Bull's Pizzle

[Essentia]

Any of you rawhide guys make these? or anybody know where to buy them?

Cheers

Tony

[Essentia]

Any of you rawhide guys make these? or anybody know where to buy them?

Cheers

Tony

This is photo of one, I'm just interested in the brown twisted shaped leather end rather than one with the rubber handle added......?????????????????????

Tony

[millwright]

You might give Tejas industries a call at (806)364-0951, ask for Bill Confer. He might could hook you up. I'm sure you could go to your local slaughter house and have them set aside a bull/steer stick for you. You'd have to let it dry of course and I'm not sure if there's any special method for drying a pizzle that's any different than regular rawhide. The good thing about this is you could stretch it to whatever length you wanted, or stretch it to have whatever twist you wanted to it.

There's people here that are better able to answer this question than me, but just my 2 cents worth as to where I'd start looking.

[oldtimer]

You might find them in a pet store? I found a batch of dried bulls pizzels in the local pet store. They are sold as chewing toys for dogs. ( I don´t think the buyers know what they serve their dog ! )

[rawhide1]

I just got some bull buffalo pizzles. I'm going to have a go at drying them. Not to sure as to the method as I can't find much on them. I know I will need to insert a rod to help it stay stiff(no pun intended) But it will be touch and go as far as twisting it and drying it. I'll let ya know how it turns out!!!

Mike

[Essentia]

I just got some bull buffalo pizzles. I'm going to have a go at drying them. Not to sure as to the method as I can't find much on them. I know I will need to insert a rod to help it stay stiff(no pun intended) But it will be touch and go as far as twisting it and drying it. I'll let ya know how it turns out!!!

Mike

Apparently you just tie it up hang some weight from it and let it dry out natural for a few weeks, but thats a big apparently as I've no experience of it.....I'll look forward to seeing how you get on....

Tony

[millwright]

So you got your buffalo! Yeah, keep us informed how it goes with all of it.

[jimsaddler]

Apparently you just tie it up hang some weight from it and let it dry out natural for a few weeks, but thats a big apparently as I've no experience of it.....I'll look forward to seeing how you get on....

Tony

Pizzles should be salted with Rock Salt and a long piece of Spring Wire threaded through while they are still wet. the thick end is secured strongly into a rafter or similar with the wire protruding then the thin end is secured to an Anvil or similar weight with plenty of room for it to stretch the Pizzle as it dries 2ft is enough. Rub Salt into it every day and scrape off the tissues gradualy back to flesh and a good shape. If you want a twisted effect simply bind with Copper or Brass wire when you hang it. don't use stell wire as it will stain. It takes at least a week in hot weather up to months in winter. I used to finish off with a sludge of Alum rubbed into the Flesh about midway through the Drying. When Dry Cut the wire to lenth and put a dob of solder or weld on each end. Varnish to preserve it and you should have the Best Handle you can get. They used to be refferred to as Sinew Crops and I've seen some that were over 140 years old and still perfect.

Kindest Regards.

Jim.

[rawhide1]

Jim

Thanks for the instructions. I have one I haven't messed with yet. I think I probably ruined the other one. I'll do the the other one by following your instructions. What happens if ya don't salt them and what is and were do ya get alum.

Thanks, Mike

[rawhide1]

millwright

I did get the hide. I got it stretched today and fleshed. I'll start working on dry scraping the hair tommorrow as I didn't get everything gathered to use the water method. I'm taking pictures as I go along.

Mike

[jimsaddler]

Jim

Thanks for the instructions. I have one I haven't messed with yet. I think I probably ruined the other one. I'll do the the other one by following your instructions. What happens if ya don't salt them and what is and were do ya get alum.

Thanks, Mike

Hey Mike

the salt is to pull the Blood out of the Pizzle and preserve it. The Alum salts are used in old fashioned Tanning it also preserves. Tannin (Tan Bark solution or very strong Tea) can also be used. This stops the tissue swelling in wet weather and the Varnish seals it in.

Kindest Regards. Jim.

[HorsehairBraider]

You used to be able to buy alum at a drug store. I don't know if you still can, I haven't bought any for a while. But that's where I would try first. Failing that, try some place (perhaps online) that sells fibers to spinners; alum is used as a mordant in dyeing fiber.

[megabit]

I think a septic pencil is alum, you might need a lot of them though.

[Hilly]

Stupid question:

Is a pizzle what I think it is?

[Suze]

Stupid question:

Is a pizzle what I think it is?

Yes - Hilly

a bulls "pizzle" is his boy parts - the long one, not the big round ones.......

Grin

[leatheroo]

lol...thanks for asking that question hilly...i was about too....

