This summer I have spent acquiring a new hobby. We were in need of some spare “whatever” whips to walk out hounds and what got donated were terribly tattered and in disrepair. I took it on myself to try to make them functional and became obsessed. The first one I did got so much approval, how could I resist. When someone would hand me one and say, it doesn’t matter what you do with it, it is no good as it is, -I got a unique education. Taking apart Swaines and Zairs was really interesting to learn the materials and techniques used. Now, I have revamped an inherited industrial sewing machine, purchased a wood lathe and my house is littered with scraps of antler, leather, punches etc, etc. The antler head ones are a little easier for me but the knob end ones I have built have been greatly received.
I would be interested to know if anyone else here has taken on the craft or knows of anyone who does this professionally. I would be very interested to know them.
I have built them now completely from scratch and have given away most all my work thus far. I was concerned about the materials I use and the strength of my unions and wanted people to give em heck just to see what breaks first. I finally put one up for auction this week and can’t wait to find out just what the market really thinks it is worth. At least I can tell you that whatever the cost for is new is probably worth every penny (if handmade) and the older ones are priceless.
That sounds neat - have any pics of the process? 
Pics
I didn’t really start out making before and after as I should have. Sometimes I just took a shot before to remember, so as to preserve the original look. Sometimes I took a shot after because I was particularly pleased with the outcome. One pic is a knob end creation all my own. I have yet to master the art of the metal ferrule uniting the antler to the shaft, but I am bugging some jewlers here to teach me. The best antler piece I created using a brass ferrule is the one I decided to auction. In one of the pics is a “Zair” which I had to create a brass ferrule for which I thought turned out unique. I hope to learn to solder sterling and gold so that I may incorporate sentimental pieces. Here are links -hope they work.
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q375/stp_13/PuppyKnobend.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q375/stp_13/raywhipweb.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q375/stp_13/NicholeB4-1.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q375/stp_13/reducedpic.jpg
What I have been wondering, (and have not had my hands on an original to find out!) is whether the antler attachment to the wooden shaft is merely mechanical - ie, just that ferrule holding the parts together! Or, are the shaft and antler glued up first with some kind of mortise and tenon joint, or???
Having a background in leatherworking and saddlery, a shop full of tools and machinery, and done a bit of silversmithing WAAAY back when, I am fascinated by the lovely old antique hunt whips. Just cannot afford to buy them willy-nilly to experiment with, and there’s not a lot of hunting around my neck of the great wet woods
Edited to say - LOVELY work, BTW
Well, surprisingly there are many different approaches to the “union” as I call it. None of which were substantial enough to suit me. To anwer your question, I have taken apart Swaine, Zair and several “no name” to find that nothing more than a “peg” of the shaft or a peg of the antler that had been made to unite the two. I teach my horses to actually let me open gates off their backs and I use my whip to pull. I would not have trusted any of the ones I have had the pleasure to tear apart to hold together under that kind of pressure. Instead, if I have replaced an antler or built from scratch, I use a short section of threaded rod. I drill into the antler and the shaft (wood, bamboo or fiberglass). The hole (in both pieces) is small enough to nearly thread but large enough to take in some epoxy. The trick is to get the carved piece to come together level or at a right angle or whatever it takes to make it a smooth transaction underneath the collar (or ferrule). No one has been able to break my union thus far
Tell me what expenses (or tools) I might be considering to do a little silversmithing. All I really want to do is be able to solder, flare, reduce or otherwise taper.
Professional Huntsman Eleanor Hartwell makes hunt whips. See latest Coverside.
Wondering if you’d be interested in repairing my husband’s stag horn whip? The leather is cracking and we actually have electric tape wrapping the weak spot so it won’t let go…so sad to do that to such a beauty!
I e-mailed Eleanor about making repair on it last year but didn’t get a response so I don’t think she does that kind of work.
I enjoy the hunt whip I bought from her on line but my husband’s old whip is special and I would love to have it returned to it’s former glory.
That is really impressive. What a great idea. I have a very old whip, handed down through the family, given to a relative in 1886 by an Earl in Scotland, for whom he was huntsman. I still use the whip, but am careful about cracking it!
Can you plait the thong and lash too? I am interested to hear what price you get for your retored whip. Can you post it on here? I can’t always get the selling websites.
I’d love to try!
phoebetrainer and MapleMeadows,
I have PM’d you both. Pricing is difficult. So far it has been a labor of love and I didn’t ask anything for the work. It is a learning experience and I adore holding those 150 year old things wondering where all it has been. For now pricing would be humble because each one I have the opportunity to look into teaches me something. I strive for extreme durability so that they may be put back into service. I also enjoy knowing the history and the type of rider the owner is. I try so hard to put all that into the work. I can’t plat the thongs but sometimes I can salvage them with dignity. I can also simply replace it with a new and matching one. I don’t want to break the solicitation rules here but if you send me some pictures and desired outcomes, I will try. Feel free to email me directly oxford@mindspring.com and we can discuss it. Spam filter is on but I will watch for subject lines about whip repairs.
Wow–when I read the title of this thread I wondered: what challenge would there be in hunting crops, since crops are pretty sedentary…then I thought that perhaps that would be the best way for Drummer and me to start off, since it would lessen the risk of a spill somewhat.
So I anxiously look here and it’s not about hunting crops but about hunting crops. Humph.
OTOH, what a cool skill to have, stp!
I’d love to see
Those of you who have one that is in disrepair, I would still love to see a picture of it. I sort of collect pics for ideas. Send links of anything you have or see unusual too.
Perhaps I could make a suggestion as to what to do if you want to try yourself. Phoebe, I have a special rubber tape I use on those thongs that blends in well, takes on the shape of the plaiting underneath and seems to last really well.
stp -
I would love to see some more photos of work you are doing - especially of the horn/shaft junction. Glad you told us how that joining is so fragile – I certainly won’t use my horns for pulling gates anymore!
A while back I thought I’d try my hand at making a whip (or two) when I found one 1/2 rack (Whitetail deer) in the woods. I’d already replaced the worn-out thongs and re-wrapped the string on my two antique whips, so I knew how to do that. I had scouted out some nice cherry tree and hickory branches as whip shafts and was going to start the project when someone told me you can’t use whitetail antler because the bend isn’t correct. I saw they were right, and that kinda put the skids everything.
I tell you where one is
I pm’d you, go see and you can find a picture of one.
[QUOTE=stp;3360075]
<SNIP>
Tell me what expenses (or tools) I might be considering to do a little silversmithing. All I really want to do is be able to solder, flare, reduce or otherwise taper.[/QUOTE]
I will PM you with longer boring dissertation on the silversmithing aspects!
I like your thinking on joinery from handle to shaft - epoxy is a wonderful thing. They make stuff nowadays that can even return rotten wood (think punky antique boats) to usefulness.
What a fascinating subject! Thank you!
Kate
