Author Topic: Another St. Louis style powder horn (Read 3840 times)

louieparker · « **on:** February 04, 2020, 09:25:39 PM »

Last August a friend in Minn. sent me a very nice buffalo horn. I thought it needed to be a powder horn so I started the work . Finished it sometime in Sept.. I really wanted it to have the Catlin scrimshaw work .. TC Albert sent me photos of examples of the work, but I decided I wasn't up to the task. So I went to a bit of bone decoration and called it quits.. If I didn't miss count there are 214 pieces of bone and horn in this piece.. It measures a bit over 14 inches on the outside curve and has a 3 3/8 inch butt plug,..Making all those bone pegs is a bit hard on an old mans nerves..,,,,,,Louie

smylee grouch · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2020, 09:47:13 PM »

WOW Louie! Another stunner.

Jim Spray · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2020, 09:51:51 PM »

Lots of work in this one! Very well done.

MuskratMike · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2020, 10:29:51 PM »

My old fingers hurt just looking at it. Some things are a wonder to behold. This is one of them.

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2020, 01:29:14 AM »

Beautiful

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2020, 01:58:51 AM »

Louie, Louie, Louie, you never cease to amaze and delight me with these St. Louis style horns. I am going to use "Outstanding" for a comment because my limited vocabulary can't find a better adjective right now. WOW!

Tim

Marcruger · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2020, 03:40:52 AM »

Wow is right. That is crisp and amazing. Love it. God Bless, Marc

Smokey Plainsman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2020, 09:06:57 AM »

Thank you, Louie. That is an incredible horn for a St. Louis rifle.

Nordnecker · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2020, 03:19:27 PM »

It's exquisite. I am glad that I have no intentions of ever making anything like that.

bama · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2020, 03:41:06 PM »

Louie that is a fantastic horn. Every thing I have seen by your hand has always been top notch, you are a superb Craftsman. Thanks for sharing

louieparker · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2020, 08:04:50 PM »

Thanks for you comments and glad you like the horn..
These horns still remain a mystery as to who made them and exactly where. There are several people myself included who are always watching for clues to answer these questions.. Not too long ago I came across a list of goods that a trader in St. Louis had bought to take west,, It included powder horns . The majority were at a cost of around sixty two cents each. Then there was one lone horn for five dollars. I found this single five dollar horn on more than one list.. You know what I immediately thought. What else could be ? But I found no clue as to who made it..
Nordecker you may be surprised what you want to make when you get old and a bit bored. Back in November I finished a Bowie knife.. Had never made one. So I did.... Thanks again ,,,,,Louie

Mike from OK · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2020, 09:06:08 PM »

Astounding work sir!!!

Amusing side note... I showed my wife the beauty of St Louis horns and since then she has been obsessed with them. I showed her this post and her reply was to ask if it was for sale.

So if that horn is not commissioned for another, I have a willing buyer all lined up. LOL

Mike

hawkeye · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2020, 10:09:17 PM »

Looks amazing, top horn

Smokey Plainsman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2020, 10:41:44 PM »

I just love it. Of what period are these from?

louieparker · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2020, 02:35:49 AM »

Mike form OK... Sorry but its not for sale.. But tell your wife I think she has great taste ...
Smokey....... They are thought to be made in the St. Louis area by an unknown make. There are some theories as to the who the maker might be,but no direct information..... Louie

r

skillman · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2020, 05:51:07 AM »

Wonderful.

Steve

smylee grouch · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2020, 06:29:51 AM »

Louie, I will be going by Glorieta in a couple of weeks and hope to stop to see Jim Gordon. I will show him pics of the horn if you havent already sent some his way. I know he would enjoy them.

Bob McBride · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2020, 06:30:28 AM »

Fabulous. Id call it a Nudie Cohn style horn. Super awesome.

louieparker · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2020, 06:42:37 PM »

Smokey.......I can't say when they started making these horns. If I had to guess it would be in the late 1820's to 1830...Only a guess.. There may be presentations earlier than that I haven't heard about. These were given to some Indian chiefs and I don't recall when that took place. I think TC Albert knows about these and has a far better memory than I do.. But one bit of information that I think is interesting is a letter written by by Robert E. Lee in 1841 to a city official in St. Louis. ( I believe Lee was In Washington at the the time)...Asking his friend to have made for a powder horn. The buffalo horn like we had made for Col. Hook and it must be handsome..
I have no doubt the type horn Lee was asking for.. If yo know where that horn is I would sure like to see it..
Smylee................No Jim hasn't seen this horn.. I would be glad for you to show the photos.. I haven't seen Jim in awhile. He has been laying very low. Wish I could go with you..Its a hard trip from here.
Bob ...I have to say I didn't know what Nudie Cohn was... Had to look it up ! Wouldn't argue that point .......Louie

louieparker · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2020, 07:31:45 PM »

Quote from: louieparker on February 06, 2020, 06:42:37 PM

Smokey.......I can't say when they started making these horns. If I had to guess it would be in the late 1820's to 1830's...Only a guess.. There may be presentations earlier than that I haven't heard about. These were given to some Indian chiefs and I don't recall when that took place. I think TC Albert knows about these and has a far better memory than I do.. But one bit of information that I think is interesting is a letter written by by Robert E. Lee in 1841 to a city official in St. Louis. ( I believe Lee was In Washington at the the time)...Asking his friend to have made for a powder horn. The buffalo horn like we had made for Col. Hook and it must be handsome..
I have no doubt the type horn Lee was asking for.. If yo know where that horn is I would sure like to see it..
Smylee................No Jim hasn't seen this horn.. I would be glad for you to show the photos.. I haven't seen Jim in awhile. He has been laying very low. Wish I could go with you..Its a hard trip from here.
Bob ...I have to say I didn't know what Nudie Cohn was... Had to look it up ! Wouldn't argue that point .......Louie

louieparker · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2020, 07:35:20 PM »

Sorry about the double post. Attempted to make correction and screwed it up....LP

KC · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2020, 01:43:15 AM »

I bought a buffalo horn blank to try making one of these, not near to this level. T.C. Albert had a how-to article in a past Muzzleloaders issue and it really got my attention. This one has got to be one of the nicest of these horns that I've seen, very impressive. The blank I got is so rough that it'll take a ton of work just to smooth it out, I can't imagine the time invested in this horn.
K.C.

louieparker · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2020, 01:54:10 AM »

Smylee I forgot to suggest that when you go to Glorieta wear your long Johns.. Very little heat in that building...

KC at to the amount of time involved,, more than a little.. Thats as close as I can get...But hang in there you will get it slicked up...LP

Bob McBride · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2020, 02:26:43 AM »

Quote from: KC on February 07, 2020, 01:43:15 AM

I bought a buffalo horn blank to try making one of these, not near to this level. T.C. Albert had a how-to article in a past Muzzleloaders issue and it really got my attention. This one has got to be one of the nicest of these horns that I've seen, very impressive. The blank I got is so rough that it'll take a ton of work just to smooth it out, I can't imagine the time invested in this horn.
K.C.

Start working on it KC. Louie does some swet work, but take your time and you can make one you'd be proud to post on the forum. Like me ol' Bride says, "Slow and steady wins the race".

ScottH · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2020, 02:59:26 AM »

Wow!
That is amazing quality work, and thank you for sharing the photos of the horn.
I thought I remember you posting one of these awhile back and thinking that you had made the last one.
Glad you decided to do at least one more!

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Author Topic: Another St. Louis style powder horn (Read 3840 times)

Smokey Plainsman

Smokey Plainsman