Which do you prefer?

[Jeff Murray]

Do you prefer a horn with scrimshaw decoration to be left in the white or antiqued.  Left in the white yields greater contrast for the design.  Antiquing gives the horn an aged look that goes well with reenacting kits.  One of each is displayed.  What is your preference?

[Daryl]

I prefer the white. Taylor has a very large white/black scrimshawed horn- special!!
It has aged nicely all on it's own.

[Hawg]

I like the white.

[old george]

My preference is the antiqued one.


george

[Karl Kunkel]

In the white.

[moseswhite]

I prefer the antique look !

[Top Jaw]

Based on my observations of the market and prior discussions with horn builders - the “majority” (not all) of the folks in our genera’ tend to prefer “some level” of staining (also usually to include some level of antiquing) on a scrimmed horn - verses one left in a pure white unstained condition.  There is also evidence that some originals underwent staining 250+ years ago.  So it’s not just a modern style trend or preference in our current era. 

[Jeff Murray]

If you look at the cover photo on Jim Dressler's book "The Engraved Powder Horn", you will see horns with many different colors.  The first picture attached is of four horns, the second one from the bottom is new, the others are originals. The darkest original is dated 1840 on the base plug.  The second picture is of my shooting rig.  I made the horn in 1981 and left it in the white.  It has yellowed somewhat and also shows dirt from use.  The feedback has been interesting.  Fun topic if you like powderhorns.

[Tumbledown]

The horns I've made have been for reenacting, so they're unstained/not aged.

[Tony N]

I prefer the aged look

Tony

[HomerOla89]

I prefer the white

[Keith Zimmerman]

Yellow color.  Not green.

[ColonialRifleSmith]

Do you prefer a horn with scrimshaw decoration to be left in the white or antiqued.  Left in the white yields greater contrast for the design.  Antiquing gives the horn an aged look that goes well with reenacting kits.  One of each is displayed.  What is your preference?

I like the white ship. The antiquing's not bad; however, I've never been one for 'Coats of Arms'.

[hawkeye]

I love them aged to

[stuart cee dub]

For me I prefer new and white especially if they are going to be used and they should be .
Handling will patina new horns a pleasant mellowed look after a few shooting seasons .
If these are for display only a light yellow tint is just fine otherwise the scrimshaw is obscured .
If I were going hunting I wouldn't take a bright new white horn as being simply too visible .My old gun safety instructor (and seventh grade history) teacher told us never to take a white hanky and especially don't put it in our back pocket lest we be mistaken for a whitetail deer by some fool .
Good advice in any century for long hunters .
Sometimes I've seen heavily patinated horns attempt to cover the greenish tones in the more recent horns .
Yeah I get that ,the green tone isn't my favorite either and a heavy patina job can help cover that up . Nice white horns aren't always available.
Track had a great source years ago but that dried up.

[aaronc]

If I   "had to"   pick a preference I'd take stained/antiqued, but I think there is a place for both.

[Tecumseh]

I prefer a dyed and aged patina, however have seen some very nice scrimshaw/engraved horns in the white as well.

[Bob Gerard]

I like both white and with a more aged look. Sometimes more details in engraving are visible with a whiter horn, but an old appearance can add more warmth.
I’d choose the whiter one for wearing to church and the older one for wearing at the bar. 😊

[Cory Joe Stewart]

This is nothing against the beautiful work shown here.  I have never been a fan of the bright white.  I stain, at time antique or at the very least will knock off some of the brightness of the white. 

Also, staining can bring out some of the grain of the horn that is pleasant, but you are right you do give up the contrast. 

Cory Joe

[Dave R]

Both are works of art ! I appreciate the aged one.

[Pukka Bundook]

yellowish brown aged for me!

[2 shots]

I like both white and with a more aged look. Sometimes more details in engraving are visible with a whiter horn, but an old appearance can add more warmth.
I’d choose the whiter one for wearing to church and the older one for wearing at the bar. 😊

.  you have chosen wisely