Little help! on scrimshawing & Horn strap?

[Woods Dweller]

What can I practice scrimshawing on?

What do you make your horn strap out of and do you attach it to the bag or use a separate strap? (Photo would help)
Thanks

 

[Stumpkiller]

Hard plastic. Like CD jewel cases.

Leather (1/2" strap up to 1" wide) or hemp, jute or other fiber. I like mine seperate.

 

[omarick1948]

I like wearing the horn unattached to my bags, just handier for me.

If your looking at PC/HC for strap...leather or linen or hemp cord was the most common.

I suggest practicing engraving on real horn to get the feel of it. Use the horn like a black board when it gets full and sand everything off and start over!

 

[ladysmithtrading]

I have to agree with Rick on the practice piece, nothing is like horn, plastic is smooth and grain less and so is ivory, horn has the hair structure in it, it would be like practicing wood carving in basswood and then trying to duplicate it in walnut, major difference!

 

[Woods Dweller]

Thank you guys! You are a great help.

I never though of practicing on a real horn and sanding over it and starting over. :redface:

I want to be PC (1780) would have used cow leather or buckskin?

 

[ladysmithtrading]

What ever was available, lots of folks just used some type of cording, and some horns were attached directly to the hunting pouch straps

 

[Woods Dweller]

I have had my horn attached to my bag in the past. But now I am trying to set a persona for myself. As a farmer from the late 1700's I was wondering if cow hide would have been a common material used during this time. Thank you for your input.