Lip Horns

[Marc Adamchek]

I've been eyeing a couple of beautiful lip horns recently. Have any of you had a bad experience carrying this type of carved horn? The thing that I'm afraid of, of course, is that the lip would just be subject to cracking where the strap is laced. Please give me some feedback based on personal use, both good and bad. Much Obliged

 

[Harddog]

Marc,

I have made and carried three different lip horns over the past fourty years and have never had one crack or have had the lip break off.

Randy Hedden

 

[longshot47]

The 'lip' not only helps situate your horn to your measure, but strengthens the spout against splitting.
~Longshot

 

[LRB]

Longshot, I believe that you are a little confused as to what a lip horn is. The "lip" is an integral part of the horn that over hangs on the butt end, allowing the strap to be connected via a couple of holes through it. As long as a sufficient amount of thickness is left here, there are generally no problems. I have never had one crack or break.

 

[dlemaster]

I have a horn with the lip that I made in 1982 and have had no problems at all.

Regards, Dave

 

I have several that were carried for many many years,like a lifetime ,antique horns with a lip on them and never had or have seen a problem with the lip. Bob

 

[Chiefs50]

Longshot, I believe that you are a little confused as to what a lip horn is. The "lip" is an integral part of the horn that over hangs on the butt end, allowing the strap to be connected via a couple of holes through it. As long as a sufficient amount of thickness is left here, there are generally no problems. I have never had one crack or break.

As Wick cautioned, horn thickness at the butt end is key here. I was going to attempt a "lipped" F&I War era type horn as my first build but rejected the notion because the horn I received from TOTW was thin compared to lipped examples I had seen.

 

[longshot47]

Wick-
Interesting variation.
My Horn Anatomy 101 professor always taught that the 'integral part that overhangs the butt' is the 'lobe', with the 'lip' being at the other end, -at the edge of the throat.
Now, where did I store that textbook....?
Longshot

 

[LRB]

As far as I know, the term, lip, or lobe, are defining the same thing. Definitions of terms can often change with time. Scott Sibley calls what you describe as a head, or ring. Perhaps at one time, this was called the lip. In certain areas of the country, and among certain craftsmen, it may still be, but it would seem that for most folks, the term, lip, means the lobe. Our terminology could well be off, but if it is, it would seem that the problem is epidemic. I, or we, could be wrong. It would not be a first for me. At any rate, the author that introduced this subject, seems to have been concerned with a lobed horn. Could be that I misunderstood his inquiry.

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Nope, Wick, you weren't wrong, I meant what you thought. I think I've only seen that area on the horn referred to as a lip. Anyway the thing with the hole(s) you tie one end of your horn strap to, just to clarify(?)

 

[LRB]

Right, the over hang at the butt. I drill two holes, then using a 1/2" latigo strap, I split the last 6", taper these, put them through the holes and tie them each with a single, but tight, simple knot. If using a fringed woven strap, the fringes can be attached in the same manner.