Bill Scurlock
“Joseph Stewart” Horn and Pouch Set
During the autumn of 2011, CLA auction chairman
Tim Albert contacted me regarding a project for the CLA's 2012 Live Auction in
Lexington. I agreed to make a shot pouch. Mark Ewing of Lincolnton, North
Carolina, volunteered to make the powder horn, and Eric Van Alstine of Mexico,
Missouri, offered to make a bag knife.
Tim found photos and specifications for a
powder horn with provenance to the War of 1812. The powder horn was the
property of Joseph Stewart, a veteran of that war. Tim sent this information to
Mark Ewing, a member of the Honourable Company of Horners and the CLA. Mark
produced a fine documentary copy of the Stewart horn and forwarded the horn on
to Bill Carter who reproduced the scrimshawed inscription original to the old
horn. Bill is also a CLA and HCH craftsman. Their combined work created an
exacting copy.
While this was in progress, Eric Van Alstine
made a nice knife from an old file, carved a curly maple handle and fitted it
with a cast pewter ferrule. Eric antiqued the finished knife with great results.
I obtained a reproduction old-time adjustable
brass powder measure from Jim Chambers, an iron vent pick from Ed Wilde and a
couple of antique iron buckles from Jerry Noble. A patina was applied to the
measure. The bag was lined with a reproduction striped linen from Burnley and
Trowbridge. The shoulder straps are leather. I made the pick and brush set
using Wilde's pick, a brush handle from a modified cartridge case and bristles
from an old shoe brush.
It was a great delight to see everything come
together so well. Eric, Mark, Bill and I all worked on the project without a
clear idea of what the other three were turning out. In the end the powder horn
and knife were sent to me. All of the parts of the whole kit fit beautifully,
and the proportions ended up being very pleasing to the eye.
When Mark Ewing sent me the powder horn he
included the provenance which Tim Albert had provided. That information is in
the shot pouch, and will be available for inspection at the auction.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Barker – Dallas, Texas
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