Antique powder horn

[Mattalaboy21]

Hey im Matt. I just recently starting collecting antiques. I bought 3 old powder horns from the flea market this weekend and I believe one of them may be from the civil war era or older.

I'm looking for help identifying the age and would like to know how much it's worth. Thanks in advance

 

[RedRover]

They were commonly used from the late 1700s up, and even into the early 1900s by back-country types still employing muzzle-loaders (civilians didn't bother about paper cartridges)... like Old Bill Walker in the Smoky Mountains...

 

[Patrick H]

It looks suitably old in the photo, but I'm looking from way over here in central Missouri. I have a small horn aged to essentially the same color and texture. (Mine came from a cardboard box in an estate sale.) I am intrigued by the finial or "button" on the end plug. What is the material? What kind of stopper in the small end? Any scratched initials or designs present on the horn?

 

[scooter748driver]

I am not sure about them, but wanted to welcome you from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Trooper "D"]

Hey im Matt. I just recently starting collecting antiques. I bought 3 old powder horns from the flea market this weekend and I believe one of them may be from the civil war era or older.View attachment 551430 I'm looking for help identifying the age and would like to know how much it's worth. Thanks in advance

Better pics! We need better pics!

 

[CowCavalry]

They were commonly used from the late 1700s up, and even into the early 1900s by back-country types still employing muzzle-loaders (civilians didn't bother about paper cartridges)... like Old Bill Walker in the Smoky Mountains...

View attachment 551509

I have a short book written by a mountain man of his dealings out west with Indians and in it, he says every mountain man was very skilled at making their own cartridges and kept a supply always on hand.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome to the forum Matt. Have no idea how old it is but it's a neat piece. Soldiers used pre-made paper cartridges and some metalic cartridges so it certainly isn't anything military. If you can find any markings at all on it post a close up photo, that would at least give a clue.

 

[gary]

Those were common hand made horns. It might have had the plug end formed (heat in boiling water for about 20-30 seconds, jam a plug into it and let it remain in place while the horn cools). Then a plug can be fitted (you tried to make horn openings and plugs universal so as to speed up production).

 

[bayonet]

Need better pics! I have 2 dated Rev War era horns (which I will be selling soon). You have to be careful with them horns, many fakes and reproductions out there passed off as antiques. Plus what did you pay for them, then we can tell you if you did ok or got taken to the Cleaners!