| Cow Horns have long been employed for making waterproof containers. From the 17th century onward here in North America, powder horns, spice horns, horn cups, horn spoons, horn combs, even schoolbook primers known as horn books were common. However, for many, when a horn container is mentioned, the first image that comes to mind is that of a traditional powder horn. The later half of the 18th century is said to be the Golden Age of powder horn making as an art form here in America. During this time, various artists utilized the horn as a canvas upon which they etched scenes, names, and family crests. Historical events like the dates of battles fought were often inscribed on the sides of horns. These etchings collectively became known as scrimshaw folk art and today, original pieces fetch prices in the hundreds and thousands of dollars, depending upon the name of the artist or the detail and quality of the artwork. Heritage Products is pleased to bring you the unique works of scrimshaw artists from across the country who excel in this art form and craft powder horns, priming horns, spice horns, powder measures, cups, needle cases and other historically-accurate reproductions that can only be described as museum quality. Please take the time to read the brief biographies of each before looking at their work. We think you will find this section particularly interesting. Our artists are: |
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| Orville Mumma lives in Jonestown, Pennsylvania where he reproduces many different Golden Age horn products. Orville is especially fond of reproducing the work of the makers of Pennsylvania, New York and New England and his work is highly sought after by re-enactors and collectors from this region of the country. He enjoys the challenges of making unusual items such as salt and spice horns with turned antler screw tips, horn and bone turkey calls, artillery powder horns, lathe-turned antler needle cases, and flattened priming horns with intricate scrimshaw scenes. | |||||||||
| Richard Muskopf lives in Percy, Illinois where he makes a variety of period-correct products from cow horn and antler material in the style of the 18th century. Richard also makes swords and knives, plug bayonets, and catlanite pipes. He is a student of the trade relations between the Native Americans and Europeans of the Illinois Country during the 17th and 18th centuries and patterns many of his reproductions on remaining artifacts from these time periods. | |||||||||
Our Horn Products
| PH-008 Horn Cup These simple horn cups are lightweight and watertight and are historically correct for many different time periods. The cups are constructed entirely of cow horn, including the base plug which has been attached with small wood pegs. The cup is sealed with brewer’s pitch which is FDA approved and safe for all cold drinks. (Note: hot fluids can cause the brewer’s pitch to soften and possibly cause leakage.) Please indicate your choice by adding a brief description to the order form. $30.00
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PH-010 Salt Horn Salt was an important ingredient to 18th century cooking – just as it still is today. Many bland dishes can “come alive” with just a touch of salt. The salt horn enabled a hunter, soldier, or adventurer in the wilderness to carry a personal supply of salt which would pour freely even on damp days. This salt horn is made of a flattened cow horn with top and base plugs made from slabs of deer antler. The threaded spout is crafted from a piece of lathe-turned antler and contains a hand carved wood stopper. This is truly a unique item. The scrimshaw rendering is that of a Scottish Highlander in the British Army. $125.00
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| SH-001 Antler Tip Powder Measures Each of these powder measures are one-of-a-kind and differ in size and style of decoration. Amounts of FFg black powder vary and range from 50 to 110 grains. Each are similar in that they are all carefully crafted and each has a pour spout at the mouth of the measure which makes it that much easier to pour into the muzzle of pistol or long gun. Please indicate the size of charge needed. $25.00 |  |
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PH-012 Whisk and Pick Set This set of simple tools is designed for keeping the pan and the vent hole of the flintlock mechanism clean and clear of powder residue and fouling. Nothing is more frustrating than concentrating on making that “perfect bull’s eye” and then have the flintlock misfire! This set is made of turned deer antler or turned cow horn, fitted with all natural bristles in the brush and steel piano wire in the pick. The handles are left unstained as the natural oils from the user’s hands will quickly stain these pieces with a unique patina. $20.00 per set | ||||||||
| SH-020 .50 Caliber Ball Blocks Many muzzle loader deer hunters have adopted the use of ball blocks in their hunting gear as a means of re-loading quickly when in the deer woods of autumn. Having three or more patched balls hanging around their neck or attached to their shooting bag speeds up the process of reloading once a shot has been taken. These same hunters frequently leave their powder horns and possibles bag back at camp, taking instead a few rolled paper cartridges with pre-measured powder charges and their ball blocks. The logic for this is simple: most often when deer hunting a hunter will get only one or two shots at his quarry. If he misses with those, the deer is long gone. On the other hand, if the hunter is familiar with his rifle and has practiced well before the deer season opens, one or two shots are all he will need. The ball blocks that are shown here