Nuther old horn

[ridjrunr]

I picked this up yesterday on the way home from acdr apt. I knew it was at an antique shop as of a couple weeks ago and its been just simmering on my conscious.
151/4” around the outside curve and rh carry to boot. A couple small bug chews but minimal and will be sealed with beeswax.
That leather thong will be replaced with a braintan wang. The spot plug and measure are both carved of horn. Base plug of walnut i think.

[ridjrunr]

Spout plug and measure

[rollingb]

That's a good lookin' old horn,.... has it been refurbished?

[ridjrunr]

That's a good lookin' old horn,.... has it been refurbished?

No indication of that, it may just be from first half of 1900's. Eitherway, I like it alot. Later, maybe today I'll determine the amount that little measure throws.

[rollingb]

It looks as though it could hold pretty close to a full pound of powder. 

[ridjrunr]

It looks as though it could hold pretty close to a full pound of powder. 

Yes, an thats whats interesting as the measure is pretty small and if that was matched up with a small game rifle, that would have been ALOT of shooting
Also, the spout hole is smaller than norm, im guessing 3/16" dia. Instead of the common, 1/4".

[KDubs]

nice find, I like that a lot.
 How would you date something like that. 

[Bigsmoke]

 How would you date something like that.

Maybe ask it out to dinner with you??   

[ridjrunr]

 How would you date something like that.

Maybe ask it out to dinner with you??   

  I did and "it" was easy 

[KDubs]

Bah hahaha .  killing me

[ridjrunr]

Bah hahaha .  killing me

Without provenance, one can only make an educated guess imo.
I feel this one is fairly generic, having no exact design style to pinpoint a time or place.
But looking at known examples of both true antique and contemporary horns I would guess this is probably late 19th to early to mid 20th century. This was located in south central Ks at an antique store but could have been picked about anywere. Without speaking to the vendor in the shop, I have nothing else to go on.

[Doc Nock]

The way some of you lads make horns today that look and function like very early ones, someone is going to play hell trying to date those in the future, eh?

[Bigsmoke]

Yes, Doc,
That is why makers are encouraged to establish a touch mark and date the item.
That was always something I didn't feel I had time to do, as it would have just slowed me down more than I wanted.  I think that out of all the 1,000's of horns I made, I only put a touch mark on one of them, at the customer's insistence.  I actually bought two different horn making companies and neither of their owners had used touch marks.  So, shame on all of us.

John (Bigsmoke)

[ridjrunr]

The way some of you lads make horns today that look and function like very early ones, someone is going to play hell trying to date those in the future, eh?

Not sure what you are referring too?

[Winter Hawk]

I believe Doc is pointing out that some of the new horns are made so like the originals that, without their being dated and/or have a touch mark (as John said) they can pass as coming from the 17th, 18th or 19th centuries. 

~Kees~