Question
Powder Horn
Hello. I have this powder horn my father recently gave to me. It's fairly old and is in good condition. My question is, could it be of significant worth? It is believed to be from Catalina, Newfoundland, Canada. Length is approx. 15in. I would like to send more pictures as it is difficult to capture all of the horn in one picture. There are also drawings of what looks to be seal skins, and a canoe. Thanks in advance!
Just in case the writing is not clear in the photo, it is:
GEOGE PARCES HORN
CATALINA May 12/1874
AnswerHello Jordan. Yes, you do have a nice piece of history here. This looks to be authentic, although I cannot be 100% sure without a hands on inspection. It is a larger powderhorn, which was necessary to carry enough powder for the larger bore rifles or shotguns of the mid to late 1800's. History will have a huge bearing on the value of your piece. Do some research on the fur trade in the Catalina area of the 1870's. This could enhance the value some, especially if you can find a direct link of the individual whose name is on the horn to a fur company of the time. The engravings of seal skins and canoe are appropriate for fur market memorabilia. You can also check with companies such as Worthpoint (worthpoint.com) and Guns International (gunsinternational.com). These might give you an idea of the value of your powderhorn. I hope this helps and thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage
