Rick Sheets is a proud Master Horner with the Honourable Company of Horners.

Currently, I am not taking orders for custom work.

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About my Horn Work:
I have a love of traditional, historic powder horns and do my best to get an authentic feel to my handmade versions of them. Although most of my horns are used for display, all of my powder horns are made to be airtight and rain resistant so they can be used for reenacting. Horn is a naturally tough material and many historic horns have lasted for generations.

Hornbooks
Blowing Horns
Horn Objects
Tape Looms

Copies of Historic Powder Horns:
If you want a close copy of a historic powder horn and I  think I can do it justice, I will take on the challenge.
Custom Patriot or Tribute Powder Horns:
If you have a Patriot ancestor and want to honor them with a memorial powder horn, I will work with you to make a horn that he could have carried during the Revolutionary War or the French and Indian War (F&I War).
Modern Campaign Horns:
I also make engraved powder horns in an antique style to honor someone’s current military service or for other veterans who were in Vietnam or WW2 or other past wars and conflicts.
Here are several powder horns of my making. I hope you enjoy seeing them.

 Royal Scottish Fusileirs Powder Horn

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dr robert bob hart vale nc powder horn

This is a little banded “squirrel rifle” powder horn I made as a gift for Dr. Robert Hart. It is made to look like a barn found antique. The Doctor is the genius and muscle behind Hart Square in Vale, North Carolina. I hope the horn finds a good home in one of the dozens of antique structures on his property.

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Here is a replica of the Jabez Rockwell powder horn that it housed in the museum at Valley Forge. This horn was made for a direct descendant of Rockwell.

Here is a replica of the Jabez Rockwell powder horn that it housed in the museum at Valley Forge. This horn was made for a direct descendant of Rockwell.

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This is my version of a beehive powder horn made in an antique style. It is small with a dramatic double curve shape.

This is my version of a beehive powder horn made in an antique style. It is small with a dramatic double curve shape.

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Sometimes it is fun to do a joint project with other artisans. My good friends Bill Carter and Don Fererro made the horn and I engraved it. The original is on display in the USMC Museum in Quantico, Virginia. The original horn was made by H. Mack for his friend Isaak Chalker Ackley in 1776.

Sometimes it is fun to do a joint project with other artisans. My good friends Bill Carter and Don Fererro made the horn and I engraved it. The original is on display in the USMC Museum in Quantico, Virginia. The original horn was made by H. Mack for his friend Isaak Chalker Ackley in 1776.

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This is a simple horn I made for Alamance Battleground (Burlington, NC). The strap was made by Kris Polizzi.

This is a simple horn I made for Alamance Battleground (Burlington, NC). The strap was made by Kris Polizzi.

I worked with Alamance Battleground on making an official gift for Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, as thanks for her fundraising tour for our state historic sites. The theme of the horn flask is a Highlander (who suspiciously looks a bit like the actor who plays Jamie Fraser) and the Battle of Alamance. She said is was lovely and gave me feedback later how much she loved it

I worked with Alamance Battleground on making an official gift for Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, as thanks for her fundraising tour for our state historic sites. The theme of the horn flask is a Highlander (who suspiciously looks a bit like the actor who plays Jamie Fraser) and the Battle of Alamance. She said is was lovely and gave me feedback later how much she loved it.

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Rick-Sheets-Buffalo-Powder-Horn

This is a buffalo (American bison) powder horn engraved in the general style of George Catlin or at least inspired by his line art. The finger-woven strap was made by Dennis Maness. He is a fellow member of The Lafayette Long Rifles.

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Burwell-Thompson-his-horn

This is a Revolutionary War Style “Folk Art” powder horn. It was made as a tribute to Burwell Thompson. He fought at King’s Mountain, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse and Eutaw Springs. I enjoy working with members of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) to honor their Patriot ancestors.

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Captain James Shelton 1777 Henry County, Virginia

This is a horn made for my Sons of the Revolution sponsor Geoff Baggett. His ancestor was Captain James Shelton; he was an officer in a rifleman company in Henry County, Virginia in 1777. The powder horn includes a map showing the captain’s haunts during the Revolutionary War. The map shows his home place and “The Hollows,” where the Tories were known to be at the headwaters of the Yadkin and Dan Rivers.

