Bone Tipped & Banded Horns
Regional Characteristics of Professionally Made Powder Horns
By Jay Hopkins
Published by The Honorable Company of Horners
This is the first volume of a planned two-volume set. It is
the result of a fifty year study of the regional characteristics of
professionally made powder horns.
The author is a long time collector who provides valuable
insight into the regional characteristics of powder horns. His initial interest
in long arms soon led him to an intense interest in the horns that accompanied
these pieces. Years of study have resulted in an understanding of the horners
and the work they produced. This outstanding book is the result of that study.
In the introduction to the book the author speaks about the
organization. “ The study includes a large number of horns of diverse types and
origins. Multiple views are shown of each horn including close-ups of tips,
butts and other important details which are the primary basis for making
regional attribution. I decided to take a number of measurements since one
never knows when such data will become important.” The photography is
excellent and the data most useful.
The first chapters gives the reader great insight into the
parts which make up the powder horn. He also discusses repairs and
modifications. There are also valuable insights into the makers.
The author looks at the early horns in chapter two.
Providing the reader with numerous examples plus information regarding these
examples. The selection of horns is exceptional. Many of these examples are
published here for the first time. The horns from King’s Mountain were of
particular interest.
From the study of early horns the author next looks at horns
from the Philadelphia area. This chapter provides a wealth of information about
these horns. Again outstanding examples and information.
Chapter four delves into the horns from the Virginia
Regions.
The author states in Chapter five that “I have arbitrarily
labeled this diverse group of horns Large Rifleman’s Horns as a descriptive
term. I have no specific evidance that these were carried only by riflemen as
opposed to soldiers or others carrying smooth bore weapons, but they primarily
represent horns of early dates and early characteristics which are large in
size and carrying capacity.” The horns represented are a diverse and wonderful
group.
We go on to look at horns utilizing brass furniture rings or
brass pulls as a means of strap attachment. This is quite an interesting section which leads
us along with the author to speculate about their origin.
After chapters dealing with pinned collars and two-piece
tips the author moves on to share with the readers an extensive and in depth
look at Virginia horns. Horns from Rockingham County and Covington are shown as
well as a miscellaneous horns thought to be from Virginia along with horns from
Southwest Virginia and West Virginia.
The information contained in this book is so extensive and
the photos so outstanding that it is very difficult for the reviewer to
adequately describe the contents. Suffice it to say I was impressed and I hope
the readers will also find it as informative an exciting as I did. Bone Tipped
& Banded Horns Regional Characteristics of Professionally Made Powder Horns
is highly recommended.
Books are available at $100.00, each plus $10.00 postage.
Payment by cash, check or money order, made to HCH, mailed to:
HCH Treasurer
2210 Acorn Circle
Huntingdon, PA 16652
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