First Horn from Scratch

[AeroncaTAL]

Here are some pictures of the first powder horn I've completed from scratch (it's not the first I've started though). This horn is for my son and is somewhat based on original Timothy Tansel horns shown in Sibley's book.

The banner the eagle has in its beak reads "E Pluribus Unum". The wood butt plug I turned on my lathe and then finished carved on the horn, then painted with red milk paint, which was common on original horns. The staple was hand made with a twist. This was my first attempt at scrimshaw and it ain't as easy as I thought it would be. I've learned a lot from this and am ready for more! But most importantly, my son likes it.
Scott

 

[soggy]

:hatsoff: Great job! Both you and your son should be proud . :applause: :applause:
Soggy

 

[Roy]

I really like that :hatsoff: :bow:

 

[PitchyPine]

Darn good looking horn. :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Thats sweet 41Aeronca! :bow:

 

[bwhoffman]

Scott,
like your first gun build....Outstanding! :thumbsup:

 

[billk]

Great looking horn!!!
billk :thumbsup:

 

[hawkeye1755]

Great Work,very nice :bow: :bow:
:hatsoff:

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Scott,
Excellent looking horn. Great work. Yer son must be happy. :thumbsup: GW

 

[bob1961]

very nicely done :bow: :v ..............bob

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Thank you all for your kind comments. I had purchased Sibley's book and read through it, but I never would have been able to do this horn any justice if I hadn't taken a horn making class at a Gun Makers Fair last month. I learned a lot just by looking at various horns, talking with the instructor, Steve Vance and working on a horn project. I put aside my class project to do this horn for my son and one for my daughter. Now I can get back to it. My daughter is scrimshawing her horn (a F&I style) and is learning like I did that it is more difficult than at first thought. When she gets done though it should be something...
Scott

 

[Christiaan]

Fantastic job, Scott. :applause: :applause:
It will be a very special gift from Dad :hatsoff:

 

[50cal.cliff]

Daaaaaaaang! I really like it! :hatsoff:

 

[DougMPhoto]

Beautiful horn. I'm gettting ready to do my first. What did you use to stain the end of the horn? I like that coloring.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

The horn was stained with Rit dye, per Sibley's book. For the neck, I used a package of brown with a half package of black. The horn was left in the warm dye for an hour. You have to scrape the dye off of the body of the horn, leaving just the neck dyed. The body of the horn was stained with one package of yellow, with a pinch of orange. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the result, I probably should have left it in the dye longer. Anyway, it was fun.
Scott

 

[wildeagle]

Great looking horn, your son WILL be proud. You are a good craftsman!!We here on the forum should take heed from your work , what can be done if one pays attention to the details , great work and continued success. Wild Eagle

 

[Matabele]

Wow :shocked2: Awesome horn, you did an amazing job!! Can you tell me what tools you used and how you went about the scrimshaw work, thanks :thumbsup:

 

[KHickam]

Dang - Wish I had a dad like that! Beautiful, you should be proud. :thumbsup:

 

[AeroncaTAL]

The carving on the horn was done mostly with files. I used both a mill bastard file and a small round file. The engrailment around the "fish head" was done with small chisels. The scrimshaw was done mostly with a xacto blade with the tip cut off.
Scott

 

[dlpowell]

If you want to age the horn further. Whan it is hot out of the dye take some dark stain and rub all over it then cover the horn with black powdered paint. Get it in your hands and rub it into the horn real good. Take some more stain and cover the horn aqain then wipe it off with a rag. The black paint will fill in the scrimshaw and make it stand out real good, it will also pickup any dings and make the horn look real old.