Gunpowder Horns Photos

Early gunpowder horns were actually cow horns with a lid at one end & some funnel mechanism at the other to charge the gun barrel. Many of these horns were artistically embossed. Horns had two basic shapes: natural & flattened (via steam & pressure). The flat horns were more convenient to carry.

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Minute Man statue of colonial farmer with plow, musket & powder horn at Old North Bridge. Concord, MA.Redcoat loading flintlock at Colonial Michilimackinac. Mackinaw City, MI.Redcoat firing flintlock at Colonial Michilimackinac. Mackinaw City, MI.Spanish powder horn at Tucson Museum of Art. Tucson, AZ.
Minute Man statue of colonial farmer with plow, musket & powder horn at Old North Bridge. Concord, MA.Redcoat loading flintlock at Colonial Michilimackinac. Mackinaw City, MI.Redcoat firing flintlock at Colonial Michilimackinac. Mackinaw City, MI.Spanish powder horn (late 19th- early 20thC) at Tucson Museum of Art. Tucson, AZ.
Display of typical miners' tools including firearms & powder horns in Columbia Museum at Columbia State Historic Park. Columbia, CA.Powder horn once a gift to Benedict Arnold at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Powder horn belonged to an English loyalist at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Priming powder horn made from flattened sheep or goat horn at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.
Display of typical miners' tools including firearms & powder horns in Columbia Museum at Columbia State Historic Park. Columbia, CA.Powder horn (c1775) once a gift to Benedict Arnold at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Powder horn (1775) belonged to an English loyalist at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Priming powder horn (c1775) made from flattened sheep or goat horn at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.
Revolutionary era wood canteens & powder horn at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Powder horn with British arms prob. carried by John Satler in French & Indian War at Mattatuck Museum. Waterbury, CT.Powder horn of Abel French of Stratford, CT who served in American Revolution at Judson House. Stratford, CT.Powder horn with map of Hudson River from New York colony at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.
Revolutionary era wood canteens & powder horn at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Powder horn (1758) with British arms prob. carried by John Satler in French & Indian War at Mattatuck Museum. Waterbury, CT.Powder horn (1783) of Abel French of Stratford, CT who served in American Revolution at Judson House. Stratford, CT.Powder horn with map of Hudson River (c1760) from New York colony at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.
Powder horn by William Hovey of Cambridge, MA at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Powder horn candlestick at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Revolutionary War powder horns & pistols at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Powder horn from Massachusetts at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.
Powder horn (1775) by William Hovey of Cambridge, MA at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Powder horn candlestick at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Revolutionary War powder horns & pistols at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Powder horn (c1750) from Massachusetts at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.
Powder horns at Jefferson Barracks Military Museum. St. Louis, MO.Hand engraved powder horns at Woodman Museum. Dover, NH.Collection of early American powder horns at Woodman Museum. Dover, NH.Colonial American powder horn with scrimshaw scenes of York at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.
Powder horns (c1830s) at Jefferson Barracks Military Museum. St. Louis, MO.Hand engraved powder horns (1777 & 1771) at Woodman Museum. Dover, NH.Collection of early American powder horns at Woodman Museum. Dover, NH.Colonial American powder horn with scrimshaw scenes of York (1703) at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.
Collection of powder horns at Fort Ticonderoga. Ticonderoga, NY.Powder horn inscribed William Davison of 27th Regiment at Fort Ticonderoga. Ticonderoga, NY.Engraved whale tooth powder horn carved by Stratton Conkling at Sag Harbor Whaling Museum. Sag Harbor, NY.Carved cattle horn presented to President Roosevelt in Texas at Old Orchard Museum at Sagamore Hill NHS. Cove Neck, NY.
Collection of powder horns at Fort Ticonderoga. Ticonderoga, NY.Powder horn inscribed William Davison of 27th Regiment (1758) at Fort Ticonderoga. Ticonderoga, NY.Engraved whale tooth powder horn (1796) carved by Stratton Conkling at Sag Harbor Whaling Museum. Sag Harbor, NY.Carved cattle horn presented to President Roosevelt in Texas (1908) at Old Orchard Museum at Sagamore Hill NHS. Cove Neck, NY.
