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Indiana Jones' (Harrison Ford) eight-foot bullwhip, belt, and whip holster from Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the third installment in the legendary series. Indiana Jones' bullwhip is inseparable from the character himself; more than just a prop, the bullwhip became a signature tool in Jones' arsenal - used not only for action and escapes, but as a creative extension of the character's quick thinking and improvisational style. Its snap and coil are instantly recognizable to audiences around the world, making it one of the most enduring and evocative props in modern film history.
The bullwhips for the Indiana Jones trilogy were famously created by master whip maker David Morgan as part of his 450 series of bullwhips. Morgan whips of lengths ranging from six feet to 16 feet (whips are measured from the butt of the handle to the end of the braided portion, before the fall and cracker) appeared in the films, particularly Temple of Doom and Last Crusade. This hand-braided leather bullwhip is an eight-foot model; the eight-foot whips were most frequently carried on the belt, while the 10-foot models are believed to have been used for swinging and cracking. The eight-foot whips were likely used more than 10-foot whips in Last Crusade, as the whip had more screen time on Ford's belt than in his hand.
While some bullwhips may have been re-used across multiple films, this whip was specifically ordered for the production of Last Crusade. Its distinguishing features are its red-brown color, the tighter-cut weave pattern on the handle, and the slightly shorter handle length of approximately 7.5" (measured from the butt to the top of the upper handle knot). This is consistent with other documented Last Crusade whips, including an example that was donated to the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
In addition to the bullwhip, an original "Indy" whip belt and whip holster are also included. Both were custom-made for Last Crusade. The ensemble has been together as a set since filming and includes a production tag marked "Indy's Belt - Whip for Rideaway Sc." Small pieces of metal wire are wrapped around the whip holster, as well as the body of the whip, to hold it in place. This system was used by the props team to ensure the whip would not come loose in the holster, and similar wire ties can be seen in production photos from the film. The whip shows dark markings to the leather where the wire tie was installed, and additional dark markings at another point on the body where a second wire tie was likely present at some point. The whip can be removed from the holster without altering the wire ties by uncoiling and retracting it from the holster.
This fantastic set was originally obtained during the filming of the motorcycle chase sequence shot in Northern California, near Mount Tamalpais. It is a classic Indiana Jones action sequence and one of the most memorable parts of the film. A call sheet from that shoot dated Feb. 15, 1989 is also included. The red prop tag is original to the filming on that day, though it is not known whether the "for rideaway scene" inscription is a reference to the motorcycle chase, or possibly the "ride into the sunset" shot from the end of the film that was scheduled to be shot two days later in Texas. The additional photography in the US was some of the last material shot for the film, and this whip, belt, and whip holster set may have also been used for filming earlier in production, such as during the location shooting in Spain or for stage work at Elstree Studios outside London.
This is one of the finest Indiana Jones bullwhips ever offered at public auction - one of the rare eight-foot models known to exist, and the only example accompanied by both the original belt and whip holster. These additional elements not only stand on their own as significant costume components but also serve to further authenticate the set. Included are the original production prop tag and call sheet from the time it was acquired during filming. Carefully preserved by a single owner since production, the set remains in excellent condition. Also included is a custom metal display stand. A specific Letter of Provenance will be provided to the winning bidder. Dimensions: (complete whip uncoiled, including wrist strap, fall, and cracker) 131.5" x 1.5" x 1.5" (334 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm)
Estimate: $250,000 - 500,000
View all lots from INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989)
View all lots from INDIANA JONES - ALL ITEMS