One of the most popular action heroes of the century, Indiana Jones cuts a dashing figure in an ensemble that practically anyone can use any day of the week, provided they leave the revolver and bullwhip behind, that is.
The Indiana Jones bullwhip lends a dangerous yet domesticated aura to the man himself. After all, the bullwhip is not really meant to handle people and animals in real life. The possible injury it can cause is enormous; the sound it creates when cracked is what is intentionally used to intimidate animals in order to control them.
The bullwhip is one of the oldest weapons of man. It was originally used to dominate and propel cattle and slaves into action. Skill is important when using one, to avoid inflicting pain on the whip holder himself.
Also used by masked hero Zorro, the whip has become an integral part of Indiana Jones’ attire. Think of the Indiana Jones getup and the following items come to mind:
- the inevitable fedora,
- shirt and pants usually in a shade of brown,
- leather jacket,
- boots,
- gun in holster, and of course,
- the even more inevitable bullwhip, which the Indy character will definitely be incomplete without.
Once the skill to handle a bullwhip is acquired, what is not to like about it? It is handy, can be coiled easily and worn on one’s person, can be concealed easily underneath a jacket, and will not set off security alarms.
The Indiana Jones bullwhip is used not only as a weapon, but also as a handy tool. As a young man, Indy used it to drive away a lion. As he grew older, he used it to pull levers, swing over chasms, snatch his enemies’ own weapons, and even lasso his loved ones - truly a versatile piece of equipment.
Whether you are a collector of Indy Gear or want to add a bullwhip for a costume, a genuine leather bullwhip is durable for play or even cracking practice. A 10” bullwhip with a sturdy 6” wooden handle is just what you’ll need to mimic America’s most loved archaeologist.
The first Indiana Jones bullwhip used in Raiders of the Lost Ark was made of kip, which is the leather from young cattle. David Morgan, one of the foremost whip makers in the US, normally used kangaroo hide, but at the time the first Indy installment was being made, all kangaroo products were embargoed, so he had to search for an alternative.
It is interesting to note that the whips for all the movies were all natural tan in color, and varied in length, depending on the stunts they were going to be used in. The standard length, however, was eight to ten feet. A special child’s whip was also created by Swayne, Adney and Brigg’s for the scene depicting Indiana as a youngster, wherein, inadvertently, the much loved relic-hunting, fedora-toting, whip-cracking action hero was born.
