Starting a new horn ...

[ricktwin]

and am making it an "applied tip" horn with walnut accents. Sorry for the poor pictures, I need to work on my lighting. The applied tip will be "pinned in place when completed. My question, is it only a matter of taste on how long the applied tip is? I've looked at a lot of reference materials and seen them all different ways. I tend to like the longer tapered look as opposed to the shorter stockier look. I suppose the stockier one's may have been for larger calibers that required more volume of powder in the pour, thus a larger hole and tip, but who knows. This horn will be polished and scrimmed before adding a walnut butt plug and leather strap. The next project will be a "screw-tip" York County type horn. Wish me luck!

 

[Harddog]

Rick,

The length and diameter of the applied tip is just a matter of what looks good to you and what fits the horn. THe long slender tapered tips look the best to me, but when working with an antler or horn applied tip it is sometimes hard to find a piece of antler or horn to make the longer tips and still have enough diameter to serve the purpose. The pieces of antler will have a pithy center that will not work and most horn will have a curve that you will have to try and work around.

BTW, you rarely, if ever, see any scrimshaw on original horns of the same type as what you are building.

Randy Hedden

 

[ricktwin]

Thanks ... I actually have several elk tines that are solid to get the diameter and length for application. That's a good idea for one of my next few horns. I would have to give it some thought to determine what wood to use for the butt plug end to correspond with the antler tip, light or dark. I wonder if I have an elk button large enough to carve into a plug, or at least apply to the end of a wooden one. Now you have me thinking outside the box! Thanks again.

As far as scrimming the featured horn, I'm not too concerned with the original look for this one, as it'll be a gift for someone special and I'd like to put something on it they can pass on down to generations (I hope). Thanks for the advice though. I'll pay special attention when doing period horns.

 

[Harddog]

Rick,

Once you have turned or worked an elk antler tip it can be dyed or stained with leather stain to acheive an appropriate color. In fact, all antler usually stains up pretty good.

Randy Hedden