2 vintage gunpowder horns

fredqc

fredqc

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Hi,

i found 2 vintage gunpowder horns in average condition. Is there collector for theses? How much can i expect for them?





Thanks, Fred
 
There is a collector's market but you have to spend a lot of time educating yourself about them, because there are a lot of really, really good reproductions out there that look original, but aren't. Plenty are "aged" as well and have "old" dates etched into them, nice designs and scrimshaw artwork - but aren't original. The guys and girls who made them weren't necessarily trying to deceive anyone, but simply building them for themselves and to their own taste. But the result is, it's a hard article to evaluate without holding it in your hand.

I personally wouldn't buy one without seeing it in person, just because even a seller can believe that what they have is original when it might not be. Some folks who just want a nice powder horn and don't care about authenticity, might. So the value online vs. "in-person" could be markedly different.
 
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In my experience the plain ones don't seem to be much sought after, mainly as a decorator item. Value maybe 20 to 40 bucks. Its the ones with the nice scrimshaw work that bring the bigger money. That value is determined by the quality of the workmanship, the message, the date, the maker, any historical significance, pictures, etc.
 
Can you give us any background on these? Provenence? Where were they found, etc? Any histiorical connection can add value otherwise Tincup summarized the reality pretty well. Could you re-post with a ruler in the photo for scale?
 
I bought these at a yard sale in st-siméon, québec. They are very dirty and look well used. Should i clean them? If so, how can i do it?

I can find any info or marking on them. Is it normal? Where should i look?

Here is a picture with scale

Thanks for the information.







Ol' Flinter said:
Can you give us any background on these? Provenence? Where were they found, etc? Any histiorical connection can add value otherwise Tincup summarized the reality pretty well. Could you re-post with a ruler in the photo for scale?
Click to expand...
 
If you plan to sell them I would not do any cleaning or fixing - leave that to the new owner. If you plan to hang them on the wall then i would take some burlap or old denim with a bit of varsol, kerosene or turpentine and rub them to clean off some of the grime but don't try to make them sparkle like new. Leave the tacks rusty brown. Then rub them up with a bit of floor wax or equivalent.
 
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