by James C. Fulmer | Past President, NMLRA
Copy of an original horn showing some of Skip Hamaker’s best work
It’s March and hopefully the cold spell that has had a nasty grip on the country this winter will be at an end.
March is a time of the year here in Pennsylvania when people start seeing better weather; that is, more good days than bad with the cold and snow fading into memory (I hope). There are a lot of cabin fever events held in March across the country and here it is no exception. Gun shows, sportsmen shows—there are a lot of shows, and I am ready for them.
The first event I will be attending this spring will be the Honourable Company of Horners (HCH) 18th Annual Meeting and Horn Fair, held March 7-8 in Carlisle, PA. This year’s meeting of the HCH is being held at the US Army Heritage Center & Education Center in Carlisle. If you’ve never been to the USAHEC it is a must see place. It is dedicated to providing information about the US Army and is a library of all its documents since the American Revolution.
There is a lot to see here—from the Army Heritage Museum which has artifacts from the eighteenth century to their one mile Army Heritage Trail, which has a reconstructed Revolutionary War redoubt, a Civil War encampment, a World War I trench, World War II barracks to a Vietnam forward operating base. The US Army War College is located near the USAHEC facilities where today’s active army officers receive specialized advanced training, making it the oldest Army base in continuous use in the nation.
The HCH annual show opens at noon on March 7 and goes to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 8. The show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To further promote horn working, the general public is once again invited. You will be charged $4 per person admission if you are not a member. Last year was the first time I ever attended and I plan on going back this year. To see the workmanship that is on display crafted by the Masters and Journeymen horn workers is well worth the trip, but there is much, much, more.
The HCH started in 1996 when Roland Cadle from Hollidaysburg, PA, hosted a “Horn Fair” at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA.
The first Horn Fair consisted of several seminars and exhibits on the subject of making and collecting objects made from cow horn. The show was a success and in a meeting after the event, 11 horn workers and collectors drafted a purpose statement and elected officers. The purpose of the HCH was to promote and preserve the knowledge of horn working. Bylaws where adopted in 2001 and the HCH became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 2002. The HCH is still firmly committed to its mission— educating its members and the public about horn working and its history. Currently the HCH has over 300 members and publishes The Horn Book, which comes out three times a year.
This year the HCH will feature Dick Toone demonstrating the use of a spring pole lathe. If you have ever seen one in operation you will never forget it; it is powered only by the operator’s downward motion of his foot on a treadle or pedal. The part you are turning on the lathe will spin one direction when the operator steps down on the treadle, then reverses as the spring pole pulls it back the opposite direction when the foot is lifted. The operator needs good rhythm and coordination to make smooth cuts.
There will be two great one-hour sessions this year given by Tom Ames on the subject of symbolism. One session will be Friday and the other Saturday, both from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. If you are interested in eighteenth century symbolism, be there. The first session forms a basis for the second.
There is also an “Interactive Workshop” that will have eight separate work stations manned by Masters and Journeymen demonstrating every facet of horn working from basic scraping to heating and pressing, and from lathe work to intricate engraving. It is great because you can talk directly to the craftsman at each station and discuss issues or problems you are having that are of specific interest to you.
Also this year, there will be 20 original hunting bags on display and horns in the main display area for you to study. Frank Willis has volunteered to give instruction on making leather hunting bags. Bring your camera and a notebook, with a lot of questions.
This is one great opportunity among many to talk to an expert in this field.
There will be cow horn for sale along with expert advice on proper selection for your next horn project.
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association will once again have a table set up at the event for signing up new members. The NMLRA was founded in 1933 and one of the original missions is “The collecting, preservation, and recreation of antique guns and related accoutrements, and the recognition of the value of living history re-enactments.” As a result, the NMLRA and the HCH have been partnering together for the last number of years on the NMLRA 1 of 1000 Endowment Program. Every year, the HCH generously donates a powder horn made by one of its members to the NMLRA to raise awareness for the 1 of 1000 program. The 1 of 1000 program is simple: if 1000 people donate $1000 each, they will establish a $1 million dollar endowment fund where the accrued interest can be used to help the NMLRA fulfill its mission. Bob Copner heads up the program for the NMLRA and also happens to be a member of the HCH.
He has been the catalyst for the 1 of 1000 Endowment Program and also reached out to the HCH about the powder horn project, originally started by Ron Ehlert. For more information about the NMLRA 1 of 1000 Endowment Project, go to NMLRA.org or contact Bob directly at robert.copner@comcast.net.
This year’s powder horn for the 1 of 1000 Endowment Program is made by John Dewald and will be on display throughout the HCH’s Annual Meeting.
It will be formally presented to the NMLRA Saturday evening at the annual HCH banquet. I have not seen the horn yet, but I know it will be something that I would be proud to own.
For more information about the HCH Annual Meeting go to hornguild.org.
The US Army Heritage Center’s website is: www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec.
