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I just bought a walnut burl Hambone call that was turned by the late Howard Amaden of Lonoke, Arkansas. Does anyone know anything about these calls and how can I tell how old it is (style, materials, etc.). Any info would be appreciated. It has a brass band (some of the later calls did not). There is no decal on the call (some did and this one may have at one time) so I do not know what grade it is.

I have a green bois-de-arc Hambone with a brass ring and a decal. According to the letter in the box with the call, Mr. Amaden sent it to me on 8/23/81. Hope this helps to narrow it down a little.

SoftCall, I just dug a little deeper in the box. The 1981 price list that came with my call lists:
Standard Call; cherry, walnut, cedar and other native woods $12.50
Custom Call with metal band; same woods as above $15.00
Custom Call with metal band; boise-de-arc, rosewood, exotics $20.00
Custom Deluxe; cherry, cedar, walmut $20.00
Custom Deluxe; boise-de-arc, rosewood, and other exotics $25.00
Green boise-de-arc and coco bolo $30.00

Griz

Thanks Griz. It's cool to know he sent those letters with his calls. My guess is that my call is a Custom or Custom Deluxe. Does anyone know when he quit turning calls?

Softcall, I might know just a little about Hambones. And you have seen firsthand what they will do in the cypress brake! I think that Howard Amaden died in the 1980s. I bought the call that I still use today in 1978 from the old York Arms store in Memphis. As I recall, it cost about $20.00.

Hambone - that's good to know. The only info that I have found on Howard Amaden is that he passed away in 1996 at the age of 82. I don't know when he stopped turning calls.

here is a pic

It looks like one of his earlier calls...

I saw a Hambone call listed on ebay yesterday and the current bid was $152. It was in good shape but did not have the metal band. Don't know what kind of wood it was. I think the listing expired last night as I couldn't find it this morning.
Griz

Softcall, that one looks just like mine! How does it sound?

how does it sound?

with softcall blowing it... aint no doubt how it sounds! damn fine and ducky... them central flyway ducks aint gotta a chance!

I am checking the mail box every day...should be here any day. I'll post up a report ASAP. The dude I bought it from said it had a good cork and reed and was in great working condition. I'll totally change all of that out and tune it to my liken'