Antique Blowing Horn

This blowing horn was brought to me by a guy at church. It came to him through the family. His family name is Merrill and there is a "Merrill" engraved on the horn. The names on the horn are: W.R. MERRILL, R.K. SNAKE, H. POPE and OW. There are also initials N and MA next to the guy with the pipe. Near the base is ALA/C.CO/OCT24/AD 1857

By all appearances, the style looks consistent with the date on the horn. I have shown it to others who know old horns, and one of the theories for all of the names and initials on the horn is that it was a hunting-club horn. The mouthpiece is wooden. It appears to be a replacement with a repair of the neck covered in what I think is groundhog skin.

Bill Scurlock