York County

Here is a project I started and it is nearing completion so I thought I would share.  I made a trade with a friend of mine that makes hunting bags.  He makes two bags, I make two horns, we both have a matching set.  I decided on York County Screw Tips.  The pictures below reflect the two horns in the white, then his horn completed.  I am in the process of finishing mine and will post photos of the horns mated with the pouches after completion.

Several features of the York County screw tips is the plug shape and carving, the style of the tip with multiple rings, the tip fits into the horn top to utilize as a funnel and there should be a shoulder for the screw tip to rest on so the threads are not stressed. Incised lines, usually two, can be found at the base and the tip of the horn.  there is a staple in the neck and base of the horn for strap attachment.

Enjoy
YMH&OS
John DeWald

Still here

Hello all...I have not disappeared.  Been busy preparing for a show in October, putting out orders and getting a website together.  The website should be published soon and I will put a link here for it.  I do not have much to show but will leave something here to look at until my next post.

The following pics are of a horn built by a co-worker under my tutelage. I did minor work on the horn but did carve the base plug and do the scrimshaw.  overall a nice result and happy that I could actually teach someone my craft.

Strap is a custom strap by Polizzi Custom Weaving

Enjoy

Mid-Week

Well here we are mid-week and another day closer to retirement.  Now that I think about it retirement is only a word as I plan on doing  horn work until the day I keel over at the bench.  Anyway....for today's post I have picked a historical horn I completed using an original Eastern PA horn for reference and inspiration.  It is pictured on page 160 of Madison Grant's book: "Powder Horns and Their Architecture".  It is not a bench copy.  I modified the base plug shape a bit to be more appealing to my eye and used an antler applied tip instead of an integrated tip like the original.  The scrimshaw is almost exact with little subtle changes.  I did not put a path to the door of the house and left off the name in lieu of putting on another someday.

11" on the inside curve
14" on the outside curve
3" across the base.
the tip is fashioned from moose antler and is 2 1/4"
the plug and stopper are of walnut.

This horn has one a ribbon at the 2012 HCH conference. Enjoy the pictures

Until next time,
YMHOS
John DeWald Jr.

The Hare horn

As promised here is the story on the Hare horn.

The Charles Hare horn is a "glass-backed" powder horn that I would consider a "transition" horn that would have been constructed between the French & Indian and Revolutionary wars. The strap is a custom strap from Kris Polizzi Custom Weaving and backed by me with linen ticking to reinforce and prevent wear.  The horn is 16" on the outside curve (OC) and 13 1/4" on the inside curve (IC) & has a beautiful double twist.  The lobe is carved in the shape of a heart to show love for king and country.  The base is 2 3/4" across. Cherry used for the recessed plug and retainer ring. the stopper is a walnut fiddle peg.  The scrimhaw is the Great Britain cipher, a rendering of the embattlements at Fort Pitt, and text describing the horn. on the lobe is the small GR cipher.

Charles hare is a ficticious personality derived from a real person and a historical figure. Charles is from the name of the person this horn was made for. Hare is from the Captain of Roger's Rangers that was stationed at Ft. Pitt around1767. George Croghan was the head of the British Indian Department, Eastern Div. whose home base of operations was Ft. Pitt.

One other thing of note is that this was a left hand horn, made for a right hand carry.  Not an uncommon occurrence during the time period.  It also allows for the spout of the horn to be turned in towards the body and somewhat downward, an important feature for a soldier on the battlefield as the loading of the firearm would be faster than with an upturned tip.

I would also like to extend thanks to Charles Anderson, Scott Sibley and Kris Polizzi.  Charles for the idea of the horn, Scott for his invaluable help in research for construction of the glass back and Kris for delivering a strap of great quality and workmanship.

ENJOY!!




Imminent

A brand new week here in North eastern PA.  Leaves are beginning to fall, the squirrels are busy gathering supplies and the last of the vegtables are being harvested.  Fall will be upon us soon (a week to be exact) which means furnaces will be turned on, jacket weather is here, and high school sports will be in full swing.  Along with this comes a bit of quiet, and a night of scary creatures and candy given freely to the trick-O-treaters in each neighborhood.

