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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: gingertomantiques on February 22, 2011, 05:14:58 am

Title: POWDER HORN
Post by: gingertomantiques on February 22, 2011, 05:14:58 am
Hi all
i need some help from the military specialists.
i have a powder horn that i bought at auction & i have for sale on ebay but would like to add info about the scrimshaw work & the regiment.
It is British looks 18thC
thanks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170607004680&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_988wt_883

Apologies for ebay link but tried to upload photos without success
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: gingertomantiques on February 22, 2011, 05:50:24 am
think ive sorted the pics
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: cogar on February 22, 2011, 07:03:42 am
Neato, a self measuring powder horn. Never seen one before now.
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 08:23:14 am
This looks more like a horn for holding lead shot to me, especially with that brass measurer attached.  I have seen that brass measuring attachment usually on leather shot bags.  Very nice looking horn. What unscrews so you can fill it?
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: gingertomantiques on February 22, 2011, 09:45:09 am
the barrel measure unscrews leaving the ring which is riveted to the horn. i think it is for powder as the front divider appears to be missing ( see hole on arm above front slot ) & the base is copper which was used with powder as it will not spark causing ignition. also lf lead shot then would be a hunting horn so would expect a none military scrimshaw design.





Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 10:13:20 am
The brass valve on your horn is typically used for shot and not powder.  The powder would leak out from the cutoff slots.  See http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartList.aspx?catID=1&subID=17&styleID=77 for new reproduction English style chargers.  Scrimshaw on a horn can depict anything the owner favored and was not restricted to what the horn's purpose was.

You have a nice horn, gingertomantiques.  Most shot holders are leather bags or pouches.

The pic below is a new English style shot charger valve.
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on February 22, 2011, 12:19:25 pm
Wow. My hubby is drooling.
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: gingertomantiques on February 22, 2011, 01:05:46 pm
thanks wayward - any body know the regiment
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: mariok54 on February 22, 2011, 02:52:11 pm
If it were a Regimental Crest, should it not have a motto?
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 03:15:11 pm
Mario, not necessarily.  I did some looking around earlier today and saw some similar designs but could not find one with three cannons.  I think the crown is Queen Victoria which puts it before 1901.  I also was focusing mainly on horse artillery batteries which I think it comes from.  the one site that I thought would be good, I had a lot of problems with and all pics were red 'X' out. The site was diggerhistory. I cannot find a British site that has images of all the crest types.  I have had much better luck researching US military emblems.

The other thing I found odd was all three cannons face right.  In almost all images with cannons from British units, the cannons face left (gunners badges face right) or are 2 crossed cannon barrels. I have no idea what that significance is.
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on February 22, 2011, 03:42:01 pm
I tried searching for guns, cannons, carronades, cannonades and had no luck finding an insignia like this.
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 03:47:49 pm
I found a Royal Australian Army Corps crest with 3 cannons but it also has 3 cannon balls.  http://www.raaoc.asn.au/?q=node/43
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 03:49:58 pm
Hmmm, the scrimshaw on the horn has 4 cannon balls around the circumference of the circle. Wrong crown but cannons are the right type so this horn could date to 1823.
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 04:05:49 pm
Getting closer...Royal Army Ordnance crest maybe...
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: gingertomantiques on February 22, 2011, 04:16:55 pm
thanks everyone, had a thought
if its for shot & therefor possibly hunting & not military, could it be an heraldic coat coat of arms
Title: Re: POWDER HORN
Post by: waywardangler on February 22, 2011, 04:18:22 pm
A banner of the shield of the Ordnance Board Seal; possibly the flag of the Master General. On 30th July 1806 the shield was registered with the College of Arms.
http://flagspot.net/flags/gb~fleet.html#ora

At least we now have 3 cannons facing to the right and dating to the 1820s by the style of cannon?