Hello to all,
Is it feasible to switch the horns of an Antelope mount?
A friend has a mount that was given to him and he would like to replace the horns with a set that he himself had harvested.
The mount was done around 20-30 years ago.
I have not seen the mount yet and do not know what kind of glue was used to attach the sheaths to the pedestals. If I wrapped the horns with warm wet towels would it soften them enough to remove? Or maybe I could split the horns on the backside and pry them loose?
Would it be best to change the entire skull? (I'm a little hesitant about this aspect as I feel there is more chance of ruining the mount.)
I haven't agreed to do it yet as I wanted to get some experts advise from the very knowledgeable folks here.
I don't plan to charge any labor as I feel the experience is more important and I only do this as a hobby but what would something like this cost?
Thanks
Kraig
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I have never done this to put new horns on an antelope head, but I have taken a number of heads apart to salvage the horns. On a mount this age it is not a good idea to try to rehydrate and take the skull plate off, that is if you are trying to salvage the mount too. Much of the time the horns have dried out a lot and are fairly loose anyway so this may not be a major project. First I would check and see if the horns were fastened with nails at the base, this seems to have been a common method on older mounts. Before you soak or wet the horns try to rap on them with a hammer handle that may be all it takes to break them loose. As to cost, it is strictly a time and materials project.
I didn't think about nails. I guess all my focus was on glues. I had planned on givin em a rap or 2 for curiosity sakes.
Thanks a bunch Old Fart.
Kraig