Author Topic: Old family horn  (Read 4351 times)

Offline Bigmon

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Old family horn
« on: October 12, 2017, 10:11:48 PM »
I'll post this in hopes of getting an interesting conversation started.
This horn was my Grandfather's which he have me in the 60's.  (1960's)
The story always was that it belonged to my Great Great Grandfather who was a civil war vet.
As I became more knowledgable of history stuff (not spelling)I think that though it was his horn, he did not actually use it during the civil war. As a union soldier in the east, he would of had a standard musket as well as paper rolled cartridges, etc.  Very few soldiers of that era carried horns.
Anyway, as I became more interested in the long rifle, etc I believe this to be an early large horn.  Plain as it is, I think it may be Rev War era, maybe even earlier.
I am eager to hear opinions of those far more experienced than I.
As for the furnace chain on it.  That's how my Pap had it and I am not going to remove it, even though it basically ruins the look, being from an old coal fired hot air furnace.
He put it in there sometime during his life as that's all he had.  Who am I to remove it.
Regards to all








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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2017, 10:59:01 PM »
Well that's very cool
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Joe S.

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2017, 11:52:07 PM »
Your lucky to have a piece of family history,many folks don't have anything other than stories, memories.Good on you :)

Online Tim Crosby

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2017, 12:07:41 AM »
 How long is it, 17-18 inches? Could have been a horn for a musket/fowling piece, thinking the need to carry more powder or it could have been a storage horn. Based on the size of the tip it would be hard to use to prime a flint, at least it looks that way to me based on the one Pic.
 Lots of possibilities but we will never know for sure. The natural butt looks well done, over-all neat old horn, Great color.
 Thanks for posting it. We could see more of them that are stuck in boxes, hung on backs of doors, over fire places, hidden in a drawer, sock, etc...

  Tim C. 

Offline rich pierce

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2017, 12:38:15 AM »
Excellent and timeless working man’s horn. By size alone it is likely early, pre 1800.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Top Jaw

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2017, 01:29:15 AM »
What is the approximate size of the spout opening?  Often musket horns had larger openings.  This one looks smaller from the picture.  (Like maybe just over a quarter inch).  But that might be a camera angle.    You can check it with drill bits to get an approximate size.  I agree, the size alone, tends to point to an early horn.  Haven't studied that many supply horns.  They may have had a smaller opening to make it easier to fill other horns from.

Offline Bigmon

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2017, 04:13:08 AM »
here are a couple more pics until I can get those dimensions ya want.
It's really not quite as large as it looks in the pics.
Glad ya like it.
I had supposed it to be early and for a fowler type or musket.
But we'll never know.






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Offline rich pierce

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2017, 05:28:12 AM »
If you measure it along the outside curve I bet it's 15" or more.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Rick Sheets

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2017, 04:27:27 PM »
My vote is that it is an early musket or fowler horn. Pre-1800.
I like it!

I am conflicted about the chain. I would probably leave it too.

How nice it is yours as you can keep it safe.

Rick
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Offline Bigmon

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2017, 06:53:07 PM »
Thanks for your comments.

I have to ask you, did you know a dear friend of mine that has passed on.
Phil Cravener??
I sure miss him.  I believe he was a member of your organization?

I am also aquainted with Roland Cadle.
Regards

Offline Doc

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2017, 07:34:09 PM »
Have you carried it yet?  I would have to carry it on at least a hunt or two just to keep the tradition going.

GREAT piece of family history.

Doc

Offline Bigmon

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2017, 10:39:45 PM »
Ya know, I have not.  But that is a great idea.
It has a crack in it but I could just tape that and carry a little powder and not lose much if any.
Or just carry it empty.
I/m gonna do that here when I hunt this year.
Thanks for that idea.

We have no family history or tradition of it past old John Hysong (of the 54th PVI CW veteran).
But I believe it;s allot older than that.  And it looks like the original rear plug.
Who knows how long it was in his family before that.
They were early German immigrants. (legal)

Offline Rick Sheets

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #12 on: November 09, 2017, 11:33:35 PM »
Thanks for your comments.

I have to ask you, did you know a dear friend of mine that has passed on.
Phil Cravener??
I sure miss him.  I believe he was a member of your organization?

I am also aquainted with Roland Cadle.
Regards

I did not know Phil well. Some of the guild members had a Manhattan story or two to tell on Phil. He was a heck of an artist in horn and carving.
He was very nice to me. The last time I saw him I took this picture...
http://www.hornguild.org/in-memoriam/philip-w-cravener/

Roland Cadle? Everybody know Roland I think. He is one of my favorite people. He started our guild.

Thanks,
Rick
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Offline Bigmon

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Re: Old family horn
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2017, 01:51:42 AM »
Thanks for adding that link.
Phil was a great guy and I miss him all the time.
Darned shame he had to go so early.
I spent many a time in his basement shop or at his camp.
I also know his father Merle pretty well.
Great guy also.
Thanks again