[Hilly]

Oooooooh, OUCHY OUCHY OUCHY! Not to mention having a wire stuck through it and an anvil hanging off the other end! That's just wrong in so many ways!

[leatheroo]

lol, and then the leatherworker plays with it and makes shapes with it....lol lol

[tonyc1]

lol, and then the leatherworker plays with it and makes shapes with it....lol lol

There may be certain types of females around the world that would like to use the wire and the anvil!!!

Tony.

[Tawse]

Pizzles should be salted with Rock Salt and a long piece of Spring Wire threaded through while they are still wet. the thick end is secured strongly into a rafter or similar with the wire protruding then the thin end is secured to an Anvil or similar weight with plenty of room for it to stretch the Pizzle as it dries 2ft is enough. Rub Salt into it every day and scrape off the tissues gradualy back to flesh and a good shape. If you want a twisted effect simply bind with Copper or Brass wire when you hang it. don't use stell wire as it will stain. It takes at least a week in hot weather up to months in winter. I used to finish off with a sludge of Alum rubbed into the Flesh about midway through the Drying. When Dry Cut the wire to lenth and put a dob of solder or weld on each end. Varnish to preserve it and you should have the Best Handle you can get. They used to be refferred to as Sinew Crops and I've seen some that were over 140 years old and still perfect.

Kindest Regards.

Jim.

Hello,

I have just joined the site hence the late entry. I found your entry incredibly helpful. I tried to fashion a pizzle by curing it with salt. I did not try to stretch it - which was probably a mistake. I did not use a wire rod but the pizzle dried out to resemble an inflexible walking stick. I did not scrape it as it dried but was advised to 'fashion it, once dried, with a spoke shaver. Although this produced a decent shape, I now know that it would have been better using a safety skiver. I oiled the finished product with neatsfoot oil but its flexibilty was lost. I did not use alum (I am not sure how this alters the finished product) although I do know that it is used in tanning. This was probably another mistake.

I was going to try again with dried pet shop pizzles but they are oven dried and I thought that this would alter their tissues to the extent that they would be useless. Any comments please?

I recently aquired a Victorian Pizzle - see pic - I wonder if their methods matched your own. The end result is most impressive.

John

[jimsaddler]

Hello,

I have just joined the site hence the late entry. I found your entry incredibly helpful. I tried to fashion a pizzle by curing it with salt. I did not try to stretch it - which was probably a mistake. I did not use a wire rod but the pizzle dried out to resemble an inflexible walking stick. I did not scrape it as it dried but was advised to 'fashion it, once dried, with a spoke shaver. Although this produced a decent shape, I now know that it would have been better using a safety skiver. I oiled the finished product with neatsfoot oil but its flexibilty was lost. I did not use alum (I am not sure how this alters the finished product) although I do know that it is used in tanning. This was probably another mistake.

I was going to try again with dried pet shop pizzles but they are oven dried and I thought that this would alter their tissues to the extent that they would be useless. Any comments please?

I recently aquired a Victorian Pizzle - see pic - I wonder if their methods matched your own. The end result is most impressive.

John

Hi John

the Alum tightens the outer Fibres and actually Tans them. I also have steeped Pizzles in the Tan Barrel for a few weeks and then stretched and Dried them the same way They turned out quite well also. Sorry I cant find your picture I'd love to see it.

In the late 50's I was lucky enough to work in the Hide House in the Meat Works, Tenterfield Nth NSW. The Boss of the Hide preparation (Old Bob) knew all about Preparation of Pizzles, Tails, etc for Whip Handles and that was my intro to the Art. Bob always had a few on the go for Ringa's who wanted them I recall that he preferred older Bulls as they were thicker and so had more Flesh to work with. ( Ladies please don't take offence). He also told me that therewas an old Whippy who actually Smoked Pizzles in his Chimney as he stretched them. Unfortunately I never saw the end result, but was told they were the best as they were waterproof when finished.

