Dr. Henry Walton Jones Jr., better known as Indiana Jones, is one of the most iconic action characters. An American professor of archeology, his persona blends old-school charisma and with an appealing sense of humor. Clad in his infamous fedora and leather jacket, Jones goes on adventures around the world while his fans watch on in suspense.
One of the most iconic parts of Jones’ persona is his whip. It’s ironic how the love of his whip contrasts with his deathly fear of snakes. He uses this bullwhip to swing, climb, and as both an offensive and defensive weapon. It’s essential to his character, and as he says, “Rule number one: never leave whip at home.”
How Did Indiana Jones Get His Whip?
Stunt director Glenn Randall was the mastermind behind Jones first using a whip. In the film The Last Crusade, a young Indiana Jones is trying to escape a villain chasing him for the Cross of Coronado on top of a circus train. Backing away, he falls through the ceiling into a bed of hay. He looks up and is confronted with a large, male lion. He frantically backs away and looks to the whip hanging next to him on the wall.
As the lion approaches roaring, Indiana cracks the whip and slashes his own chin. He then cracks the whip at the lion a few times, and it retreats. He is able to retrieve the cross from the floor as his adversaries appear in the overhead hatch. One yells for him to toss the whip, and Indiana is able to climb it as they pull him up. Once safe from the lion, a snake crawls from his sleeve, distracting the villains so he can escape.
On future adventures, he used it to disarm guards, protect himself from thieves, and even to climb eventually. He ultimately vowed to take it on all his missions as he saw how often it could save his life and be useful in difficult situations. With much practice, he became skillful enough to use it to climb, pull levers, and grab items from afar.
What Is Indiana Jones’ Whip Made Of?
Renowned whip maker David Morgan has made whips for The Mask of Zorro and Batman Returns. He also made over 30 whips for the Indiana Jones franchise. The whips were between 6 and 16-foot lengths, with 10 feet being the most common. The design of the whip as inspired by the classic American design but with an Australian braiding technique. This made using the whip more durable and comfortable for stuntmen.
The whips were originally made from kangaroo leather. When kangaroo hide became unavailable do to embargoes in 1974, calf hide was used. Regardless, the whips were always naturally tan in color and made by hand.
The interior bolster of leather gives the whip its shape and strengthens it. A layer of leather is plaited over that. Another bolster covers that before the 12 wide strips of leather are braided to make a strong outer shell.
The cracker, or knot, varied in length and size and was often made from black nylon thread. The whip’s eight-inch handle contains a wrapped stainless steel spike. The made the whip stronger, more weight-bearing, and easier to handle.
The whip has seen small improvements over the years. These changes have only been made to the loop and the core and the whip’s shape. The most obvious difference in the shortened handle for better stability.
How Was the Whip Used?
The actor most famous for playing Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, took whip lessons before making his first film. Western film star Lash LaRue was an expert at the whip and taught Ford how to bullwhip. He also worked with stuntmen to perfect his technique. He also practiced on his own and quickly mastered the quick snap of the whip.
Ford’s background in tennis gave him an advantage in the motion. He has said that the trick to correctly cracking the whip is a combination of relaxation, snapping at the wrist, and perfect timing. Ford would go out and practice with different whips on trees and posts. He would practice for a few weeks before starting a new film to refresh his skills.
How Has the Whip Changed?
Like the character of Indiana Jones, his whip changed and improved through the films. The whips changed in width, length, and features were added. But the tan color and braided design remained constant.
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the majority of whips came from stunt coordinator, Glenn Randall’s inventory. The whips were likely made from kip hide. The handles were thinner and shaped differently than the ones in the later films. The handle knot is moved, making the handle appear longer.
David Morgan was then asked to make the whips specifically for the filming of The Temple of Doom. The whips for this movie were made from kangaroo hide, and were slightly darker than the previous ones. They also received a decorative ring at the end of the slightly longer handle.
The bullwhips in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were also made by David Morgan. They were still made from kangaroo hide but overall bulkier than previous whips. They featured had a thicker handle and less of a taper at the end.
Where is Indiana Jones’ Whip?
You can find Indiana Jones whips for sale and display across the world. These props collect major bids at auction! A whip Harrison Ford used in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom went for over $58,000. And a bullwhip from The Last Crusade fetched nearly $94,000.
But you don’t have to spend big bucks to purchase a quality bullwhip of your own. You can also purchase a David Morgan whip of your own for around a thousand dollars. High-quality and accurate replicas can be purchased for just under $200. You can find quality replicas at an even lower price on Amazon!
Conclusion
The bullwhip is a huge part of the Indiana Jones lore. Its history and evolution of its use are interesting and complex. And in a genre full of guns and swords, it is arguably the most fascinating weapon in action films. The famous whip has been replicated and duplicated all over the world.
What started with a stuntman’s idea turned into a prop collector’s dream. This iconic movie weapon is iconic for its versatility. Its uniqueness is a perfect match for the quirky character that carries it. It is a huge part of the image of Indiana Jones and has become an infamous part of his appealing persona.