Making a Powder Horn: Scrimshaw

[PathfinderNC]

Beautiful horn & bag @PathfinderNC !

Thanks- the bag is from Etsy and I really like it.

 

[RJW47]

Oh, After all this time I realized I didn't show the finished horn! Here it is, used on my Fusil rig.

PathfinderNC

The finished horn looks great. Would you kindly indicate what method you used to antique age the horn.

As a side note to your comment about roughing the surface of the horn, I use 0000 steel wool to polish out any defects or scratches before I scrim and apply my ink. I found out in the past that any scratches would pick up ink where I didn't want it. I have even used washable ink to test an area before scrimming to make sure those nasty scratches are gone.

After I have completed my horns I apply Rennaisance wax to seal and protect it.

 

[PathfinderNC]

PathfinderNC

The finished horn looks great. Would you kindly indicate what method you used to antique age the horn.

As a side note to your comment about roughing the surface of the horn, I use 0000 steel wool to polish out any defects or scratches before I scrim and apply my ink. I found out in the past that any scratches would pick up ink where I didn't want it. I have even used washable ink to test an area before scrimming to make sure those nasty scratches are gone.

After I have completed my horns I apply Rennaisance wax to seal and protect it.

I use powder dyes that I mix with water to get my colors. I also seal my horns with paste wax, shellac on some of my earlier ones.
There are so many ways to go about scrimshawing a horn I guess that it’s really personal experiences and preferences that work best for the artist. It’s nice when someone can’t say “ you did that wrong” lol.
As a side note, when I was studying Fine Art in college, my professor Dr. Lang ( a Pri de Rome award winner back then) mentioned how my oil painting technique was so unique. Evidently I painted “Dark- to-Light” rather than the standard reverse method. He found it fascinating and encouraged me on, noting it was a painting style used in the very early Renaissance. I understood from a Master that in doing one’s art, what comes from the artist is the right way, however it’s done.

 

[RJW47]

I use powder dyes that I mix with water to get my colors. I also seal my horns with paste wax, shellac on some of my earlier ones.
There are so many ways to go about scrimshawing a horn I guess that it’s really personal experiences and preferences that work best for the artist. It’s nice when someone can’t say “ you did that wrong” lol.
As a side note, when I was studying Fine Art in college, my professor Dr. Lang ( a Pri de Rome award winner back then) mentioned how my oil painting technique was so unique. Evidently I painted “Dark- to-Light” rather than the standard reverse method. He found it fascinating and encouraged me on, noting it was a painting style used in the very early Renaissance. I understood from a Master that in doing one’s art, what comes from the artist is the right way, however it’s done.

Thanks for sharing. It's always beneficial to hear of others techniques!

Keep sharing!

 

[springfield art]

I decided to try some scrimshaw last summer. My first attempt on bone was worse than abysmal. However, my first bone carving sold in less than 30 minutes. (go figure) I have been experimenting with some antler, bone and plastic. I carved a picture on a mollusk shell with an electric engraver and colored it black and my daughter grabbed it for a necklace. And I thought it was worse than my scrimshaw attempt. Yes these guys have incredible skills. And I have found that patience and attention to detail is far more important to scrimshaw than most hobbies. There was a thing on TV about a guy that carves tree ornaments out of antler and bone. Some of his work was so darn good.

Of course if you are paying $300 for 4 oz of ancient mammoth ivory, you better be good and take your time. One of the scrimshaw guys that I see on line went to a local household auction up in Connecticut.. There was an old billiard table with the leather nets in the corners to catch the balls. Two of the balls were missing from the set of billiard balls. They still brought over eleven hundred dollars. Made from elephant ivory. I have been watching for old pianos to grab the ivory veneers.

Please note; I've seen many trashed pianos over the years in the big city I used to work in; the veneers, even back in the 1890's, were a faux ivory, i.e., plastic! Sure, it was an early-type plastic, but plastic nevertheless. That's not to say there were never any Real Ivory keys, but the usual you will find are faux. Yes, I was disappointed, too!

 

[springfield art]

I recently bought at auction one of the faux ivory Whale Teeth you sometimes see. It's quite a good size, it's resin, and I have no idea yet what I will do with it! The resins they use for gun grips nowadays are very realistic, even having graining to mimic actual growth rings.

 

[Packrat]

I am really impressed with the work you guys do, I can't even draw my name

 

[oreclan]

PathfinderNC;

Great set of instructional advice.
I just finished my third scrim of a F&I war powder horn representing the 1758 battle at fort Carillon. Took me about 120 hours of scrim prep and application. I always wanted to represent the French side of history so I did this horn representation.

