This is a horn that I had kicking around in the shop for some time trying to decide what it should be. I wound up paneling the front half of the horn. The band at the butt was one that I had in my drawer that fit almost exactly both in size and color. I turned the butt from a piece of Maple that hat some cracks and a knot that I wasn't really sure would clean up. I wasn't sure about the shape at first but Pam liked it so it stayed.
I had a black band that fit on the tip where I wanted it so I decided to try to get it to take the octagon shape of the horn. It went on fairly well but in trying to get it that last little bit-SNAP-it broke. I had a white band of the same size so it was used instead. I couldn't leave well enough alone and managed to break it too. The one on the horn now was a little bigger so fit farther up on the throat but I actually think I like it's position better than the original plan.
I was originally going to use aquafortis on the horn and plug but Pam won out and the horn was left in it's natural color. I used Laurel Mountain Forge Lancaster Maple on the butt and tip plug. I used black and brown shoe polish to kind of bring out the accents then sealed everything with Homer Fornby oil finish.
Overall I kind of like it. Pam is going to come up with a strap for it. I had planned on using a staple on the tip but I think I'll just use the band to retain the strap.
Steve