A guy wanted a "Son's of Liberty" themed small flat horn to finish out a squirrel hunting rig. Scrimshaw by my self,..horn by Bill Smith.

 

I'll post this here in this section since my last post ended up here,,.....I told you boys I don't fit in anywhere ,....but the horn does have a tiger maple base plug so perhaps that'll count....(as always feel free to move if you Gent's think it'll have a better home  ) I hang out with a bag and horn maker friend of mine Bill Smith,.......I work a lot with him making horns and the horn itself officially came out of his shop,........I then do all the scrimshaw at my house. It's just a simple ink job,....nothing extra fancy,...but a popular theme amongst the flintlock guys. The bag and rifle pictured are mine that I sometimes use for props when taking pics,.......the bag is a double scout style in buffalo leather also by Bill Smith. 

 

Best Regard's Patriots

-Aaron: Newest recruit to F Troop 

Aaron, you are an artist with many facets, I really appreciate this work you are doing. I love history, I love our American history, and I love that powder horn. The writing on it looks dead on for the time period, the font is wonderful. And of course the actual work you put into it is too.

 

Now that rifle, what a beaut! Hey Aaron, please stick around, don't go anywhere on us, you may be pleasantly surprised, for as my own interests expand, so do our forums. For the longest time I have wanted to be involved in Muzzle Loading and the building of those rifles, and all the events, and the crafts that surround that industry, such as all the accouterments that go along with the sport/craft. 

 

So I am seriously considering the start of a new forum here on The Patriot Woodworker for Guns, and then sub categories in that forum for Black Powder and Muzzle Loaders, Building, etc etc. And for the accessories and arts such as yours that surround it all.

The two disciplines of woodworking and building the Muzzle Loaders, just seem such a great fit, and not too mention we after all are "The Patriot Woodworker!"

 

So the Scrimshaw, on the horn, you mentioned it's ink. Can you tell us what the history is behind that? What would provoke someone to write on their powder horn? Did it come from our Revolutionary days and the soldier was bored and decided to start writing on his horn? And, did they or you carve on the horns?

 

Thanks Aaron, love this type of work, thanks for sharing.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, your photography, wonderful work! I bet @Gerald , our resident photographer would approve of your set up and lighting. Speaking of which, what did you use to shoot this?

3 hours ago, John Morris said:

Aaron, you are an artist with many facets, I really appreciate this work you are doing. I love history, I love our American history, and I love that powder horn. The writing on it looks dead on for the time period, the font is wonderful. And of course the actual work you put into it is too.

 

Now that rifle, what a beaut! Hey Aaron, please stick around, don't go anywhere on us, you may be pleasantly surprised, for as my own interests expand, so do our forums. For the longest time I have wanted to be involved in Muzzle Loading and the building of those rifles, and all the events, and the crafts that surround that industry, such as all the accouterments that go along with the sport/craft. 

 

So I am seriously considering the start of a new forum here on The Patriot Woodworker for Guns, and then sub categories in that forum for Black Powder and Muzzle Loaders, Building, etc etc. And for the accessories and arts such as yours that surround it all.

The two disciplines of woodworking and building the Muzzle Loaders, just seem such a great fit, and not too mention we after all are "The Patriot Woodworker!"

 

So the Scrimshaw, on the horn, you mentioned it's ink. Can you tell us what the history is behind that? What would provoke someone to write on their powder horn? Did it come from our Revolutionary days and the soldier was bored and decided to start writing on his horn? And, did they or you carve on the horns?

 

Thanks Aaron, love this type of work, thanks for sharing.

John,...thanks for the kind words. The powder horn in this form and it's other same time period variables is uniquely early american. There are European stag flask and other things (awesome in their own right) that held powder but the "Powder Horn",...was all us. Those guys had to have something to send the lead down range out of their muskets and KY rifles,...that was black powder,...so they had to have something to carry it in,....in comes the readily available at the time cow horn . The hay day falls in line with the rifles used,...the best of the best were the French and Indian war period and Revolutionary period horns. There is everything scrimshawed on horns form symbols that meant nothing.......to religion and politics of the day that could get you hanged for if you were caught with it....and literally everything in between,......but the fun part for me is there is a TON of symbolism in a lot of those images. I've got a library of books on powder horns and scrimshaw in general I use for reference....and obviously at times the internet helps. 

     I use India ink for my scrim. It is period correct and proven to have lasted centuries. At the time the original makers used everything from ash from a fire to lamp soot,...there is no wrong thing to use. Even some of the modern guys now will use sharpie markers,.....I'm not in that camp yet but whatever a man wants do do. 

      Yes we do carve on many of the horns. It is called "throat work". Basically you are using a file/knife/cabinet scraper,..whatever you like to remove material from usually the narrow end of the horn. A lot of the originals had no decoration at all,.....some are profusely carved/engraved....there were professional makers at the time. A maker named Jacob Gay is one of the more well known.

 

      My rifle is handcrafted....no I didn't make it. There is still a pretty dedicated community of guys that do......and some quality kits available. The history of the long rifle  and it's evolution is complicated,......real complicated. It's pretty much religion to those that make them. A great deal of it is centered around and in early Pennsylvania. I love them....but I'm a gun guy in general,.....I even love me German air rifle or 2 

I'mreally a novice on these horns,....as I've said before my interest really do vary,.....a lot of it I haven't taken a swing at yet. Here's a few more,....

,.....oh and my pics. It was taken on my  kitchen table where I do my scrimshaw. I used a piece of deer hide leather for a drop and it was taken with my 3 year old samsung phone ,........that's just how it turned out 

You can tell I don't do much hunting. 

...Well other than for rusty ARN.

From the title I was expecting something like a duck call. 

@aaronc, firstly thanks for the wonderful reply above!

Secondly, I thought of you tonight as I opened up my very first issue of MazzleBlasts magazine that just received after joining NMLRA. I found the wonderful article  "John Bush, Founder of the Lake George School of Powder Horns". What a great read! 

As I stated, I thought of you immediatey. Really neat work. 

 

 

Aaron, you are definitely the artist and craftsman.  Very glad to have you here showing us and detailing your work for us.

41 minutes ago, Cal said:

Aaron, you are definitely the artist and craftsman.  Very glad to have you here showing us and detailing your work for us.

Appreciate the kind words,......I think  I'm just a straight up  piddler ,.......but you guys have a great forum here. Thanks -Aaron