The whip has been a versatile tool and weapon in cultures worldwide since the beginning of time. It has been used as an
implement for punishment, for controlling animals, for war, and, in recent years in the less talked about corners of society, as an
accessory for intimacy (we’ll let that use go without further discussion -- this is a family show). War whips were usually very
sturdy and flail-like. Most involved metal or stone tips attached via a chain or linking metal bars to a metal or wood handle. The
bullwhip, in the hands of an expert, can tear the flesh off bodies, pull objects out of a target’s hand, and in rare cases break
bones.
Interesting note: the reason a bull whip “cracks” is that during the swing, the tip actually breaks the sound barrier for a split
second as it is snapped back, producing a miniature sonic boom.