered portion of the handle. Tightly wrap another strip of rawhide around the grooved end of the wooden handle. Secure the additional strip with a brass tack. Lubricating the strips of hide with saddle soap will make them easier to work with. To complete the bullwhip, you must attach a single strip of rawhide to the plaits and then attach a twisted cord to this additional strip of rawhide.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jennifer Claerr, David Claerr
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Comments
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Thank you so much for your helpful tutorial! I finally learned this technique but I found I struggled just a tiny bit with one of the steps. Step 4 appears to have two separate parts. It might be a bit more clear if you put the first sentence in one step and the second and third sentences in another.
