Turky Calls Pot stile?

Hello

My name is Mike, Mostly I just read all the post on the forum and hardly ever chime in. but I have some questions.

Recently while surfing the net I found some interesting turkey calls. Recently having moved to SW Indian from The SF Bay Area I have now experience with turkey hunting but want to learn. While surfing the net looking for Info. I discovered some turkey calls I had never seen before. There are some calls called friction pot calls.

My question is this. . The call consist of what appears to be a sort of shallow turned bowl about 4 inch in diameter and one inch high.

with a piece of slate, glass, copper, or aluminum mounted inside, I even found a place to get cheep precut insert pieces.

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apparently you rub the inserted surface with a small turned stylus, making turkey sounds.

After doing a quick search of the net, I found lots of them for sale on the net.. Some with covers, some with more than one scratching serface. some with holes on the back to expedite the sound?

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are good examples of some of the nicer ones. What amazes me it the prices the guy is charging. 50-150 each!

Now these things look easy to make. my idea is to make some up and take to the local gun show. perhaps with some other types of calls, and lanyards Etc.. and pens (made of Deer antler)

But there has to be something I am not seeing. they cannot be a simple as they look and bring the prices people are getting. has anyone made any of these calls or others? Is there some special tricks or Tecs that might help.

there must me a catch. something I am not seeing. even the plain ones I found are 30-50 bucks Any input? If not... A guy could make a killing at 12 to 15 bucks each... Think I will stoke up the wood stove in the shop and get to work...

Reply to
Mike Harvey
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In looking at the sites you included, I noticed a few things that may affect function and price -

- The calls that I could see on the blueridgecalls site all appeared to have an image of a turkey engraved or laser etched on the surface - nice touch, adds both to cost and price. Does it add to the sound?

- The picture of the back of the call at blueridgecalls shows a series of holes - I assume for sound transmission, but who knows. Is the slate inset in the top of the call, like a drum, with an air void between the slate and the bottom of the call, or is it set down onto the bottom of the call? Either could affect sound transmission.

- The blueridgecalls site talks about a "hand turned flared tipped striker", but he never shows the tip. I assume the shape, size, texture, and "flare" affect the sound - can you get one to look at somewhere?

I've told a number of my engineering students that the secret to selling a new product is to tie it to hunting, fishing, or cars. I think you'd be able to sell quite a few, but you'll have to get one to work for a demo - if you can make the turkey call work at a show, they'll probably sell.

Good luck!

Ron Williams Minn-Dak Woodturners Moorhead, MN

Reply to
Ron Williams

There is more to making a turkey call than just turning the "pot". Here is a site that has a lot of information and some great folks to help you get started.

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are a few other sites, but this one shoud give you more than enough toget started. I suggest you go to the message forums and get involved with thediscussion group on turkey calls. There are also some links to sites that havethe supplies you will need to make your calls. Al THO Game Calls

Reply to
THO Game Calls

I have made both box calls and slate type calls. Either one are quite easy to make. Making them sound realistic is a little more difficult. I've even turned handles for strikers and made my own. You can buy slate calls for as little as $8-10 and as high as you are willing to pay for custom made ones. If you have other questions feel free to ask and I'll do what I can to help.

Reply to
Bruce Litherland

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