Old Scrimshaw powder horn I picked up

[Texcl2]

I couldn’t resist the bird, lol reminds me of a VA rail. It’s the perfect size day horn too….

 

[The Miner '49er]

That's pretty nice. We're you able to get any of its history?

 

[Texcl2]

The history was unknown. Unfortunately, it seems that it was bought in an estate sale or something like that and no history was passed down with it. It has a lot of wear and a lot of the designs are worn off. The nails that hold the base on are definitely hand made and I’m not sure how the end of the horn was cut but it was not with a saw, it’s almost scalloped. I guess there’s no way to tell how old it really is. Not bad for less than $60.

 

[Absoroka]

What a great find. The scrimshaw was likely done by the owner due to the simple designs. Probably originated in a area where the birds live.

 

[Texcl2]

Yeah, I was thinking East coast as rail/shore bird hunting was pretty popular through the early 1900’s there. I have an old 1950’s sports afield magazine somewhere and there was an article from the authors recollections about hunting rails with and old guy when he was a kid from an old skulling boat in the north east perhaps Maryland or New England, I can’t recall. Of course it’s just a hunch and will most likely never know where it originated but as an avid waterfowler who lived on the east coast in my teens and early 20’s and now resides in the best waterfowl habitat in America, North Dakota, it speaks to me.

 

[oldwoodchas.]

Nice find. Now you have to make one like it to use.

 

[Texcl2]

I’ll probably use this one, lol. It still holds air believe it or not. It has some thin spots where bugs chewed it though. I’ve heard filling these horns with powder wards off insects, so that’s on the table. I’m worried if I use it in a hunting scenario I might damage it though, so that’s probably not going to happen, especially not duck hunting.