Just acquired a Cheiftain Gold a few days ago, and I have a few questions. It is a large bore (3/4") heavy whistle. Finish has a few nicks in it, and the inside of the tube was coated in brass filings, cleaned up easily, but is this normal?
Also, when cold, the low B (first hole) is noticably flat (?) and comes into tune by rolling back the fingertip, half holing the first hole a bit. Tone improves greatly when the whistle is warmed up, is this normal?
Other than that it plays beautifully with a loud clear tone, although the 2nd octave really requires a lot of breath. Anyone have any similar experience with this whistle? All in all I am quite happy with it.
Most solid metal whistles are flat when cold. The metal expands when warmed up and makers take this into accound when tuning the whistle. You should always warm it up before playing.
About the filings, I am not suprised. Remember these are (were) made in a mashine shop to Phil’s specifications.
Yeah, all that is normal for a Chieftain.
Thanks guys, as my first non-cheapie I didn’t know what to expect or what is normal or what is a lemon. I like this whistle, plastic fipples just aren’t going to do it for me anymore.
Well, Chieftains are very tasty on hot summer days when mixed with water and sugar.
Chieftains are at the bottom of the heap when it comes to the high end whistles. You’d be much better off with a Burke, Overton, Water W, or Silkstone. Live and learn.
or an Alba.
Hey, you forgot the Jack Daniels!
You just can’t have lemonade without a bit of whiskey in the mix! 
I just got 14 cheiftain golds in D and so none of them had nicks or filings in them, where did you buy yours from?
Chieftains? These must be the whistles Paddy Molloney plays?
(runs for cover)
You’re a lucky man.
out of the 70+ cheiftains I got none of them had filings or nicks, a couple were a little tarnished but not too bad.
I just meant you got, like, 77 of the things. Like you can sleep on a bed of Chieftain Golds. Lucky devil, you.
Probably could, although my back would never forgive me
I got it from the Whistleshop. I ordered a regular Cheiftain D, but they were out of stock, and Thom was nice enough to let me have the Gold for the same price instead.
I am very happy with it, it plays beautifuly. I was cocerned with the tuning at first, but Bloomfield clued me in to the fact that metal whistles need to be warmed up first, and that did the trick.
I am not concerned with the finishing (there are no sharp edges or anything), and the inside cleaned up easily. I guess whoever does the final finishing at the “mashine” shop was asleep at the wheel that day.
Illuminatus- Have you decided on pricing for your cache yet? I assume they will be for sale and not just used for bedding! 
Heh-heh… funny: Dale’s gone for a while and coincidentally… 
Nonsense. I’ve washed off chips of metal from hand-made whistles, too.
Beside, what’s all this nonsense about man-made vs. machine made in (of all things!) aluminium whistles?
Show me please one whistle maker who’d make his own tubes, or laminate his own sheet metal… Or who’d drill the holes entirely with a file.
And what would be the superiority? I’d better have drawn tube than extruded–both industrial–rather than CNC drilled from rod, which would cost an arm and a leg and may provide inferior sound.
So, where does one draw the limit between “hand-made” in 21st century and semi-industrial? “Well, distinguo, distinguo, my son…” as would add the Jesuits?
AFAIK Mr Burke and O’Riordan, and a few others, are retired engineers or industry people, who applied their industrial designing, production and rationalization skills. And pretty heavy equipment when/where needed, buying ready-made subcomponents or pre-machined stock when available.
Same way, even for finish I’d choose anodizing or powder-coating any time rather than spray-painting.
Is a whistle “industrial” as soon as its holes are drilled with the help of a machine drill and an electronic tuner?
And, if “machine shop” is a no-no to you, then be consistent and do not limit your distinction to lower keys–start by junking all true penny whistles.
For myself, I’m more interested in the final result and sound.
That’s the main point!
Don’t let your pleasure spoilt by those who get a kick just dissing things they couldn’t do and people they didn’t meet.
Agreed Zub. Too much ado about stuff that is for the most part beside the point. Maybe custom is a better term than hand made. As an example, while watching this great motorcycle making show late one night, I noted that a renowned Calif custom bike maker was making the fantastical wheels by placing drawings of the finished product into a computer which then directed the actual metal cutting to the drawing specs by a machine, with outrageously beautiful made to order results. He also orders premade parts elsewhere depending on the type of bike.
In custom knifemaking, there are generally two ways: hand forging or stock removal. Most can’t tell the difference from either looking or using once done. Now, there are purists, whose position I respect, who prefer a hand forged blade because more of the soul of the maker is in it, and some claim that the quality of hand forging at its best can’t be matched by stock removal at its best. Hand forging is a great art, but IMHO, its the steel and the heat treating and grinding of that steel that make the blade what it is in terms of edge retention, durability, etc. I too appreciate a forged blade more for intangibles and once in a while have one made by a great maker known to me. One should also never underestimate the amount of art/science and blistering hard work that goes into hand forging. However, perhaps the most beautifully balanced, differentially heat tempered, edge holding, work of art that is also a deadly weapon, that I own was made by stock removal process. The heat treating and grinding applied to the steel and the curve of the blade achieved without forging are realized only by hefting this amazing wakizashi.
Maybe only our in-house knife maker will appreciate (and possibly disagree with) most of the above, but I think the same applies to custom whistle making.
Regards,
PhilO
In knife making, in order to capture the soul of a knife, doesn’t it have to be plunged while still hot into a large slave’s body, to complete the forging process? I thought that’s how the higher-grade blades were made.
Glauber, I wouldn’t be surprised some shaman did it in older times.
Remember the ironsmiths are doomed as sons of Tubalcain, grandsons of Cain. They’re both outcast and respectfully feared at the same time in many primitive cultures.
In Europe middle ages, one actually made a blade by forging iron, then applyiing an organic material (usually, an animal’s horn) rubbed in on it while hot. This way, the core would remain iron, while the surface, and hence cutting edges, acquired hardness from carbon.
Oh-oh… should I have mentioned this, with one Serp’ hammering steel whistles around? 
yes!, there’s a full price list in the thread titled “Cheiftain Gold”, I’ve also got some up on ebay too.