Lancaster horns

[Dan Herda]

How was the rope design that is common on Lancaster horns created originally and how do present day makers create this?
Tia for any help


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[Eric Kettenburg]

Looks like two rings turned on the lathe when the butt is being turned, and then a shallow gauge the width of the rings used to make chip cuts in between the two rings all the way around.  Probably while the butt is still mounted on the lathe, I'd assume, as it would be the easiest way to hold it I would think.

[Tim Crosby]

 If you can find "The Book Of Buckskinning II" page 146, there is an article about how to carve the "Rope".

   Tim C.

[Dan Herda]

Thank you both for the reply.

[Top Jaw]

The Book of Buckskinning 2 is covering a York county horn rope carving.  Which is a relief carved rope, which is a different technique from this incised type of carving on a Lancaster horn. 

[Tim Crosby]

The Book of Buckskinning 2 is covering a York county horn rope carving.  Which is a relief carved rope, which is a different technique from this incised type of carving on a Lancaster horn.

  In that case it may have been pressed in not carved. I was working from some old notes and not thinking, My mistake.

    Tim

[Joe Stein]

I just looked in Art DeCamp's book, "Pennsylvania Horns Of The Trade.". The first paragraph in the chapter on Lancaster County horns states, "The Lancaster powder horn with impressed rope design on the butt... essentially became a brand for powder horns from that area."
I guess you have your answer there.
-Joe Stein

[Dan Herda]

Yes, sorry instead of asking how, ( I read Art DeCamps book) I should have asked what type of tool or devise was used ? Am curious what this tooling may look like.

[mr. no gold]

Somewhere along the line I had heard that there was at least one horn 'factory' and perhaps more located in Lancaster sometime in the first half of the 1800s. I did see a horn once, (still chagrined that I did not buy it) that had a company name stamped into the butt plug, but don't recall it today. Side story was that soft pine was used for plug material and soaked in water to make it softer at which time the rope design was stamped into the wood with a press and a die. Makes sense as the same process was employed to make designs in wood chair backs and such other uses. The horn I passed on was a screw tip with the end missing so that is probably why I didn't add it to the pile. I'm smarter now.
Dick

[mountainman70]

Heck! I thought this was a shift knob for the vehicle!! Would be cool to have one like that on my Mustang! lol
Best regards, Dave 

[mountainman70]

Please accept my apologies if necessary. I think thats a fine old horn. I looked at a couple like that in a shop in Lancaster back in 97 but was not able to buy them.
Just wasnt back into our hobby then.
Best regards and apologies.
Dave

[Dan Herda]

Please accept my apologies if necessary. I think thats a fine old horn. I looked at a couple like that in a shop in Lancaster back in 97 but was not able to buy them.
Just wasnt back into our hobby then.
Best regards and apologies.
Dave

Hey no apology necessary,!  “you mite be a Horner if your gear selector is a Lancaster base plug”.😂😂

[mr. no gold]

Dan, if you would please, show the spout end of the horn. These varied somewhat and it would be nice to see what you have on this one. They can be 'bottle nose' with differing refinements and then the always popular 'screw tip'. Dave, your comment was great; a gear shifter!
Dick

[Dan Herda]

Dan, if you would please, show the spout end of the horn. These varied somewhat and it would be nice to see what you have on this one. They can be 'bottle nose' with differing refinements and then the always popular 'screw tip'. Dave, your comment was great; a gear shifter!
Dick

Yes, the bottle tip is pretty signature and this is a good horn I’ll duplicate.
The shifter would be especially nice in my “Lancaster Buick”😂

[Dan Herda]

This is in the works

[Tim Crosby]

 Looks like a good start. Nice choice on the raw stock.

    Tim

[mr. no gold]

Dan, thanks a whole bunch for the great photos of the entire horn. My, my, my it is a pretty one with everything that makes a good Lancaster horn. Condition is great! The tip is quite nice and well formed and is pretty much classic. Thank you again.
Dick

[Dan Herda]

Dan, thanks a whole bunch for the great photos of the entire horn. My, my, my it is a pretty one with everything that makes a good Lancaster horn. Condition is great! The tip is quite nice and well formed and is pretty much classic. Thank you again.
Dick

You’re most welcome. I agree it’s really a great pc. And clean work!