[Matthew.loftis]

I've had dozens of these over the years. My last true old OLT was misplaced by a friend before Kirk could cut it. In exchange, he gave me one of Kirk's prototype calls that never made market. It sounds great. I blow it when I go. I also have a KM "cutdown" acrylic that needs a reed and hasn't been used at all. Got that from a guy that couldn't blow a cutdown. He started cutting the reed and it got harder to blow so he sold it to me cheap.

I have definitely gotten dizzy blowing an old OLT. But, I will say this... a good OLT with a tight-fitting insert (or tape) that's cut right with the right length reed is NOT that hard to blow. It doesn't take near the air a bad cut or short reed takes. Mostly just backpressure. Wish I still had all the OLTs I let go over the years.

I've tried BSOD, DFB (which was exhausting to blow), DJ calls, Mondos, KM calls and modified versions of several the aforementioned. It's hard to beat the right OLT be it roundhole or keyhole. That OLT bounce is impossible for me to replicate on most other "cutdowns" available today.

 

[Matthew.loftis]

You don’t have to turn the barrel around backwards to get the sound.

The folks I started out with didn’t unless the right end wallowed out on the old hard rubber calls.

Agreed; but, if you turn it around and smooth off the edges, it lets me get my lips on it better. When I blow it the correct way, looks like someone hit me in the face while I was drinking a bottled coke.

 

[Matthew.loftis]

Are we still talking about blowing duck calls?

I am. Just gotta make sure you get the fat end up to your mouth.

 

[Matthew.loftis]

Here’s a tip for anyone running an old Olt…

If you are hunting with an old Olt keyhole, please take some electrical tape and tape around the barrel and then around the insert. As you know there is no good way to put the second lanyard loop on an Olt D2 insert.

My keyhole insert fell out hunting in some cattails and fortunately I was able to find it. I immediately went home and ran black tape around every one I own.

Might save someone some heartache!

Plus, it'll close up those air gaps in them old cheap OLTs