how to decorate a black horn

[Rev_William]

I recently purchased 2 horns I planned to do some scrimshaw on and instead of the white pictured received what looks like polished buffalo horns. Tried to return them but its cheaper to keep'm. So I was thinking of making a rum horn out of one and a reg powder horn out of the other but kind a at a loss as how to decorate them. Any suggestions?

 

[Bruce Bogart]

an undecorated well made buffalo horn can be a beautiful thing to go with a plains rifle! Check around, do a search around the old posts and you'll find some exquisite horns with no decoration. They can be a thing of beauty!!!!

 

[LaBonte]

some ideas for you - http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2012/04/early-american-buffalo-powder-horn.html

 

[Comrade Coffin]

some ideas for you - http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2012/04/early-american-buffalo-powder-horn.html[/quote]

Good day my friend and a very useful link, thank you for putting that one up!

 

[LaBonte]

You are most welcome sir.....

 

[Rev_William]

Thanks guys, LaBonte that link was great. It's going to really strain my ability's since I flunked wood shop but I am going to get something going. I agree that a plain horn can be a thing of beauty but I have a lot of plain horns wanted to try something different this time lol.

 

[Birdman]

Rev it may sound odd to some but I usually let things tel me what they want to be so to speak, plain buff horns are elegant in their simplicity n color, maybe instead of trying to bend something to your will or idea do it the simple way n wait on another horn in the future that tells ya it wants to be fancy. yea I know, sorta sounds crazy but its worked for me fer a long time--just some thoughts YMHS Birdman :hmm:

 

[Rev_William]

Oh I get it just the one horn is telling me carve or white scrimshaw but not sure if it would look good or not guess there's only one way to find out lol

 

[Jim Blair]

some ideas for you - http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2012/04/early-american-buffalo-powder-horn.html[/quote]


I wish you hadn't put that link up. :grin:

 

[mooman76]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I bought some horns on ebay. I bought a package of 8 because the more I bought the cheaper they were and I was figuring on getting several dark horns and I wanted to practice some scrimshaw on something cheap. Only a couple two or three have quite abit of white but I still want to do something with the black ones. Someone on another site said he did them with white and they turned out good. I believe he said he used whiteout but I wanted something more permanent. I went to a craft store and they actually had white ink. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will work good. They also had a white etching paper that would leave white marks on the horn. Hope your's turns out good.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have seen dark horns decorated in white ink, but also yellow, gold, green, red, royal blue, silver, and even pink! Some of these "Art" horns are absolutely breathtaking. I see no reason not to try these colors out on a black horn. :hmm:

 

[kaintuck]

I like the black horns to make my 'rings' on white horns~and the black horns are usually pretty thick, so I can turn lines/grooves into them......just another idea!