Ive noticed that the Lynches Jet Slate strikers new and old all have a charred tip.
I also have a Dad's Do-Dad that also has a charred tip on the striker.
What is accomplished by charring the tip? Not sure why I' e never thought to ask all these years, just always thought, "because it is."
There must be a reason.
Walt Whitman
SC Gobbler
Every second you are in contact with a mature gobbler, events and circumstances take place, any one of which could have a direct bearing on your losing the game.
—Gene Nunnery
I have a lynch jet slate that I pulled out this year for the first time in a long time. it didn't sound right so I conditioned the slate and the tip of striker with scotch brite and definitely made it worse. I'm not sure what the charred tip is for but until I lightly charred it back myself it didn't sound right. I've never been real confident in it because it is so quiet and I rarely call to turkeys that are close (I'm sure they can hear it further than I think)
Well this may not have anything to do with it, but when people used spears way back when made of wood they would heat the wood to make it harder, could maybe be the same thing? Harder peg would play different than a softer one for sure.
i'm thinking that Sir-diealot is correct in stating that it would harden the tip of the striker,,,,,
I was told the same thing waaaaay back when someone gave me a call that was made like the Jet Slate and had the same peg. It was heated enough to turn color but not enough to burn it.
You can take a maple striker and burn the end of it and it will play a lot better on a slate ... i agree burning the end does make it harder ...
the original instructions for the jet slate say to sand slate and burn the tip of striker lightly
i usually use scotch brite on the slate and when i feel like striker needs to be conditioned, i sand it slightly and just barely char the tip with a lighter
I wondered the same thing...seemed odd to be charred like that.