advantages of a lobed horn

[rich pierce]

I picked up another big rough horn from Lee Larkin at the Fort de Chartres rondy this weekend, got the bark off and cut it to length and drilled it.  All good so far on this amber colored horn.

As I was starting to shape it and deciding whether to use a lobed end it occurred to me that by placing the lobe where you want on the butt end, you can direct how the horn lies against the body better than with a staple in the middle of the butt plug.  Agree/disagree?

[Tim Crosby]

 I would say you could roll a horn in or out depending on the placement of the lobe. Say 12 o'clock is straight up, moving the lobe to 9 would pull it in on a right side carry and to 3 in on a left side carry. The shape of the horn will have something to do with it. Don't know why anyone would want a lobe at 3 on a right side horn or vice versa.
 Does a lobe indicate a certain time frame/style of horn? That may also be a consideration.   

 Tim C. 

[Randy Hedden]

Rich,

I really don't think it makes much difference.  If you locate the staple so the horn balances in the desired position it should work as good as a lobe.  Remember, you don't have to put the staple in the middle of the butt plug. A staple can be positioned in the upper part of the butt plug or through the horn and into the butt plug from the top.  Just like installing pins or tacks to hold the butt plug in the horn.  If your butt plug is deep enough into the horn, you can also opt for drilling two holes through the butt part of the horn and through the butt plug on about a 45 degree angle.  Of course this last option depends on the style of the butt plug you are using.  Lobes are generally only used on French & Indian and Rev War period Horns and those commemorative horns made after the war periods. 

Randy Hedden

[Tim Crosby]

  Lobes are generally only used on French & Indian and Rev War period Horns and those commemorative horns made after the war periods. 

Randy Hedden

 Thanks Randy, that's what I thought but was not sure.

 Tim C.

[rich pierce]

Randy, thanks- seems I had a notion that it was only proper when using a staple, to place it in the middle of the buttplug.  For sure the other methods like drilling 2 holes through the horn/plug junction at a 45 degree angle would achieve the same "leverage" to roll the horn to conform to the body well.

[Luke MacGillie]

Are you putting the staples all the way thru the butt and folding over?   The first horn I made, way back in 8th Grade had a lobe, but like so many of the originals it ended up breaking off and I replaced it with a staple.  I put the staple in the already complete and sealed  horn at the same angle as the lobe. 

With a staple I always use a double prusick or a clove hitch to attach a thong to the staple, the wrap that around the strap a couple times and square knot it.  This allows me to lengthen the strap during the winter.....

So unless your installing the staple before you put the plug in the horn, you can change the angle the horn sits the same as if you were deciding where to put the lobe

[rich pierce]

No, I put the staple in later and do not fold it over.  I put some barbs on the staple "legs" and that seems to anchor them.

[Luke MacGillie]

BTW, if anyone is wondering where i get the "Thongs around the staple and tip" and tieing the strap to the horn that way, it came from a horn in the Dressler collection, the strap was made from a number10-15 thongs that were quill wrapped, and twined together every so often.  That is the only native horn Ive looked at with a strap.  Id love to be able to, at some point look at the other 3-4 surviving horns that the strap is beleivable to have been attached to the horn in the period.  The Caldwell buffalo horn, and the horn that I cant remember, Scottish with a tump strap (Archibald Montgomerie perhaps?) the straps dont "Work" and IMHO the straps and horns were wedded together by some museum curator or family member way after the date of their use here in North America.....

[Ole Doc]

keep in mind the horn filled with powder and the balance point changing ...
full too empty , may change the pitch or throw of the horn some.

[Artificer]

keep in mind the horn filled with powder and the balance point changing ...
full too empty , may change the pitch or throw of the horn some.

That is a great point I've never really thought about before. 

Gus

[BrownBear]

In our climate I've learned what I think is an important lessons about horns.  Slick doesn't cut it when your hands are wet or you're wearing glove.  Talk about a hassle and a mess.  Whether lobed, engrailed or engraved with a deep pattern for better grip and control, all my horns henceforth will be designed for function.  I'm still working on the "purty" part of the equation, but functional tops my list.  If it's going to be used, it's got to do it's job before we ever get around to purty.

[Ole Doc]

find regardless of what peice of gear we attempt to re-create.
Function superceeds any artistic quality ...
if something can be made pretty that works fine ... but it has to work.

[Luke MacGillie]

In our climate I've learned what I think is an important lessons about horns.  Slick doesn't cut it when your hands are wet or you're wearing glove.  Talk about a hassle and a mess.  Whether lobed, engrailed or engraved with a deep pattern for better grip and control, all my horns henceforth will be designed for function.  I'm still working on the "purty" part of the equation, but functional tops my list.  If it's going to be used, it's got to do it's job before we ever get around to purty.

I agree to a point.  But if we in our modern times, are having issues making something work using the copies of the originals, we are probably the ones that are messed up, not the object

[BrownBear]

I'll see your point and raise it 120 inches of rain a year.  Probably a good reason our forebears stayed away till 1864.

[skillman]

Luke
Very good point!
Steve