For the love of Horn, a conversation with Art DeCamp

PodcastArtisan SpotlightTraditional Craft

Dec 7

Today we're talking with Contemporary Master Horner Art DeCamp. Art's work has been an inspiration to me and my historic research for several years. His books are second to none in their accurate documentation and assessment of original horns and I'm excited to be sharing his story with you today.

While Art is considered one of the best craftsmen of the contemporary age, he had humbled beginnings as a young boy in Indiana. His father was a firearms appreciator and Art followed suit, continuing a family appreciation of historic arms. The DeCamp family home was near Fort Ouiatenon in Lafayette, Indiana, home of the "Feast of the Hunters Moon", a massive long running living history event. As Art puts it, "It was hard for me to get away from history." In second grade, Art brought a filled powder horn to his 2nd Grade show and tell the program, even at that young age he couldn't help but share his appreciation for historic works of art. As a young man Art dove deeper into muzzleloading culture by building an off-the-shelf muzzleloader kit. The experience got him started but Art was looking for more, the kit wasn't shaped right, the components weren't beautiful, and things weren't adding up. With the help of several dedicated family friends, Art took to building his own muzzleloaders "from the blank" with sets of parts, diagrams, and illustrations of original pieces as his reference.

For years Art would balance his job, his family, and his appreciation for historic crafts. "As a parent, I worked a lot in the evenings after the kids went to bed", Art says, "I thought it would change once they were grown but I still find myself working into the night!". Art is a very jovial guy, even as we reminisce about his time on the road driving a couple of thousand miles round trip to see some original pieces at the KRA shows he laughs, "I don't know how you explain driving 2300 miles round trip to go look at some old guns." As a young man with a young family, I appreciate Art's openness and honesty about including his family in his passion, "A time comes when you have to put your kids first and that's important". If you find yourself in a similar situation, you'll enjoy the insights and commentary Art has on not only being an artist but a father and husband as well.

Like many others, our conversation ebbed and flowed as the evening progressed. From Art's history to his thoughts on the contemporary community, we covered a broad range of topics, but towards the end, we settled on one topic I think is important to hear discussed from an artist of Art's caliber- Getting started and getting better. Art's advice for someone looking to make traditional accouterments echos a positive mantra I love hearing from contemporary masters, "Don't be bashful, reach out and ask for help." Art's passion isn't in just seeing his own work progress, he instructs several classes through the year and is planning several more for 2023. The way Art puts it, taking a class is the best way to get started. You get to learn with the right tools from someone with the experience to guide you through the process and not get stuck in the same places you might otherwise get stuck while learning on your own. “When I bought my first lathe, I spent $250 on a deal at a gun show. $1000 later, I had a lathe I could use. That’s the kind of thing I try to prevent by sharing what I know.” Art knows what it is like being a young man with a family trying to figure traditional crafts out and that’s reflected in how he talks. Even with my questions about working at home while saving for a class he’s understanding and points me to materials that can get me going on the right foot, and I’m sure he’ll do the same for you.

*Art’s book, “Pennsylvania “Horns of the Trade” Screw-tip Powder Horns and Their Architecture” is nearly out of print, but serves as a great resource.* *Order here*

In the muzzleloading community, you’ll see Art’s name on awards and books. You’ll see his work discussed as a backbone of contemporary research and his classes praised as some of the best. Behind all of that appropriately directed praise is another friendly face willing and wanting to simply share what he knows and help out. I can’t thank Art enough for taking time out of his day to chat with me. These conversations bring me a great amount of joy and I hope they can do the same for you.

Art DeCamp has been building muzzle loading rifles and powder horns since 1980, and specializes in replicating the Kentucky rifles, and shop-made screw-tip horns of Pennsylvania. His horn making is concentrated on the lathe-turned, screw-tip type horns from the various “schools” of eastern Pennsylvania, and accurate replication of Tansel-style engraved horn work from central Indiana. Much of his horn working time is spent performing historically accurate museum-quality restoration work on original powder horns.

Follow Art's work, class schedule, and more on his website http://www.artspowderhorns.com/

The last of Art's Books can be found here: https://www.crazycrow.com/powderhorns-and-accouterments-books/pennsylvania-horns-of-the-trade/

Related Sites:

The Honourable Company of Horners - www.hornguild.org

Contemporary Longrifle Association - www.longrifle.ws

Kentucky Rifle Association - www.kentuckyrifleassociation.org

National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association - www.nmlra.org

18th Century Artisan's Show - www.18thcenturyartisanshow.com

Conner Prairie - Interactive History Park - www.connerprairie.org

Village Restorations - www.villagerestorations.com

Mark Wheland Rifles - www.markwhelandrifles.com

E. Fleisher Shot Pouches - www.efleishershotpouches.com