Making a Powder Horn

[Boerrancher]

My father-in-law found a horn at a yard sale the other day and gave it to me to make a powder horn out of. It has been partially finished. The main body has been thinned down enough that it is translucent, but it still needs to be cut to length and the spout end worked down. I think someone was trying to make a blowing horn out of it, and gave up. I am thinking about going with a traditional French and Indian War period style, along with doing some period scrimshaw designs on it. I am having a difficult time finding good photos of original designs from that time period, so I am calling on my ML brothers for a bit of help. If you happen to own an authentic horn from this period, or a good replica could you please post some good photos of it so I can get a good idea of what I need to do. Anyone can make a powder horn, but I would appreciate any and all assistance in making a period correct one.

Thank you in advance and best wishes,

Joe

[405]

Many historians I think lump the French & Indian and Revolutionary War horns into one group called the "Golden Age of Horns"- dating between about 1750 and 1800. Nope fresh out of em :) Some of the better ones are priced and valued at nearly the value of the original flinters!

Many examples were the height of artform, carving and embellishment- with scrimshaw of sayings, lore, maps, names, flags and the like. Some were also fairly delicate and seem fragile in design.

Could post copied pictures of fine examples from published references but you'd be better off getting one of the reference books (not cheap though). The best, much less expensive, alternative may be to try and round up a copy of the "Book of Buckskinning II". It has a very good and practical how-to write up on horn construction including photos of several examples of fine, original Golden Age horns.

The only original horn I have from ca 1750-1800 is a very plain, small pocket or priming horn, OAL about 8" along outside curve

[Typecaster]

Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn by: Scott & Cathy Sibley

Powder Horns: Documents of History (17th - 19th Century) by: Tom Grinslade

www.collectorsbookstore.com has both these titles. If you're located close to a major city, you can search www.worldcat.org to see if you can find it in a library instead of buying it.

Best,

Richard

[mooman76]

If you go online to some places that sell powder horns you'll get some pictures. Places that deal with BP products like track of the wolf and such. Even ebay and amazon have quite a few pictured for sale. I have a book on mountainman skills but it is pretty basic and doesn't give the detailing I want but it's better than nothing. Utube has some videos on it too.

[waksupi]

Joe, "The Book of Buckskinning II" has a good section on building horns. As was said, Scott Sibley's book is also good. He also has a second book out real recently on the same subject.
He makes a real nice horn, and his wife Cathy does the scrimshaw on them.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

I have never mad one but i have looked at these , good pictures , some info and kits and parts

http://www.octobercountry.com/categories/Powder-Horns/

click on the links at the top of the page to see custom horns and specialty horns

the wife got my possibles bag and a few things from here some years back

[Boerrancher]

Thanks for giving me a place to start. I started working on the spout end of the horn yesterday and got it shaped up the way I wanted it. I also fitted an antler plug in the spout.

Best wishes,

Joe

[Typecaster]

If you're using a belt sander to shape it, smells good, don't it? Almost like boiling a skull…

Richard

[405]

Nothing like the smell of burning bone. The aroma of tooth drilling at the dentist- lovely!

[DIRT Farmer]

You can try boiling the horn to carve it with a knife. It will be soft for a few minuites till it cools. When I put the base plug in I get the plug close then heat the horn in boiling water, place and pin the horn to it.

I have no artistic ability, but have decorated a few horns so no one would steal them.

[Boerrancher]

I have no artistic ability, but have decorated a few horns so no one would steal them.

Yeah, with what I am planning, It may turn out to be one of those that no one will steal. I am going to set the base plug deep enough that I can shape the base with a series of semi circles with a hole drilled in the center of each to give somewhat of a lace effect to it, and the leather thong will be run through 2 of the holes. But, before I set the base plug, I am thinking about scrimshawing a scroll on the side of the horn partially unrolled and it will either have the Preamble to the Constitution or the start of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence on it. Most likely it will be the latter because that is closer to the time period of which I want it to resemble.

Heck who knows I may change my mind 100 times between now and then, but I have always been good at calligraphy so I may just stick with it.