Powder horn of Abraham Andrews at Cleveland History Center. Cleveland, OH.Amber glass powder horn whimsy attr: Kearns Glass Works, Zanesville at Stone Academy Museum. Zanesville, OH.Powder horns & cured ham in Old Place at Sam Houston Park. Houston, TX.Collection of powder horns at Pioneer Museum. Fredericksburg, TX.
Powder horn (1777) of Abraham Andrews at Cleveland History Center. Cleveland, OH.Amber glass powder horn whimsy (1842-60) attr: Kearns Glass Works, Zanesville at Stone Academy Museum. Zanesville, OH.Powder horns & cured ham in Old Place at Sam Houston Park. Houston, TX.Collection of powder horns at Pioneer Museum. Fredericksburg, TX.
Fireplace, powder horn & rifle in Baetge House at Conservation Plaza. New Braunfels, TX.Powder horn & possibles bag used by rangers hired by Stephen F. Austen to punish Natives at Bullock Texas State History Museum. Austin, TX.Row of single-charge gunpowder flasks in guard hut at Henricus. VA.Powder horn with map of Hudson River through Lake Champlain at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.
Fireplace, powder horn & rifle in Baetge House at Conservation Plaza. New Braunfels, TX.Powder horn & possibles bag (c1840s) used by rangers hired by Stephen F. Austen to punish Natives at Bullock Texas State History Museum. Austin, TX.Row of single-charge gunpowder flasks in guard hut at Henricus. VA.Powder horn (1760) with map of Hudson River through Lake Champlain at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.
Powder horn with engraved marching troops at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.Powder horn from Fort Defiance in Barnerd [sic], VT at Vermont History Museum. Montpelier, VT.Engraved powder horn & settler's portrait at Vermont History Museum. Montpelier, VT.Powder horns display at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.
Powder horn (1758) with engraved marching troops at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.Powder horn (1780) from Fort Defiance in Barnerd [sic], VT at Vermont History Museum. Montpelier, VT.Engraved powder horn (1791) & settler's portrait at Vermont History Museum. Montpelier, VT.Powder horns display at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.
Powder horns engraved with maps at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Powder horn inscribed "Washington" & "E Pluribus Unum" at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Powder horn with nautical theme inscribed "Iabez Hall, His Horn at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Powder horn with Indian strap decorated by two Scots serving in North America during French & Indian Wars at National War Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Powder horns engraved with maps (c1760s) at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Powder horn inscribed "Washington" & "E Pluribus Unum" at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Powder horn with nautical theme inscribed "Iabez Hall, His Horn (1812) at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Powder horn with Indian strap decorated (1750s) by two Scots serving in North America during French & Indian Wars at National War Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Highland sporran, oxter knife & powder horn at National War Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Scottish decorated powder horns made from softened, then flattened cows' horns at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Scottish decorated powder horn with circular designs at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Scottish decorated powder horn engraved with hunting scene at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Highland sporran, oxter (armpit) knife & powder horn (c1725) at National War Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Scottish decorated powder horns made from softened, then flattened cows' horns (17thC) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Scottish decorated powder horn with circular designs (1669) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Scottish decorated powder horn engraved with hunting scene (c1660) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Scottish decorated powder horn with pot of lilies & double headed eagle emblem of Perth at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Engraved powder horns at Imperial Castle. Nuremberg, Germany.Powder horn & marine officers dagger at Musée de la Marine. Paris, France.
Scottish decorated powder horn with pot of lilies & double headed eagle emblem of Perth (late 16th - early 17thC) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Engraved powder horns (17th & 16thC) at Imperial Castle. Nuremberg, Germany.Powder horn (1807-52) & marine officers dagger (1804-15) at Musée de la Marine. Paris, France.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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