Early Powder Horn Attachment Method?

[Jennison]

Hi, I've noticed a small number of early horns (c 1750) having holes bored through the sides at the base down through the wood base plug.  I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this as perhaps a method of strap-attachment (as opposed to a lobed horn) and if so, whether you have examples to show.  I've drawn crude (sorry) pictures of what I think strap attachment might have looked like and also include a photo of an original.  I just haven't haven't had the pleasure of seeing enough horns to know if this was a practice.

Many thanks, Jennison

[rich pierce]

I’ve seen it. I thought one of my horns had this feature but I must have traded it. I wonder if some kind of wire loop was used here.

[mr. no gold]

You see in in a very small percentage of early NE horns, for example. Most horns had a pierced lobe or other attachment device. Drawer pulls, nob and loop can be found. Good observation Jennison and thank you for drawing out attention to this. Should get some more comments here on the subject.
Dick

[Jennison]

More examples:

[Jeff Murray]

Scott Sibley's book on Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn has a picture of a replica of an original horn.  The replica shows both carving on the horn, scrimshaw and the plug angle drilled for the strap.

[Tim Crosby]

 I've seen them done like that, not many, maybe as a repair when the lobes or finial have been broken off or the staple has broken or come out. Also, instead of a loop the strap can be split then the two ends are pushed through and knots tied in each.

  Tim

[T.C.Albert]

I have seen holes drilled that on several old horns, but these had simple wire loops as Rich says. 
Tim A

[Jennison]

In the book "American Powder Horns" by Stephen V. Grancsay (1965), there is a chapter on New England horns.  Reference is made to a 1753 horn in which "one end of the
shoulder cord passed through two holes in the plug and two corresponding holes near the edge of the horn."  In the same chapter, reference is made to a 1764 horn where "two holes at the base of the horn and two corresponding transverse holes in the base plug indicate where the [cord] was secured."

Jennison

[rich pierce]

In the book "American Powder Horns" by Stephen V. Grancsay (1965), there is a chapter on New England horns.  Reference is made to a 1753 horn in which "one end of the
shoulder cord passed through two holes in the plug and two corresponding holes near the edge of the horn."  In the same chapter, reference is made to a 1764 horn where "two holes at the base of the horn and two corresponding transverse holes in the base plug indicate where the [cord] was secured."

Jennison

Also in The Engraved Powder Horn by Dressler there are quite a few like this.

[Rajin cajun]

Here are a couple of horns from two different parts of the US that the maker or owner couldn’t decide which method to attach strap. The large horn was found with a Eastern Fowler, it has the holes through horn and buttplug, and staple above holes on horn and staple on plug.
Second horn was a horn belonging to the Leblanc family from French Settlement, La. It has the holes in horn and plug, but has a single iron ring in one hole and the evidence of a nail hole for attachment on plug. These fellows covered all bases.
The antler plug on the smaller horn was on the horn when found, the leather holding it on is new.
Bob









dice roll simulator

[JBJ]

The horn with two staples shown by Cajun - the one staple in the end plug may be a later addition. To me it has the appearance of being a Romex staple. I'm sure that old horn could tell some tales!

J.B.

[Bob Gerard]

Good stuff here, thanks for starting this topic. Great examples of some wonderful old horns!

[JohnnyFM]

JBJ, my thoughts as well. Appears to be an electric wire staple. Could be pre romex but still a manufactured staple.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I do not have any images but I have used this method on several horns.  You are right, it does seem to be an earlier horn feature.  For smaller horns I have done one hole and it worked fine to.

Cory Joe

[jdm]

I ran across these pictures today. This horn was owned by a Rev. war soldier and dated 177-- . The rest of the date is gone to time.

[jdm]

[Pukka Bundook]

I started a thread on one like this down the page here.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=74400.0

In my case, the wire had been fed through the horn , out through the base plug, and wrapped around a nail which was then driven in flush binding the wires tight.