Raw Hide on horn

[Big Lee]

I have a horn that well lets see they used eye screws to hold the strap, ugly tacks to cover the nails in the but plug, the plug is flat unsanded. Well what I was thinking was to cover the plug with rawhide, put a band of rawhide around the neck of the horn with tabs to hook the strap to. Have any of you seen anything like this would it be correct for any of the time that we are interested in?

 

[LaBonte]

There are many old time western horns made or repaired incorporating rawhide - rawhide was the duct tape of the day in dry west anyway and was used to repair/strengthen just about everything.

here's just one rawhide covered horn that was carried by Mtn Man Mariano Medina...

A new one but based on an original - the horn had a hole in it from being filed to thin..

My own personal horn - it's an original dated 1791 and 1825 - it had some splits so I repaired it with rawhide at the plug and the spout

hope this helps.......I think I've got a pic of the Medina ******** covered with rawhide but will have to look for it

 

[Big Lee]

LaBonte
Thank you, what I had in mind was covering the butt plug. I have never seen it done so I thought I would ask. Covering it will realy change the look of this horn. I picked up a little horn at a thrift store for a buck the other day that is mostly black with a few strikes of white in it that I'm going to use for my 32 cal. About 7 inches along the outside curve, someone scraped at it and than polished but can use some more scraping and need rounded, or flattened. I don't know wich to do yet maybe after it sits on the computer desk a little longer I can make a desision on it.
Big Lee

 

[Goldhunter]

Labonte, what kind of rawhide are you using? I'm guessing not cow (it can be pretty thick).

 

[LaBonte]

I use deer for this type work...

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Rawhide was used to repair a crack or hole on horns. If you have a squirrel hide or small rabbit, you could tube it and pull it over the butt. Madison Grant's book on horns has some pics of originals repaired this way.
Scott

 

[Big Lee]

When I can get a clear shot it will be ground hog.We have to many of them around here this year, The barn across the road has taken a hit with them. Six hotes in 15 foot section of it all down under the foundation.
Big Lee

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Ground hog would probably work...
Scott

 

[omarick1948]

Not being able to see your horn. You didn't mention if it was an old original or newer made item. If it is modern, why not just remove the old base plug and make a new one? Then just drill and wood peg the base on where the nail holes were! Not all that hard, but a little time consuming.

As far as the raw hide around the spout. You can easily do that, but ever think about doing an applied wood or horn strap ring there? There's examples of originals having them!

Just my thoughts and two cents worth!

Rick

 

[Big Lee]

Rick
The horn is modern,yes I could remove the plug and thought about doing that. I just thought it would look better with the raw hide, the light color of raw hide to the dark color of the horn. After seeing the ones posted I realy like the look.
Big Lee