Most descriptions say a scourge of cords which is just a bunch or ropes or cords connected by a single handle. However, after spending the time making that, he never actually hit anyone with it. He's described as throwing over or dumping the money exchangers tables. Knocking over the pigeon sellers chairs and shooing out the oxen, sheep, and they're handlers. I presume this because the pigeons were in cages and would have flown away but the sheep and oxen would have been stuck in the courtyard. The money exchangers would have been forced to stop their business and pick up all they're coins. All the while this irate man is yelling and waiving about a weapon, quoting religious laws that they're breaking and basically shaming anyone who let them do business there.
This is an interesting and delightful sentiment, but occam's razor would suggest Jesus simply picked up a whip/braid of cords as the society used them commonly for animals and slaves. In a location as phenomenally busy as the Temple (essentially the religious and cultural center of the city that had become the economic center as well) it would make sense that these items would be present in abundance.
Dry anger?