are all in .50 caliber, although we do get larger and smaller ones from time to time. If you would like to have one in your particular caliber, just give us a call or send us a note and we can make arrangements to have one made in your favorite caliber. These ball blocks are all made of the very finest Tiger Stripe Maple and finished with the same degree of attention as is a fine flintlock rifle. If you will look carefully at the cow horn disc at the top of each block, you will see the date 1750 etched into the horn along with a nice 18th century scrimshaw pattern. These Ball Blocks are made by Orville Mumma and it is one of his hallmark touches to put a date on these pieces that match the caliber. Thus, these three all have 1750 on them while a .54 caliber will have 1754, a .62 caliber will be dated 1762 and so forth. This item makes a very distinctive addition to your gear $30.00 |  |
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PH-024 The Logan Screw Tip Powder Horn This exceptional horn has been hand crafted by Orville Mumma and is patterned after an original made in the 18th century in Pennsylvania. At first blush this horn appears rather plain and simple – but don’t be fooled by first appearances! Upon closer examination it will be noted that there is a band around the top of the horn to which the horn spout has been attached. And this horn spout is actually threaded to form a screw tip horn. The understated elegance of this horn puts it in a class above horns that tend to be somewhat pretentious in gaudy embellishment. Orville has resisted putting any scrimshaw on this horn so that the new owner can have his or her name and maybe a line or two of their favorite prose etched in by their own hand or by another artist. The craftsmanship exhibited in this piece is simply of the very finest. This horn is surely destined to be a treasured heirloom one day. $250.00
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| PH-015 Micmac Powder Horn This powder horn is decorated in the style of the Micmac Indians of the Great Lakes regions and has scrolled floral patterns. Borders top and bottom are stylistic Native American geometric bands. $200.00
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PH-025 Banded, Screw Tip, Flat Horn This unique horn is ideal for the hunter who wants to go out for a day’s hunt and not carry a pound or more of powder. This horn will easily carry a quarter pound of FFg black powder – far more than is necessary to put rabbits, quail, and squirrels on the supper menu! This horn measures about 8 ½ inches in length and about 3 inches in width at the base. It fits easily into a pocket of a hunting coat or carried inside your normal shooting bag. The horn is a banded style with a band around the base of the horn and the engrailed base plug is made from deer antler that is also decorated with scrimshaw. The screw tip spout is made from turned deer antler. Removing the spout makes it far easier to fill the horn with black powder. The scrimshaw on the front of the horn is that of a compass rose showing all 32 cardinal points of the compass that every aspiring ensign was required to commit to memory as a part of his training. This one of a kind horn looks as if it was just discovered in the collection of some old estate, it is just that finely made. Orville Mumma is the maker and because his work is of museum quality, he signs, dates, and puts a serial number on each of his pieces. All that information, you will be pleased to learn, is always put in unnoticeable locations and is of a very small size. $150.00
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| PH-020 Prime Horn This prime horn is by Orville Mumma and depicts common motifs from the Revolutionary War period. On one side is a folk art scene of a sportsman bird hunting on the outskirts of a town. On the other side, however, is a patriotic slogan to “Join or Die” referring to the necessity of the colonies to join together in the effort to break away from England and establish a nation of their own. The base plug of this horn also has floral scrimshaw on it. $95.00
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PH-021 Prime Horn This prime horn by Orville Mumma depicts floral patterns of leaves and vines along with scroll work seen in horns made during the Golden Age of powder horns – that is, the latter half of the 18th century – in Pennsylvania. On one side a crown looks down upon weeping heart pierced by arrows. The opposite side shows mainly floral patterns. The base plug, which is made of deer antler, also has a floral pattern etched into it. As can be seen, this horn is a screw tip and the spout is made from turned deer antler. $95.00
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| PH-022 Prime Horn This prime horn by Orville Mumma exhibits floral patterns in typical on 18th century scrimshaw work. On one side, the horn has floral leaves, vines and scroll work while on the opposite side, the vines outline two spaces where the owner’s name and a line of prose can be etched in scrimshaw. Like all of Orville’s prime horns, the wooden stopper includes a built in vent pick. The horn base plug of this horn also has scrimshaw on it. $90.00
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PH-023 Prime Horn This prime horn is by Orville Mumma and shows fanciful floral patterns typical of the colonial period on both sides as well as the base plug which is also made of cow horn. An edge of this horn has also been decorated with a floral pattern so that there are a total of four panels of scrimshaw on this horn. As with all of Orville’s prime horns, the wooden stopper also contains a vent pick, $100.00
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