Question about custom box calls

[MS]

Without naming any names, do some custom call makers use milling machines or other automation to hollow their boxes and/or do checkering?  Just curious because some of the short and long boxes I have from some of the very best custom call makers are so perfect (e.g., not a single chisel mark or forstner bit point mark inside the box) that I've wondered if they used a mill-drill to hollow the box.  Same on checking -- some is so perfect that I find it hard to believe it was done freehand.  Just curious.

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

To answer your question, yes.  Guys use everything from CNC to laser engravers and so on.  This is a huge argument/debate I will not get into.  On checkering there is always ways to tell.  As far as bit marks and other details that just depends on the maker and his preferred methods and the way he likes his calls to be finished.  One way or another a computer, machine, whatever cannot and will not EVER spit out a hen turkey.  Without proper tuning by the ear of someone who knows what a hen sounds like then all you have is a pretty wooden paperweight. 

[Gobbler2577]

Probably 15 years ago I sold one to a fellow who later told me he was using my box as a pattern for his duplicating machine.  I couldn't believe it.  For a long time after I asked folks if they intended to copy it.  I don't want one that's machine made, but rather one that was carefully made by hand.  If a fellow doesn't want to see evidence of tools in a box he doesn't want one of mine.  When tuning you stop when the sound is right regardless if you can see bit marks or an accidental slip of a chisel.

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[Brantley]

I've wondered the same thing myself. i build box calls, and I can only assume that some of the custom boxes I've seen were obviously done with the aid of machinery. Don't get me wrong, I use a palm router to thin the walls and a cove bit to finish the bottom of the box to clean up the forstner points. I also thought that perhaps some guys have built layout jigs to put on the checkering (something to guides the chisel angle and depth). I personally use a gun checkering tool and a set of needle files. I can't seem to get it done with a chisel. All that being said, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Happy hunting!