Flattened powder flasks

[Brasilikilt]

Here's an interesting one

How did they make, and then fit the brass mountings on the old style powder flasks?

I do have a few theories bouncing around in my head, but it also seems like a good discussion for this forum.

This one here looks like a single piece which was somehow stamped into a form.
This is fine if every cow horn is the exact same size, but we all know that they aren't
My thought is that this type of flask was produced in a larger shop which made a lot of these type of flasks.
My best guess is that they had several sizes of forms??? to stamp out these brass bases for the different size horns they had to work with.

I'm wondering if there was a different way to hammer this base out so that it fits perfectly?

Is there some soldering/brazing here that's hard to spot?

I think this is a beautiful piece of work
which really looks like the work of specialized craftsmen.

This top view doesn't tell me if it's one or two pieces. That decorated band could be hiding a seam, or it could be simple decoration along the edge.......I can't tell.

Okay, this one I think I get.

This one looks as though the builder put in wooden base plug and one in the neck area, and then used thin sheet brass to cover over it making sure to leave some tabs on the side to hold it in place.

Knowing that there are so many phenomenal crafters on this site is enough to think that this might turn out to be a very informative thread.

Thanks

Iain

 

[Brasilikilt]

I totally forgot to show the horn that I'm working on.

As you can see, this one doesn't have such a nice curve to it.
I'm calling it the squashed slug until I can turn it into something better.

This horn is very thin, too thin for any carving to be done on it, even on the tip.

As you can see, I didn't get it completely straight, but I can still probably do some more heating and bending.

Ugly, but I think it has much potential for a proper, more militaristic style flask

 

[Bob Riegl]

Those are beautiful horns that you have featured above. The findings alone really make those horns. I have made small priming horns in the flat, but outside of some insignificant scrimshaw they totally lack those brass fittings.Excellent work and thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

 

[blacksmithman64]

me not being much of a builder of flat horns...do you think they made a wooden pattern of the flat horn base and then used it to form the brass?

 

[omarick1948]

I think all of the examples you show, except the one are made of soldered piece's. I have did a little cup and container silversmithing in the past and used a brass colored solder for brass and bronze items. The finished seam doesn't show and everything looks to be one piece. A few Horners I know use the same solder for brass flask work. I used to buy it at silversmith supply campanies, through mail order. I think that THUNDERBIRD SUPPLY in Gallop, New Mexico still sells it.
Rick

 

[wulf]

Iain,,these guys long ago were all professionals
and worked all day,week and year at their jobs.
They perfected the trade and just got better and
better and the price rose. We try to do something
once that they spent years profecting..I learn
from every expariment...without the benefit of a
teacher or apprentiship..so do we all in this age
so give yourself a break.You are doing fine just
don't stop..You will find it hard to duplicate
in one try what the masters spent a lifetime at.