Best wishes,

Joe

[freedom475]

This is a GREAT source for horn info:Fire: http://thehornersbench.proboards.com/index.cgi

There is a little scrimshaw tool usually sold on ebay that is the best I have found....I used to use an old sharpened screw driver and my chicken scratch was terrible...now with this little tool things look a little more respectible and my fingers don't hurt nearly as bad.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/38694f7b10615ac50.jpg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCRIMSHAW-ENGRAVER-SCRIBE-POWDER-HORN-TOOL-CUSHIONED-BLACK-UNIV-/260973086502?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc3354726

[Boerrancher]

Thanks for the links

Best wishes,

Joe

[PanaDP]

This is a GREAT source for horn info:Fire: http://thehornersbench.proboards.com/index.cgi

There is a little scrimshaw tool usually sold on ebay that is the best I have found....I used to use an old sharpened screw driver and my chicken scratch was terrible...now with this little tool things look a little more respectible and my fingers don't hurt nearly as bad.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/38694f7b10615ac50.jpg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCRIMSHAW-ENGRAVER-SCRIBE-POWDER-HORN-TOOL-CUSHIONED-BLACK-UNIV-/260973086502?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc3354726

There is nothing better for scrimshaw and fine carving in horn than the exacto blades that are like a carpet knife. These ones (http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/xac/xacx104.htm).

[44-40]

Got to Track Of The Wolf's Site. They have 5 pages dealing with powder horns Loaded with pictures.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Search.aspx/1?search=powder%20horn

Sorry but I am new and have a difficult time with this site.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_208134f7b5fe129c72.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=4696)

[JMtoolman]

Get a wood burning tool and sharpen the tip like a knife point. When hot the tip will flow through the horn like butter. Made many horns with maps and such on them many years ago. Back in the flint era when I was younger. Best regards, the toolman.

[pietro]

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/vietnam71/100_2138.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/vietnam71/100_2139.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/vietnam71/100_2140.jpg

.

[Boerrancher]

Here is what I have so far. I am currently shaping up the base plug. It is taking some time to carve as I don't have a access to power tools so I am having to do everything with hand tools. It is a slow go, but I think it will be better fit when I am done.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/Tools/PowderHornB.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/Tools/PowderhornC.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/Tools/PowderHornA.jpg

Best wishes,

Joe

[Hanshi]

A guy stole my only homemade horn, but with what he finally paid me to take it back I was able to buy a nice one. Still, I felt a bit insulted.[smilie=l:

[DIRT Farmer]

A guy stole my only homemade horn, but with what he finally paid me to take it back I was able to buy a nice one. Still, I felt a bit insulted

Should we have an ugly horn contest?

Like a stock maker told me, you got to ruin a lot of wood to make a good one.

[gnoahhh]

Another approach to the wooden plug is to whittle out a flat piece of wood around ½" thick to fit inside the base of the horn in its natural shape, leaving it flush with the end of the horn. Then slather it up with epoxy and set it in place. After the glue cures flatten the whole thing, horn rim and all, until you have a dead flat surface. Then epoxy on a big oversize chunk of pretty wood at least a little bigger around than the rim of the horn. After the second glue-up cures, grind/rasp/file/sand it to a pleasing shape, making sure that the lines from the horn blend smoothly with the 'plug', and set a few pins through the horn and into the plug for added insurance and a period look. (Otherwise you'll have a 'hooker' plug- no visible means of support!). I like to use locust thorns for pins. Continue with finishing/skrimshandering.

[waksupi]

I like tree thorns for pegs, also. I use beeswax to seal the plug in, rather than epoxy.

[Boerrancher]

Well here is the finished product. I spent a good bit of time looking at pics of the old pre rev war horns, and noticed that many of them had maps on them. I decided that a map was the direction I wanted to go. I got to thinking about currant events and decided that A map of the area would best benefit my descendants if the current economical/political climate requires that I leave something of value for them. It is easy to make one more mark on the horn for the spot if ever needed. With all that said here it is. I am sorry for the crummy photos.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2759.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2760.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2761.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2762.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2763.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2764.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Boerrancher/100_2765.jpg

Thank you all for your tips, photos, and links.

Best wishes,

Joe

[waksupi]

Dat'll work!

[Beagle333]

Very nice!!

[Boerrancher]

Thanks fellas,

Best wishes,

Joe