Which side should a left-side-of-cow horn be worn on?

[Hemo]

This is probably a pretty elementary question for accoutrement and horn aficionados, but I do more rifle building than horn making, and I just don't know. I recently bought a polished but otherwise unfinished left-side-of-cow horn, about 16 inches long, with a white base and black tip.  It has a nice curve that fits the side, but also has a counterclockwise twist from base to tip. When held against my left side, the tip angles upward. On my right side, the tip is horizontal. Which side is appropriate to carry this horn?
Any opinions welcome!

Gregg

[Top Jaw]

There are differing opinions, but I prefer the tip to turn in and the base to kick out. Seems to hang up less on brush that way whenever I wear them in the woods. Therefore, I would wear a horn from the cows left side, as you described, on my right side.

[Dphariss]

If you check it out unless the horn has a really weird curve they will work on either side. However, on a decorated horn which side is scrimshawed with what can make it more appropriate to one side or the other.
This horn is apparently a "left side" and fits the body curve very well if the name is put "inside", but its scrimshawed for and will be worn right side and it fits well there as well but maybe not "perfectly" (it fits as Top Jaw described). It will be hung on the pouch strap so how it fits the curve of the body "perfectly" is really irrelevant.





Back in the day almost all cows had horns. Today most do not so our supply is reduced. I was near the last to pick a horn during the Horn Making Class at our Guild Fair and I am happy I ended up with this one. Its dyed with Rit "Golden Yellow" and Rit Dark Brown and Black mixed as per Scott and Cathy Sibley's book. I did end up with a lot more black in the mix than I intended. But it looks pretty good. Base plug is from an American Elm that grew at the corner of the yard and finally got the disease last year. Most went for fire wood but I failed to split a few chunks and cur this from one of them.
Now I got to get the pouch made..... Its been cut out for about 2 years i think....
Dan

[Horner75]

Every once in a while this subject seems to come up pretty regular.  I am starting to believe that which side is a concern of the contemporary enthusiast more than it was in the day.  You look at some of the older paintings and illustrations by period artists and you see many different ways the powder horns were  being worn by people in those illustrations.  What I would see as a left side carry horn being worn on the right side and visa versa. I think that it is totally up to the individual wearing the curved horn.

JMHO
Rick

[Gun Butcher]

Every once in a while this subject seems to come up pretty regular.  I am starting to believe that which side is a concern of the contemporary enthusiast more than it was in the day.  You look at some of the older paintings and illustrations by period artists and you see many different ways the powder horns were  being worn by people in those illustrations.  What I would see as a left side carry horn being worn on the right side and visa versa. I think that it is totally up to the individual wearing the curved horn.

JMHO
Rick

Amen brother

Ron

[bigsmoke]

When we were selling polished cowhorns, we called them left or right side carry based on the tip curving in, not out.
But, as has been said, when it comes right down to it, however the owner of the horn wants to wear it is correct.
There you go.
John