Was it at all common...

[Riley/MN]

To have a Bible verse on a horn???

I have seen many clever sayings to personalize a horn, just wondering if a verse was done much (traditionally), if ever.

Thanks

[Christiaan]

Can't give you factual information cause I live on the Dark Continent.  But I sure think its a great idea.

There must have been some good folks in the old days who had the same idea.

[BEAVERMAN]

There are a few examples of verse on originals in some of the horn books that I have

[No Deer]

Though I can't document it, I have read that some of the longhunter types carried bibles, so it would stand to reason that some would have bible verses on their horns IMO.

[Stryker]

Bible verses on horns were done. I have personally seen 2 from the early 1800's that had bible verses. I don't know how early it goes back, but it stands to reason it could be earlier. I've also read where they would shave the horn very thin, almost translucent so you could hold it up to the light and see how much powder was left.

[HORNER75]

Yep!...Bible verse engraved horns were popular in several area's of the East and later in the West.  Personally, I have been thinking of engraving a Golden Age horn with the LORDS PRAYER on it, for a Preacher friend of mine.

Rick

[Pichou]

Thin shaved horns are very common.  Engraving starts to die out after the War of 1812.

Bible verses?  I haven't looked for them.  But if done well, would be very cool.  A verse and a dove, or lion and lamb?  Edward Hicks' Peaceable Kingdom and other paintings are 1st quarter 19th century, and should give you some great ideas.  OBTW, he was from Bucks County, PA.  

[Loyalist Dave]

The only way to really know that is to know how many horns were decorated, and then how many had bible verses.     Rather impossible.  It appears that most horns were self-made, but even that is conjecture, as one cannot tell if the horn and the engraving were done by the same hand, no? The best answer seems to be, a bible verse on a horn is not incorrect, as it was known to have been done.

You may want to find text from an old King James Bible to ensure the actual wording and spelling is correct.  

For example, a modern translation of Psalm 18:2 is,
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
       my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
       He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold

But the King James version of The Bible was the most common, for protestants.  The Vulgate edition was for the Catholics.  The KJB version in some editions is:

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Just a thought...

LD

[Capt. Jas.]

’Tis Thou preservest me from death
And dangers every hour;
I cannot draw another breath
Unless Thou give me power.

That verse is from a hymn that was first published in 1809.
One of my ancestors had that verse written and scratched on many things of his. He had seven sons in the war of northern aggression and the verse was his favorite to include when he wrote them while they served. It was in his small leather bound farming day book that I have, on a dough tray and reported to be on his powder horn which was lost in a house fire in the early 20th century.

I have used that verse on a few horns I have done for others. One day I will put it on a horn for myself.