My Tan Barrel used to be used for Cow Tails, also for whip Handles. I simply used to soak the Skins from Cow Tails (pulled off in one piece without splitting) in Lime Barrle for 3 days or so till the Hair slipped of then washed them in a mixture of Chook Manure and Bran and Water then simply chuck them into the Tan Barrel (dried Wattle Bark or Iron Bark smashed to a pulp and very hot water poured over it in the Barrel) for a few weeks until the Tan soaked through the Hide. Then washed them in Soapy water and wrapped them in wheat Sacks to keep them Moist until I could fit them onto Cane Handles to dry. When nearly dry Neatsfoot or Dubbin was worked into them and rubbed with a rough Hessian or Canvas to polish a bit. To get the Knob on the end I'd drive 3 or 4 tingles into the end of the Handle and whip Tarred Twine arround to form a nice Knob. The wet Tail was stretched over this and onto the Handle as far as it would go. To clinch the Tail on the Knob end, Twine was bound very tightly close up to the Knob end. When dry this was cut of and the Knob end remained closed. Some Tails were long enough to cover the whole Whip Handle cane, some were not the long ones were simply strtched full length and also bound tightly and cut off when dry. the shorter ones were pulled as far as they could reach and bound firmly till dry and shaved off neatly then a simple ring knot plaited over to make it neat. Sorry I've rambled on a bit, I hope this will help.

Kindest Regards.

Jim Saddler.

[Tawse]

Hello Jim,

Thanks for the info which I found fascinating. The idea of smoking the pizzles as they stretch is a revelation to me. If you drop me your email (I am joxbrough@hotmail.com I would be happy to send you a pic of the Victorian Pizzle. Its a great shame that the art of making them was not written down. Thanks once again for the info.

Best wishes,

Jonh

Hi John

the Alum tightens the outer Fibres and actually Tans them. I also have steeped Pizzles in the Tan Barrel for a few weeks and then stretched and Dried them the same way They turned out quite well also. Sorry I cant find your picture I'd love to see it.

In the late 50's I was lucky enough to work in the Hide House in the Meat Works, Tenterfield Nth NSW. The Boss of the Hide preparation (Old Bob) knew all about Preparation of Pizzles, Tails, etc for Whip Handles and that was my intro to the Art. Bob always had a few on the go for Ringa's who wanted them I recall that he preferred older Bulls as they were thicker and so had more Flesh to work with. ( Ladies please don't take offence). He also told me that therewas an old Whippy who actually Smoked Pizzles in his Chimney as he stretched them. Unfortunately I never saw the end result, but was told they were the best as they were waterproof when finished.

My Tan Barrel used to be used for Cow Tails, also for whip Handles. I simply used to soak the Skins from Cow Tails (pulled off in one piece without splitting) in Lime Barrle for 3 days or so till the Hair slipped of then washed them in a mixture of Chook Manure and Bran and Water then simply chuck them into the Tan Barrel (dried Wattle Bark or Iron Bark smashed to a pulp and very hot water poured over it in the Barrel) for a few weeks until the Tan soaked through the Hide. Then washed them in Soapy water and wrapped them in wheat Sacks to keep them Moist until I could fit them onto Cane Handles to dry. When nearly dry Neatsfoot or Dubbin was worked into them and rubbed with a rough Hessian or Canvas to polish a bit. To get the Knob on the end I'd drive 3 or 4 tingles into the end of the Handle and whip Tarred Twine arround to form a nice Knob. The wet Tail was stretched over this and onto the Handle as far as it would go. To clinch the Tail on the Knob end, Twine was bound very tightly close up to the Knob end. When dry this was cut of and the Knob end remained closed. Some Tails were long enough to cover the whole Whip Handle cane, some were not the long ones were simply strtched full length and also bound tightly and cut off when dry. the shorter ones were pulled as far as they could reach and bound firmly till dry and shaved off neatly then a simple ring knot plaited over to make it neat. Sorry I've rambled on a bit, I hope this will help.

Kindest Regards.

Jim Saddler.

[Tawse]

I just got some bull buffalo pizzles. I'm going to have a go at drying them. Not to sure as to the method as I can't find much on them. I know I will need to insert a rod to help it stay stiff(no pun intended) But it will be touch and go as far as twisting it and drying it. I'll let ya know how it turns out!!!

Mike

Hi,

I would like to know if your attempt at stretching and drying a pizzle was successful. Jim's instructions seemed to be very valuable.

Best wishes

John

[rawhide1]

Hi,

I would like to know if your attempt at stretching and drying a pizzle was successful. Jim's instructions seemed to be very valuable.

Best wishes

John

John

I did get one dried. It turned out alright I didn't stay after it like I should have so it shrank away from the copper wire. I haven't sanded it or sealed it yet. It's still hanging in the shed as I haven't had time to mess with it. If I get time I'll post a picture in the day or two.

Mike

[Tawse]

John

I did get one dried. It turned out alright I didn't stay after it like I should have so it shrank away from the copper wire. I haven't sanded it or sealed it yet. It's still hanging in the shed as I haven't had time to mess with it. If I get time I'll post a picture in the day or two.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Pleased to hear it was successful. Did you use alum at all? It might be worth applying some neatsfoot before sealing it with shellac or varnish.

John