Canadian Buffalo Powder Horn

[Notchy Bob]

I found this interesting horn while browsing the collections database of the National Museums of Scotland:



I thought at first the two holes near the carved tip might be insect damage, but now I believe there might have been a staple, originally.  There appear to be some subtle facets carved or scraped in the upper body of the horn, starting right below the carved spout but gradually fading out toward the base, which adds a nice artistic touch.  A flathead wood screw is in the base plug, for securing the carrying strap.  The butt plug itself looks like some variety of softwood to me.

This horn doesn't look very old... Either that, or somebody took really good care of it.  The horn was reportedly listed in a catalogue published in 1979, so it's at least that old.  They were also a little vague about exactly where it came from.  Here's the description:  Powder flask of carved bison horn, the wooden stopper carved with the initials 'J.B.': North America, Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta or Manitoba, Athabaskan

I thought it was an interesting and nice-looking horn, regardless.  Here is a link to the NMS webpage:  Powder Flask of Carved Bison Horn

Notchy Bob

[Bob McBride]

Very interesting. Definitely staple holes. Love the facets. this one'll give some of our horners here some ideas. I'm familiar with Athabascan culture growing up in Alaska but I wouldn't have associated powder horns with them for some reason. Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[Pukka Bundook]

V nice horn.
More recent, as Alberta and Sask. were part of the North West territories, not named at such when horns were in regular use.

Richard.

[Clark Badgett]

V nice horn.
More recent, as Alberta and Sask. were part of the North West territories, not named at such when horns were in regular use.

Richard.

I don’t think any of that is carved on the horn. Just ‘JB”
‘