Have always claimed that I was not much of a collector but a hunter. Well I still lean that way but getting harder and harder to convince myself that there is not a little bit of a collector in me. I have been messing with trumpet calls since around 2013 or so. A mentor of mine used one for mainly tree calling so I had to have one. Bought a Joe Slaton English Walnut with corian mouth piece. My next call with a Billy Buice 6" Osage with push in 3 and 4 mouthpiece, at this point I was hooked. As the journey has gone on I have pretty much identified call makers I prefer and stick to buying their calls. I always enjoy trying new ones at Unicoi and pick up a couple that just cannot be left on the table. You never know who is hunting around you and you never want them to have a really good call.
Over the years I have had and have a few white whales that I am trying to locate. Most of these white whales are what I feel are pieces in trumpet call history, nothing close to what someone like Mr. Ellis would have, but calls I would love to take to the woods.
I was fortunate to catch one of my white whales recently by finding a Kenny Pedelahore wingbone. Was so much fun to finally get one and hunt with it after being on the lookout for a few years.
Some white whales I am still chasing are a Rev Farmer call, a Billy Buice flat top 5-1/2", and an older Frank Cox trumpet, the slimmer design. I doubt I catch many if any of these white whales but that will not stop me from looking and dreaming.
Anyway, what are your white whales? Does not have to be something crazy rare or overly expensive? Just what is that call that you just want to put your hands on?
KP KOA
KP Green / Osage
Hagler
Dangerfield
Farmer
Newer Prudhomme
That's my list. Ha ha.
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Quote from: afhunter1 on September 20, 2023, 02:31:48 PM
KP KOA
KP Green / Osage
Farmer
Newer Prudhomme
That's my list. Ha ha.
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Strong list!
Added a few more. Ha ha
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Quote from: davisd9 on September 20, 2023, 02:29:11 PM
Have always claimed that I was not much of a collector but a hunter. Well I still lean that way but getting harder and harder to convince myself that there is not a little bit of a collector in me. I have been messing with trumpet calls since around 2013 or so. A mentor of mine used one for mainly tree calling so I had to have one. Bought a Joe Slaton English Walnut with corian mouth piece. My next call with a Billy Buice 6" Osage with push in 3 and 4 mouthpiece, at this point I was hooked. As the journey has gone on I have pretty much identified call makers I prefer and stick to buying their calls. I always enjoy trying new ones at Unicoi and pick up a couple that just cannot be left on the table. You never know who is hunting around you and you never want them to have a really good call.
Over the years I have had and have a few white whales that I am trying to locate. Most of these white whales are what I feel are pieces in trumpet call history, nothing close to what someone like Mr. Ellis would have, but calls I would love to take to the woods.
I was fortunate to catch one of my white whales recently by finding a Kenny Pedelahore wingbone. Was so much fun to finally get one and hunt with it after being on the lookout for a few years.
Some white whales I am still chasing are a Rev Farmer call, a Billy Buice flat top 5-1/2", and an older Frank Cox trumpet, the slimmer design. I doubt I catch many if any of these white whales but that will not stop me from looking and dreaming.
Anyway, what are your white whales? Does not have to be something crazy rare or overly expensive? Just what is that call that you just want to put your hands on?
I have 2/3 of your white whales. The 5.5" Buice flattop and the older Cox. Neither are for sale though.
My white whale would be an all ivory Buice or Cox call, a farmer call or the 25th anniversary Billy Buice set. I have the 40th and 50th already and would love to have all 3. I had a chance to pick one up a couple years ago and drug my feet on it and it sold. Ugh.
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Lot's of good trumpet builders... I tell people it's amazing the sounds of turkeys that each builder has and what sounds he puts into his trumpet / callers ....
Quote from: Greg Massey on September 20, 2023, 03:52:29 PM
Lot's of good trumpet builders... I tell people it's amazing the sounds of turkeys that each builder has and what sounds he puts into his trumpet / callers ....
X 2
I'm one of those hated collectors. I really wanted a Buckner Rose Engine and I finally found one but it cost me. I'm also always looking for more Buice calls.
Quote from: Bedge7767 on September 20, 2023, 07:06:40 PM
I'm one of those hated collectors. I really wanted a Buckner Rose Engine and I finally found one but it cost me. I'm also always looking for more Buice calls.
Them collectors are not so bad. Lol. Those Buckner's are top shelf
congrats on the KP bone! I finally was able to get a Buckner Rose Engine secondhand-a beaut
Cox African Blackwood and Ivory
Buice Osage Flat Top with corian made for Dwain Bland
Larry Hearn prototype call would be a treasure
White Whales already acquired: two personal hunting calls of Lewis Stowe. Including the Davis style yelper he used to kill his last gobbler.
I recently received my White Whale after a call maker friend of mine made a trumpet for me out of a material I didn't think I would ever see from him. Nothing else at this point is on my want list.
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Farmer
Buice flat top
Hegler
Maybe another hornstra
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Quote from: Ranger on September 20, 2023, 10:38:19 PM
White Whales already acquired: two personal hunting calls of Lewis Stowe. Including the Davis style yelper he used to kill his last gobbler.
That is a couple big fish for sure! Congratulations!
I could probably come by your house and grab a couple of mine...;)
But at the top of that list would be one of Rev Zach's.