For me it means two fall shows and plenty of work in the workshop.  The first show will be the Fine Folk Art and Arms show in Carlisle, PA put on by a friend of mine, John Labella.  It is held at the Army Heritage and Education Center.   If you are in the area on Friday, October 19th: 12:00pm-6:00pm or Saturday, October 20th: 9:00am-4:00pm...please stop by and say hello and peruse the array of excellent Craftsmen and Artisans.  I have included a link to the site.

http://finefolkartandarms.com/

The second Show will be in November.  The Muncy Historical Society's  6th Annual Artist Exhibition & Sale.  This is all local artisans with wares on display and for sale.  I will post details soon.

So if I do not hear from you before then, stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the scenery as the eath mother gently puts herself to sleep for the winter to come.  Until next time

A picture of a recent horn. F&I "glass-backed" lobed powder horn. I will feature it in a future post
You most humble and obedient servant
John DeWald Jr.

A little about me.

I am an avid outdoorsman, a history nut, mainly the French and Indian war, and an avid re-enactor and the pictures that follow will show that.  First is a picture of my wife, daughter and I at Ft Frederick in 2009.

Next is a picture of me As a Lenape renactor at Old bedford village in 2010

Lastly a picture of me at Ft Frederick Market Faire in 2012

I'm am a native of North Eastern Pennsylvania, grew up just the other side of the Muncy Creek from Muncy, PA.  I started shooting black powder about 35 years ago with my father who inspired me to start making simple powder horns and doing scrimshaw. I continued to pursue my love of art until leaving PA to serve my country from 1986-92. After returning from Desert Storm, I became a correctional officer in 1994 going from state to federal service in 1998 where I still work.  In 1998 I met and eventually married the girl next door who grew up 2 miles from me and we have been married for 12 years. We live on 11 acres in a house built in 1863 with our 10 year old daughter just outside a little village called Pennsdale.

In 2004, I began participating in French and Indian War re-enactments which also renewed my interest in making powder horns.  While researching for a horn in 2009, I stumbled across information for the Honourable Company of Horner’s and finally joined this prestigious group of folks in 2011.  Since attending my first HCH conference, I have completely let the thirst for this ancient craft consume me and spend countless hours doing research and tinkering away in my 1863 basement workshop making pieces both contemporary and historical as well as wing bone turkey calls, and other fine accoutrements from horn, bone, and wood.  When not at work or in my workshop, I enjoy hunting, fishing, and attending various re-enactments and horning events with my family and friends.  I continue to work at improving my skills both in scrimshaw and horning and in time hope to leave behind a legacy for my daughter worthy of the craftsmen that have preceded me in this craft.  Awards and events may come and go but they will never match the warmth and satisfaction gained from the friends I have made through this craft and the guild. 

I am currently a Freeman in good standing with the Honourable Company of Horner’s and a current member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association. 

I do this Not only to preserve history but in a literal sense, I am trying to keep a dying art alive through caring hands.  Maybe, someday, just maybe, years from now when I am gone and my ashes have returned to Mother Earth, someone will pick up a horn I have made, show it to their son, daughter, friend and say:  "Hey that's a DeWald horn"

Until next time
Your most humble and obedient servant
John L. DeWald Jr.

Hello

Hello to all in the cyberworld and as well to those that may stumble across my little blog in my small corner of the universe.  Well...let's get this thing off the ground, started up and blogging!!

My name is John L. DeWald Jr.  I am a Horner and a Scrimshander.  What the heck did he just say?  Well let me try to explain. 

A horner is a person that makes powderhorns and accoutrements mainly forom the 17th and 18th century that are comprised mainly out of cow horn.  We also incorporate woods, bone, and metals into the products.  A scrimshander is one who practices the art of scrimshaw on the  horn bone or ivory.  In the 17th and 18th century, many sailors would do scrimshaw on whales teeh and the like.  the land based people such as myself preferred to call it engraving.

So there you have it..that is what I do for a hobby?  I spend an awful ot of time doing it to jsut call it a hobby but it is only after my regular job and on the weekends.  That's it for my introduction.  I will add a brief bio in my next post and then some photos of work.

Until then,

Your most humble and obedient servant,

John L. DeWald Jr.