Seeing as how I already owned a Cronk Killer Call, a Cronk Cowhorn howler, and a Cronk Buffalo Horn howler, I just had to ask the old master to do a call revision for me, which he gladly agreed to. I had a crow call made by Darrell Gibson of North Carolina, made of beautiful Bocote wood, which is native to Costa Rica. Since I didn't use it much for crow hunting, I asked Rich to take a look at it and see if he could revise it and make it into a compact howler, and boy did he ever do a job. I can't explain the technical stuff he did, but the call is only 5 1/2" long and sounds exactly like I had hoped, especially for high pitched howls and coyote distress sounds. I am posting a picture of it, and I don't think you will have any trouble seeing why I am so happy with Rich's work. Once again, he has been helpful to me, and I will never be able to thank him enough.
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Possumal/CronkRevisedHowler004.jpg)
That should do it Al...... :yoyo:
Good lookin call for sure, Al. :congrats:
Now that ya got that new howler ya probably don't need one of them old Cronk's anymore. I'll pm ya my address, 'ol buddy. :biggrin:
Thanks.
Semp
Semp: You have cleared up some confusion for me. Instead of being an old fart, you are all heart! :highclap:
Whats that big glued back together crack down the side from? :confused:
:roflmao: Kiddin.
Looks good from here :congrats:
Jim: If Rich had some way of making a copy and putting a crack in it, he may have done it to jerk my chain a little. When it comes to working on those calls, he is really careful and precise though. When he turns one out, it is ready to do the job. :highclap:
Cool stuff. Now put that baby to good use. :thumb2:
I agree Al. I've got a couple Cronk Calls in my stash. They live up to their name.
Jim: I'll tell you something else about the old master that you probably already know; he can blow hell out of all those calls he makes too. Somehow, it don't seem right for him to be able to do all those sounds, using just his voice, and then be able to make and blow hell out of his calls too. I know Wylie Coyote would agree. :yoyo:
"I know Wylie Coyote would agree." I don't think many that Rich has called say anything - at least not anymore. :shck:
Jerry
Quote from: possumal on June 15, 2007, 07:29:01 AM
Semp: You have cleared up some confusion for me. Instead of being an old fart, you are all heart! :highclap:
If ya noticed in that other thread about Rich's bio, I edited out the 'ol fart references. Some 'ol farts don't like being referred to as 'ol farts. Didn't want Rich to take offense. As for me, I'm an 'ol fart AND Bopeye's dad. :biggrin: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Semp: I am an old fart myself, older than Rich. As for you being Bopeye's dad, that is a good thing as far as I am concerned. I may have to quit calling Rich the Old Master, since I am older than him. Damn, this stuff gets confusing! :hahaha:
I'm really NOT Bopeye's dad. That's just what he called me cause I called him son. But I wouldn't mind being his dad if he didn't already have one. :biggrin:
Now I am confused. Who am I? I need to look at my driver's license again. :confused:
testing avatar
Quote from: Semp on June 15, 2007, 02:19:21 PM
I'm really NOT Bopeye's dad. That's just what he called me cause I called him son. But I wouldn't mind being his dad if he didn't already have one. :biggrin:
Now I am confused. Who am I? I need to look at my driver's license again. :confused:
You're my online dad......... :eyebrownod:
Still confused? :wink:
Quote from: Rich on June 15, 2007, 02:38:45 PM
testing avatar
I don't see your avatar yet, Cronkster.
I will ask Jim to help me with that later. I have put the information in my profile 3 times to no avail. I am obviously not as smart as the bulletin board. :confused: Test #4
I DONT have a Cronk Call :sad: :sad: :sad: BUT Maybe one day I will get one? I have heard nothing BUT GOOD about ALL of the Cronk calls :congrats:
Bob
Bob,
You need to get one. They are easy to blow and you can make great sounds.
Jerry
Rich, I forget what percentage do I get for selling your calls?
Quote from: Hawks Feather on June 16, 2007, 07:23:59 AM
Bob,
You need to get one. They are easy to blow and you can make great sounds.
Jerry
Bob
I'll second that as I have a couple. A call collection is not complete without at least one Cronk call, imho.
Bob
Nice looking call.
I received the following E mail from Possum Al today.
From: coyotepossum57@adelphia.net
Subj: A funny coincidence
Message:
Hey THO Al: I thought it was one weird coincidence that happened lately. I sent a Darrell Gibson crow call, made of Bocote wood, to Rich Cronk to modify into a compact howler. He did so, and I made a post on FinsnFur Forum and put a picture of it in there. It is amazing how similar it is to your "Classic" call. Small world, for sure?
Hope you are well
End of Message
PosumAl,
It is why I call the my call "The Classic". It is the classic shape and design that has been around for years. Even the brass band that adorns my Classic version is nothing new to game calls. And it is why I have never claimed this call as an original design, only as the original brass banded predator call (the red desert howler has a brass band on it, but, it is, a howler)
So thank you PossumAl for noticing the simulates. It is nice to know that there are callers out there who appreciate the work and study that I have put into my call making efforts and appreciate my honestly in calling it a Classic, as it is, and for not claiming it as my own.
Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com
Beautiful work on beautiful wood is a hard combo to beat. Your calls rank right up there at the top. I envy anyone who can take a wood lathe and do that nice work to provide someone else to have a call to be proud of. It was just a case of blind luck me having this crow call that worked out so well as a compact howler, and awfully nice of Rich to take his time to revise it for me. :highclap:
I met Rich back in 98 at th shade tree message board. I don't know of many who have contributed as much knowledge to the sport as freely as he has. None of the call makers that were in existance at the time and not many since have sent me prototypes to try out and critique, Rich did. He had the faith in me and my abilities to see what his calls could do.My original Cronk calls are still the main calls on my string and the only open reed calls I use to this day. I have owned and still do own many others but they just don't stack up for dependability and the hard use I have put them through.
He has been there when I had trouble figuring some things out in my own hunting. A true friend and sounding board for any question in my mind I could come up with. He has helped me figure out many things and discussed any tactic I could come up with in my miind to take out several hard to kill animals. I just wish I could pack up and go visit with Rich and maybe take one of those trips to texas with him before we both go to that happy hunting ground.
All of you have heard of th Cronk Killer call, But very darned few of you know about th Killer Jr. He only makes these upon request now ,but for a change in pitch and all the versatility of the killer it cannot be beat. In fact the second one I ordered sounds even better than th prototype he sent me all those many years ago. A man with a Killer Call Special and a Killer Jr doesn't need any thing else in the woods.
Thanks for all you have done Rich. Jimmie in Ky
Jimmie in Ky ,
Thanks for all of those kind words. I feel like I'm about out of gas now but iffen I ever get up enough steam, I would love to make a stand or two with ya. :wink:
QuoteMy original Cronk calls are still the main calls on my string and the only open reed calls I use to this day.
I will vouch for Jimmy on that. I have had to hear that Cronk call for the past five years at the LBL. :eyebrownod:
Yep, and he's usually the one shaking his head and trying to figure out how all that racket is made :eyebrownod: Jimmie