New old stuff

[B.Barker]

Here are a couple of items I picked up this past weekend. The axe has a little head like what we call bag axes but has a long haft on it. The horn is faceted with brass tacks holding the butt plug in. It has had several strap attachments but all are gone now.

[rich pierce]

Dang, wish I'd gotten there first.  2 great finds.  Can you show us a top view of the axe perhaps showing the welds if present?

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Interesting..I have an antique BIG horn with tacks like that holding the plug in....... Anyone know what period of history they were prominent in??

Oh that axe is sweet!!

[Tim Crosby]

 Yes indeed two great finds. What are the dimensions on the horn and is the stopper faceted too, is it horn?


 Thanks B., Tim C.  

[KennyC]

wow great finds but I am always 2 days late and 3 dollars short.lol

[B.Barker]

Rich, I'll try to post a photo of the top later. The eye looks like it was punched and is retangled in shpe.
Tim the stopper is four sided. I will have to measure the horn for dimensions.
This horn is a 19th century horn and I think the brass tacks were more popular in that century.

[Ahtuwisae]

Very nice finds.

[G-Man]

Brian - that is one really nice horn.    Some old horns just stand out from the crowd and that one does.

Tacks do turn up on some 18th century horns - I may be mistaken but I think I recall Wallace displaying a great Virginia horn from around 1780 with brass tacks.  Not real common but you do see them.  I can't recall the date when they changed over in style, but there is a distinct difference between early brass tacks and those made in the style of today.  The early style was very common on hide-covered trunks in the 18th century - i.e. their "luggage" of the day.  So it was common up until about 15 years or so ago for collectors and dealers to use these old pieces of luggage as a source for early brass tacks if they needed some for restoration of horns, etc.

Guy

[B.Barker]

I agree that brass tacks were used in the 18th century and on horns. However they don't seem  widley used(on horns) until the 19th century. I think they would have been  expensive for a plain horn in the 18th century. Could be wrong, I have never done any research on brass tacks being imported and cost of them.

[Tim Crosby]

 If I remember right early brass tacks were one piece, all brass with a square shank, some with a little swell and the heads formed flat, domed, diamond, etc… no hollow in the head.  I imagine the ones we use today came about some time during the Industrial Revolution (circa 1760-1850?), I would bet these are machine made. Could have been added anytime during the horns life.
  Tacks, how early…not sure but I have seen them on Colonial furniture, trunks and tack that have been documented.
 Here is a link to a source I have used scroll down the page and you will see nail and tacks:

   http://www.thetrunkshoppe.com/

 Tim C.

    


 PS: Thanks B.TC