Western fur trade buffalo powder horn

[T.C.Albert]

I’m thinking this piece is a western fur trade item. It’s a Buffalo
Powder horn. The end by the pine plug is very thin, suggesting that
The horn cane from a younger buffalo, maybe a cow? The nails look
Like common hob nails like those used on shoes? I’m guessing it’s likely
From the first half of the 19th century and would have been used in the western
Fur trade. It was collected in central Illinois.

[Daniel Coats]

Nice find thanks for posting!

To me though the shape of the horn looks like a bull's horn pointing straight up, cows are much more curvy, smaller in diameter at the base, and sexy looking. As for the thinness Buffalo horns are often very scaly and have to be worked down quite a bit making them thin. Can't speak to how old it is but it definitely has some age to it.

[mr. no gold]

Nice horn and nice to see it. Thank you for posting it. Definitely buffalo, and looks well, and long used. Probably spent the last century in a smoke house, or a barn. When you acquired this did you ask about the rifle, or the bag? Sometimes it is worthwhile to do a little more investigation. Thanks again.
Dick

[Elnathan]

It might be from an Eastern Woodland buffalo - I believe that they had brown horns instead of black. There are still woodland buffalo up in Canada, but I'm not sure they are the same subspecies as the now-extinct critters from the Eastern forests.

Have a look at this horn here: http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2017/02/wood-bison-powder-horns.html
https://peachstatearchaeologicalsociety.org/index.php/23-fur-trade-goods/220-fur-trade-1630-1659

I've seen at least one colonial era buff horn and they were certainly around in Kentucky in 1775-90, so ignore the conclusion that they were unavailable back east after 1700.

[Levy]

Really nice find Tim.  Reminds me of the one that you made for me.  Billy Harkins will have the rifle ready soon to complete the Apalachicola River Set!  James Levy

[T.C.Albert]

Sounds great Jamie. I have seen a few
Old buffalo horns, but honestly not that many
When compared to those made from cow horn.
Not sure if that indicates a low survival rate
Or if they just weren’t that common to begin with.
No way to tell if it’s eastern or not. That would
Be even rarer I suppose.
TCA
TC

[T*O*F]

One should also be aware of the Scottish breed of short horn cattle that were common in the East during that time.  They could easily be mistaken for a buffalo horn.

[Pukka Bundook]

TOF,

I can't think of any domesticated cattle that had a horn with such a large base and fast taper as a buffalo horn.
We had Shorthorns in England, but those horns are very different.  (More like an Ayrshire than buffalo)

Very best,
Richard.