Best Regards

Beautiful scrimshaw; however pay attention to the type of butt plug you use. The time period and region of the plug should match the style of your scrimshaw.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Beautiful scrimshaw; however pay attention to the type of butt plug you use. The time period and region of the plug should match the style of your scrimshaw.

Are you an authority on the subject, or just commenting?

 

[ochsner_tim]

With the borders all done, the next step (Part B) will be to decide on the theme and start drawing the designs, pictures or words. That is the hard part., coming soon.

Pathfinder, just saw this post. I guess it answers all my previous questions. Thanks for repeating your answers. Besides your beautiful scrimshaw, I noticed your very nice neck engrailing. What is your tool/ technique for such clean cuts on the neck? Thanks for helping a tenderfoot.
Tim

 

[tgfrench]

Start making videos and monetize them on ubtub.

 

[RJW47]

Looking into the following links of historical horns for the F&I period you can see there is variety of style for plug design.

https://journalofantiques.com/featu...rated-military-powder-horns-colonial-america/

 

[senseisugarbear]

Pathfinder, I find your work exceptional, you are no doubt a Perfectionist, As I read through your journey of the making of this horn ,,A question came to mind. Early in my Martial arts Career My Sensei at the time Demanded that if a Student were to learn the Ugliness death or the fight...That the Student must be able to Create beauty in an Art form. In Fuedal Japan the most Talented and sought after Artist were Samuri. This was to Creat balance in One's life. Sensei being from New Bedford , Mass. Chose for me to learn Schrimshaw.....We did it the way Oltdtime Whalers did it ..OUR Ivory ,bone ,etc. was polished,, then covered with Lamp black from the mantle of an Oil lamp....Your images were then carved out in the reverse ,at Completion the entire scene was covered in lamp black and rubbed in , Your Image would retain the lamp black, the rest would polish off. Examples of this style have lasted several hundreds of years......I just wondered if you had ever used this technique? ........Be Safe>>>>>>>>>>>Wally

 

[ochsner_tim]

Pathfinder, just saw this post. I guess it answers all my previous questions. Thanks for repeating your answers. Besides your beautiful scrimshaw, I noticed your very nice neck engrailing. What is your tool/ technique for such clean cuts on the neck? Thanks for helping a tenderfoot.
Tim

Sorry for my ignorance. I came into your threads late and now see your previous tutorial posts. I had been using the gouge technique for the engrailing. I will try out the dremel and burr method. Your results look fantastic. I have limited experience and my only training has been with Art DeCamp for decoration and coloring. Thank you for your patients with a tenderfoot.

 

[Nazgul58]

Going to attempt my first scrimshaw, found a nice horn at Joe Wheeler state park show. Made these up today on the wood lathe. They are hickory pieces from a friends fire wood pile. The tips are worn drill bits. Have to sharpen them to shape on the stones.

Don

 

[PathfinderNC]

Start making videos and monetize them on ubtub.

I like the video idea- I just wish I had the time to!

 

[PathfinderNC]

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[springfield art]

Pathfinder, I find your work exceptional, you are no doubt a Perfectionist, As I read through your journey of the making of this horn ,,A question came to mind. Early in my Martial arts Career My Sensei at the time Demanded that if a Student were to learn the Ugliness death or the fight...That the Student must be able to Create beauty in an Art form. In Fuedal Japan the most Talented and sought after Artist were Samuri. This was to Creat balance in One's life. Sensei being from New Bedford , Mass. Chose for me to learn Schrimshaw.....We did it the way Oltdtime Whalers did it ..OUR Ivory ,bone ,etc. was polished,, then covered with Lamp black from the mantle of an Oil lamp....Your images were then carved out in the reverse ,at Completion the entire scene was covered in lamp black and rubbed in , Your Image would retain the lamp black, the rest would polish off. Examples of this style have lasted several hundreds of years......I just wondered if you had ever used this technique? ........Be Safe>>>>>>>>>>>Wally

Kind of a shame they lost all that beauty stuff during their rampaging in WW2!

 

[Gvilleddie]

I’ve decided to try to make a powder horn with absolutely no experience. Are the pet store horns good enough to start with for practice pieces? Thx, E..

 

[senseisugarbear]

Art, I totally agree with you. The Samuri Era of which I'm speaking was at least 200 years before WW2 .When Japan was a closed society. With no Western influences, I've often wondered ,the mindset of the WW2 leadership.They obviously brain washed, and *******ized the Budo concept of the Samuri Era......Be Safe >>>>>>>Wally