Bull's Pizzle

[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

[rawhide1]

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

John

I didn't use alum I just hung it from the shed rafters with a concrete block on the end for weight. I'll try and get a picture up.

Mike

[rawhide1]

John

Here's a couple of pictures. Like I said I haven't sanded it or anything else yet. You can see where it shrunk from the wire. I'm not real happy with how it turned out but it's my own fault for not staying after it. I think the next one I try will be from a young bull this one was from a big old bull.

I plan on sanding it down and using it for a putter handle or possibly a couple of quirt handles.

Mike

[Tawse]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the pics - I am impressed. I think that the age of the animal must have a major effect on the finished product. Did you wash it in brine or some form of sterilizing solution before starting? Did you use alum at any point? Here is a pic of another Victorian Pizzle - its rather like flexible bone.

Good luck with the next one

John

Here's a couple of pictures. Like I said I haven't sanded it or anything else yet. You can see where it shrunk from the wire. I'm not real happy with how it turned out but it's my own fault for not staying after it. I think the next one I try will be from a young bull this one was from a big old bull.

I plan on sanding it down and using it for a putter handle or possibly a couple of quirt handles.

Mike

[rawhide1]

John

I didn't wash it in anything or use alum at any point. I do believe this would be somewhat flexible if I hadn't inserted the rod. I would like to learn more on this so this is a welcome discussion. I would be very interested in knowing your results when you get one done.

Thanks, MIke

[jimsaddler]

John

I didn't wash it in anything or use alum at any point. I do believe this would be somewhat flexible if I hadn't inserted the rod. I would like to learn more on this so this is a welcome discussion. I would be very interested in knowing your results when you get one done.

Thanks, MIke

Hi Mike

to get an effective dry you must salt the Pizzle to draw the Blood out of it. Also the Tissue mus be scraped off entirely as it drys as it will dry and pull the whole thing hap-hazardly as it can be seen from your picture. The wire core is to maintain a backbone for good shape. Old Bulls are the best if prepared properly, young dry away to nearly nothing (inexperience I suppose). The Twist is done early in the process, 2 or 3 wires are used for best effect. To scrape the Tissue away a piece of broken Glass is very good. THE TISSUE MUST BE REMOVED AS IS DONE IN ANY LEATHER OR RAWHIDE PREPARATION!

I hope this helps, I'll try to remember to get a few Pizzles after my big Fishing Trip and do them to jog my Memory as its now 30 years since I last produced them.

Kindest regards.

Jim Saddler.