I haven't posted much and with some time on my hands I thought I like to share the one area I love to do: look for antique powder horns. Not the ones you see in all the books (would if I could) but, rather those horns that, in my eye, have interesting characteristics and appear to be well made. Here are two such horns I've recently acquired and I love 'learning' from handling these horns. Both of these happened to have no butt plugs (the larger one has only a piece of the original) and likewise previous owners apparently re-filed the butt areas with maybe down the road fit new plugs, but never got around to it. Don't know, but interesting.
First lets take a look at the smaller horn. What strikes me is this appears to be a well cared for and was used. A great look at a honest, working powder horn. Looking at these two pictures you can tell where the original butt plug sat in the horn by looking at the dark area dirtied where the powder filled. The width of the 'white area' is no more than 5/16 so perhaps the original butt plug was at least 3/8 in thickness?
Also looking at the rim of the horn it looks as though someone took a file and tried to re-square up this area. Again, interesting.
This picture of the throat and tip area shows the 'chattering' as the builder used a knife or scraper. What causes the chatter? Perhaps not using a file first. I know if you only use a knife or scraper first you will get 'chatter'. Also the knife was a thin, flexible blade that might have done this as well as scraping 'against the grain'. Again, another honest characteristic I love to see.
In addition, you can see a wear area just below the tip that where the owner had a strap on this horn. Nice.
These next two pics of the sides tell a story as well. The first picture is much lighter in patina as opposed the 2nd picture indicating this was carried on the right side. Also, even though this horn oozes much patina, the previous owners took well of the horn as this is as smooth of a baby's bottom except where you can still feel the 'chatter' area. A nice working horn and hope to fit a piece of old growth wood and will look great with a southern applachian style pouch.
The well carved throat and tip is what drew me to this powder horn along with the piece of the original butt plug. Upon receipt I noticed it being very dry, but otherwise in great condition. I then applied a coat of pure lanolin over the horn and set aside overnight. In the morning I used a clean soft cloth to buff dry. The patina remained other than what was top surface dust and dirt otherwise what you see now is pretty much what it looked like before I started. Using modern wax concoctions normally have too much turp or other material that help them dry, but unfortunately they are also made to remove dirt and grime, etc thereby taking away most, if not all, acquired patina. A nice honest, working powder horn. As to the age??
These two pictures like the smaller one earlier show wear pattern on one side and not the other. Again, the owner was wearing this one on the right side as well.
The next two pictures show the nicely carved ring area in the throat and a good honest attempt at hornmaking. Perhaps the builder, though maybe not a professional horner, but probably a craftsman of some sort as he was used to using hand tools. A very nicely done job nonetheless.
Also, you can tell a strap was attached just above the carved double rings.
The best area is looking at what is left of the original butt plug. First, it's only ¼ inch thick!
Secondly, he used those brass tack with square shanks. This may help give us an idea how old the horn may be. Again, a very nice characteristic.
This last picture looking down into the cavity you note the lighter area. This is the translucent area reflecting the light above the horn that reinforces that the builder put a lot of time into this horn by scraping this thin. Another nice touch that we always can't tell. Enjoy.
Gary