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This is a simple powder horn I made for a fellow living history buff. Bob McKean is a humble Vietnam Veteran that I wanted to honor. So he got this horn and a certificate from my SAR Chapter (Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter).

This is a simple powder horn I made for a fellow living history buff. Bob McKean is a humble Vietnam Veteran that I wanted to honor. So he got this horn and a certificate from my SAR Chapter (Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter).

Farm or Mountain Made Powder Horn

There are many more “farm made” or primitive horns than finely wrought and engraved horns. This horn is made to look like an antique powder horn that was whittled by a homesteader or mountain man in the early 19th Century. This horn sports mismatched tacks and a copper sheet patch.

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Mic Mac style powder horn

This powder horn is of a Mic Mac Indian style. The leather loop is held on with Flemish tacks.

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William Carter and Rick Sheets F&I War powder horn

My good friend and fellow Journeyman Horner Bill Carter and I frequently work on projects together. This is a horn that Bill made and I engraved. It is based on commemorative style F&I War powder horns with a little folk art thrown in.

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This is what I think a Moravian powder horn could look like. It is one of my five Journeyman’s pieces.

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Flattened Folk Art Powder Horn

This horn is about one inch thick. Flattening a horn is involved and is sometimes not successful. This is one of my Journeyman’s pieces.

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This is my version of a Northern Georgia made banded powder horn. The tip is made of antler.

This is my version of a Northern Georgia made banded powder horn. The tip is made of antler.

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1738 Folk Art Powder Horn.

1738 Folk Art Powder Horn. This horn is based on the historic Joseph Senter powder horn.

 

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Tim Tansel inspired 1842 Black Hawk War Powder Horn.

I had the pleasure of examining an original Tim Tansel powder horn made in 1842. Here is the result of my study. I did change the tip. I used a lathe turned applied tip instead an integrally carved one.

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81st Tactical Fighter Wing Powder Horn

Here is a Modern Campaign Powder Horn created for Staff Sergeant Albertie Wall Jr. He was an air policeman attached to the 81st Air Tactical Fighter Wing during WW2. The horn was engraved with historic folk art elements and also included the dragon from the 81st’s service patch.

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French & Indian War Powder Horn

This F&I horn is made from a big ox horn as were many of the originals were from the French & Indian War. It features a cipher of King George the 2nd and the crest of England. The reverse has a militia soldier bugging out and seemingly looking at the engraver. This detail was pulled from an exiting horn from the period.

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19th Century Virginia Powder Horn

This 19th Century Virginian Powder Horn has a separately lathe turned tip and band. This powder horn has been artificially aged to give it an antique look.

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Tim-Tansel-Powder-Horn-HCH

This Tim Tansel inspired powder horn is a combination of a drawing of a Tansel horn by Shelby W. Gallien that was published in Muzzleblasts Magazine some time ago and an original that I got to handle and photograph. I changed up the shooter to be a Frontiersman.

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Patriot Benjamin Gettings Powder Horn.

Patriot Benjamin Gettings Powder Horn. I made this for a good friend who was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution based on this patriot ancestor.

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Benjamin Ward 1776 Powder Horn

Benjamin Ward was an ancestor of mine and there is no information to support him being a Patriot, but a tribute or memorial horn does not have to be for a soldier. There were engraved horns for civilians too.

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F&I War Hudson Valley Map Powder Horn

This French and Indian War Hudson Valley Map Powder Horn was adapted from a plate in “The Hartley Horn Drawings.” The map actually wraps around the horn. Note that the background for the photo is a piece of bunting and not Old Glory. I know better.

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Bill Carter and Rick Sheets PTC powder horn

This is a collaboration between fellow Journeyman Horner Bill Carter and me. The general theme was taken from a “Fort Pitt” powder horn that was made during the French and Indian War by “The Pointed Tree Carver.” Other elements were added in that general style.

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