Hello everyone, I am fairly new to this site, but I posted pics of my first horn build ever here not too long ago, which you can view in this thread:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=23680.0 I built the horn to go with a new bag and accessories after my wife took a liking to my old one, and I promised that when I finished with the set, I would post pics of my work. Every piece you see in these photos was hand built by me, from the pewter buttons cast for the bag and the forged iron strap buckle, to the tiny iron washer securing the knife handle. I wanted the set to look rustic and homemade, but also well made, and well used. I hope that I achieved my goal. I will attempt to give a brief description of each piece following the individual pics. I hope you all enjoy them!
The set hanging from the porch of my shop. The horn originally had an iron staple in the neck, but I removed it per the advice of several of you fellows here who are more knowledgeable about historical accuracy of these things than I am, but I am learning. I mounted the strap directly to the horn instead.
The front of the bag. It is a southern style pouch made of hand sewn pigskin, dyed with traditional homemade vinegar and iron dye and lined with ticking. You can see the handle of my knife peeking from the back, and the iron chain of my whisk and vent pick. The chain was made from old fence wire.
Inside of the pouch showing the ticking lining. It has the main large compartment, and one smaller leather pocket (also of pigskin) which holds my flints. The buttons on the pouch are made of pewter, cast from a mold that I made of common utility buttons such as seen in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The hand forged iron strap buckle. I fiddle around a bit with an amateur brake drum forge, so this buckle was no great feat to make.
Back of the pouch showing the mounted knife and sheath. The knife and its sheath are detachable so that I can take it off and wear it on a belt if I wish. You can see that the shoulder strap is sewn directly to the back of the pouch rather than mounted on iron rings like my old one. I wanted a plainer, simpler pouch this time. The strap is reinforced inside the pouch under the lining with heavy leather reinforcements to prevent it tearing loose, and the mounts for the knife are done the same way.
The knife. It is forged from an old plow disc from my grandfather's farm. It was heavily rusted and pitted, and I chose to leave much of the pitting in the blade to give it a handmade look. It features a turned curly maple handle, and the tang passes through the handle and is peened over a forged iron washer which secures the grip. The bolster is pewter. The knife was "aged" and then sharpened to a razor's edge, literally. It will shave hair.
Close up of the knife grip. The picture is a bit dark, but you can just see my maker's mark at the ricasso, a cross inside a circle with the initials "SC" ("Southern Cross"...the name of my shop) on either side.
Some of the contents of my pouch.
Shot bag for bird shot. It is made of pigskin with a turned antler spout and a turned oak stopper.
Antler handled short starter.
Powder measure carved from the same antler as the short starter handle, and then dyed to match my powder horn. It throws 95 grains.
I got tired of rolling paper funnels to fill my horn with powder, so I made this little funnel from tin and soldered it together. Problem solved.
Traditional wing bone turkey call to lure in ol' Gobblin' Jake so that I can put all of these items to the use for which they were intended...
