True on he civilian theory. Most carving/drawing by military members tends to picture military scenes (marching troops, flag poles, barracks, cannon, etc.)
The horn has seen a lot of use and may have been "restored" at one time. Areas of the outer layer are missing, where it split and peeled off. (Horns are built up by nature in layers; the original maker would have made sure the outer layer extended fully down to cover the end block.)
Jim