I first would like to give thanks to Scott Sibley for his input and help in the research for doing this horn. His input was invaluable in it's completion.
Some history behind the project...A friend of mine commissioned the horn for use in his newly formed persona as an Indian department agent for reenacting. The persona is Charles Hare a lieutenant stationed at Ft. Pitt in 1767. George Croghan was the head of the western British Indian Department at the time, and used Ft. Pitt as his main trading post. "Hare" comes from two real life people...John Hare, Captain Ranger under Daniel Claus and his son Peter Hare, Captain, Butler's rangers; both assigned to the British Indian Department at the time.
The horn is 16" on the OC and 13 1/4" on the IC & a beautiful double twist. The base is 2 3/4" across. the horn is lobed and glass-backed, meaning it has a recessed plug (pinned with steel pins), parchment with text on top, glass on top of that and a cherry retainer ring pinned to the recessed plug. the pins keep the glass from moving side to side. the recessed plug is sealed with beeswax. additionally, beeswax surrounds the glass and there is a thin film of beeswax on the bottom of the retainer ring to seal it to the glass. the parchment is linen paper aged in a coffee and tea mix with hand drawn calligraphy and some black tempera paint on the edges. The strap is by Kris Polizzi (many thanks Kris) and backed with linen ticking to reinforce and prevent wear.
The scrim is the Great Britain cipher, a rendering of fort Pitt, and text describing the horn. on the lobe is the small GR cipher. The lobe is carved in the shape of a heart to show love for king and country. the stopper is a walnut fiddle peg.
The cherry for the recessed plug and retainer ring is from a tree that was on my grandfather's property. The glass was salvaged from a pane of poured glass from my home, and the fiddle peg was salvaged from and 1800's fiddle. Also of note, is that this is a left hand hon made for right side carry.
Enjoy
