Oddball striker question

[compton30]

For one reason or another, I've been wondering about two striker woods that no one seems to talk about. Yew and Holly. I don't think I've ever seen a yew striker but I have seen a one piece Holly made by Halloran.

Anybody have any experience with either of these two as strikers?

My follow up: How receptive are call makers having you send them striker blanks to be made into strikers?

[JLH]

The Stuckey guy on ebay makes a holly striker....never seen a yew.
I'd imagine yew would be pretty darn soft....may be similar to mountain laurel or rhododendron....which most of the friction competition callers use for a kee kee striker.

I have a hand carved laurel striker.....its not awesome....but it purrs like a chanp.

Holly is about as hard and as dense as walnut, so in my opinion, not a fantastic striker wood for yelps and cutts....may make a nice soft striker....like a harder version of a cedar.

[Spitten and drummen]

The Stuckey guy on ebay makes a holly striker....never seen a yew.
I'd imagine yew would be pretty darn soft....may be similar to mountain laurel or rhododendron....which most of the friction competition callers use for a kee kee striker.

I have a hand carved laurel striker.....its not awesome....but it purrs like a chanp.

Holly is about as hard and as dense as walnut, so in my opinion, not a fantastic striker wood for yelps and cutts....may make a nice soft striker....like a harder version of a cedar.

This is spot on right here. I had a holly striker from a well known maker and I had it all of 2 days. Was too light and soft to me. Off to another home it went.

[bobk]

I had a holly striker. It was not for me, very soft and light. I gave it to a freind.

[HookedonHooks]

I've used Holly and wasn't a big fan of it.... my favorite soft wood striker would be Dogwood by far, but even at that, it's not gonna be a go to for me or a striker I feel I need in the vest.

[compton30]

I've used Holly and wasn't a big fan of it.... my favorite soft wood striker would be Dogwood by far, but even at that, it's not gonna be a go to for me or a striker I feel I need in the vest.

I have a Cox Dogwood striker I like a lot. Never seems to make the cut though

[Sir-diealot]

The Stuckey guy on ebay makes a holly striker....never seen a yew.
I'd imagine yew would be pretty darn soft....may be similar to mountain laurel or rhododendron....which most of the friction competition callers use for a kee kee striker.

I have a hand carved laurel striker.....its not awesome....but it purrs like a chanp.

Holly is about as hard and as dense as walnut, so in my opinion, not a fantastic striker wood for yelps and cutts....may make a nice soft striker....like a harder version of a cedar.

He also has a web site if you are interested. https://obsessioncustomcalls.mysimplestore.com/

[compton30]

The Stuckey guy on ebay makes a holly striker....never seen a yew.
I'd imagine yew would be pretty darn soft....may be similar to mountain laurel or rhododendron....which most of the friction competition callers use for a kee kee striker.

I have a hand carved laurel striker.....its not awesome....but it purrs like a chanp.

Holly is about as hard and as dense as walnut, so in my opinion, not a fantastic striker wood for yelps and cutts....may make a nice soft striker....like a harder version of a cedar.

He also has a web site if you are interested. https://obsessioncustomcalls.mysimplestore.com/

Lmao thanks. I'm aware of who Derrick Stuckey is though.

[Sir-diealot]

The Stuckey guy on ebay makes a holly striker....never seen a yew.
I'd imagine yew would be pretty darn soft....may be similar to mountain laurel or rhododendron....which most of the friction competition callers use for a kee kee striker.

I have a hand carved laurel striker.....its not awesome....but it purrs like a chanp.

Holly is about as hard and as dense as walnut, so in my opinion, not a fantastic striker wood for yelps and cutts....may make a nice soft striker....like a harder version of a cedar.

He also has a web site if you are interested. https://obsessioncustomcalls.mysimplestore.com/

Lmao thanks. I'm aware of who Derrick Stuckey is though.

You're welcome.

[BTH]

Done the 1 piece holly thing and tried a 2 piece holly with some different weighted and light tops. Also ran some some with drilled out tops. Was not a fan.
I want to try a dogwood though. I will tell you Daddy Rat's (strut zone) Paul's 1 piece maple is the best soft talker striker I have ran. It will get some volume to it as well if need be. But offers lots of control for the close work.