Quote from: PharmHunter on September 21, 2023, 10:37:54 AM
I could probably come by your house and grab a couple of mine...;)
But at the top of that list would be one of Rev Zach's.
We all need to quit talking about it and meet up to run some calls.
Some great white whales out there. Thanks for taking the time to converse and not just shoot out a generic answer.
If someone has some white whales outside the air operated calls feel free to join in by the virtual fire!
The white whale of getting to hunt with the Henry Davis Greener gun like Mark Prudhomme did or hunting with the original Jordan call like Tim Beech, would be very cool
I'll take a hunt with Larry Proffitt...& just soak things up like a sponge
Quote from: ejacks10s on September 22, 2023, 09:07:31 AM
I'll take a hunt with Larry Proffitt...& just soak things up like a sponge
That would be a heck of a hunt!
I liked his book. He attends Unicoi.
I am fairly new to air operated callers so my list still includes some that are somewhat easy to obtain, but also some harder ones.
I want a matching set of Buice's in Osage.
I have a long list of more models I hope to get from Mr. Permar. It's almost impossible to get more than one a year now so this will take some time.
I, like everyone probably, would like a Farmer.
I have no white whales anymore. I have been on the Farmer list since 2007. Ain't gonna happen and didn't really care after I got a couple of Cox trumpets. Did almost buy a well worn Neil Cost box from Wendell Lancaster one year at Unicoi. Think he was gonna let me have it for $750. It sounded really really good. But told myself I had some Mann and Harwell boxes that sounded just as good. Not into collecting anymore. Got too many as is. 25 boxes and 25 pots and 3 trumpets is enough.
Quote from: gaswamp on October 11, 2023, 03:22:13 PM
I have no white whales anymore. I have been on the Farmer list since 2007. Ain't gonna happen and didn't really care after I got a couple of Cox trumpets. Did almost buy a well worn Neil Cost box from Wendell Lancaster one year at Unicoi. Think he was gonna let me have it for $750. It sounded really really good. But told myself I had some Mann and Harwell boxes that sounded just as good. Not into collecting anymore. Got too many as is. 25 boxes and 25 pots and 3 trumpets is enough.
Obviously you need more trumpets
I typically send wood to call makers, but I'll take just about anything from KP, Prudhomme and Dangerfield. Those are the 3 makers I really want a trumpet from now. To make it harder, I'm not one to buy calls in the secondary market. It's from the maker or nothing for me.
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Quote from: Gobbler428 on October 11, 2023, 06:10:56 PM
Quote from: gaswamp on October 11, 2023, 03:22:13 PM
I have no white whales anymore. I have been on the Farmer list since 2007. Ain't gonna happen and didn't really care after I got a couple of Cox trumpets. Did almost buy a well worn Neil Cost box from Wendell Lancaster one year at Unicoi. Think he was gonna let me have it for $750. It sounded really really good. But told myself I had some Mann and Harwell boxes that sounded just as good. Not into collecting anymore. Got too many as is. 25 boxes and 25 pots and 3 trumpets is enough.
Obviously you need more trumpets
no not need but want. I probably wouldn't mind having one Buice. But should have gotten one of them ten years ago.
Mine is a Holy Land Olive wood from Billy Buice. Bubba
I want a Mike Battey trumpet...
Have enjoyed the thread guys! Only issue is y'all may be adding to my white whales! :toothy12:
Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on October 12, 2023, 05:05:13 AM
I typically send wood to call makers, but I'll take just about anything from KP, Prudhomme and Dangerfield. Those are the 3 makers I really want a trumpet from now. To make it harder, I'm not one to buy calls in the secondary market. It's from the maker or nothing for me.
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Nothing wrong with want directly from builder. I prefer that as well, but some white whales or just great calls have been found thanks to secondary market. Secondary market also builds some friendships.
Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on October 12, 2023, 05:05:13 AM
I typically send wood to call makers, but I'll take just about anything from KP, Prudhomme and Dangerfield. Those are the 3 makers I really want a trumpet from now. To make it harder, I'm not one to buy calls in the secondary market. It's from the maker or nothing for me.
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Good luck. Going to be difficult.
Quote from: davisd9 on October 13, 2023, 07:28:52 PM
Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on October 12, 2023, 05:05:13 AM
I typically send wood to call makers, but I'll take just about anything from KP, Prudhomme and Dangerfield. Those are the 3 makers I really want a trumpet from now. To make it harder, I'm not one to buy calls in the secondary market. It's from the maker or nothing for me.
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Nothing wrong with want directly from builder. I prefer that as well, but some white whales or just great calls have been found thanks to secondary market. Secondary market also builds some friendships.
I don't disagree at all. Getting calls from the maker is just my hang up.
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Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on October 14, 2023, 08:42:22 AM
Quote from: davisd9 on October 13, 2023, 07:28:52 PM
Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on October 12, 2023, 05:05:13 AM
I typically send wood to call makers, but I'll take just about anything from KP, Prudhomme and Dangerfield. Those are the 3 makers I really want a trumpet from now. To make it harder, I'm not one to buy calls in the secondary market. It's from the maker or nothing for me.
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Nothing wrong with want directly from builder. I prefer that as well, but some white whales or just great calls have been found thanks to secondary market. Secondary market also builds some friendships.
I don't disagree at all. Getting calls from the maker is just my hang up.
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I have a large number from one maker. Most have been second hand, some directly from the maker. The ones directly from the maker hold a more special place in my heart for sure.
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