Preferred means of attaching a powder horn?

Still being some distance from being confused as a purist, I've enjoyed the convenience of TC's 4-N-1 pocket reloaders for carrying a few extra shots worth of powder & ball when I'm hunting. I have them for .45/.50/.54/.58 calibers but this year I've decided I'm going to try for a deer with the .62cal smoothbore, but have no pocket reloaders that large.

Thinking about neding to carry a little powder, patch, and ball with me for the .62cal...thought it might be a good time to go ahead and try a small powder horn, if nothing else than for the experience of it...I have a couple of real hand-me-down horns that have been in the family for at least 75 years that I know of.

I took them down off the mantle a couple years ago, cleaned and polished them up, resealed the bases, made stoppers from fiddle pegs, etc...and just to have something to put on them, I simply used a rawhide boot lace.

Was wondering what is most appropriate as a general purpose horn "strap", not tied to any particular time period or anything, but just what seems to work best, give the least trouble, etc?

1) Leather strap?

2) Cloth strap?

3) Leather/rawhide thong/lace?

4) Other?

Thanks

Personal preference, I would guess. I like my elk leather strap. It feels fine, stays in place and reminds me of that particular hunt.

Here's my latest "best" solution. I have a jute strap that's about 2" wide with a canvas back and a deerskin edging. The strap ends in brass "D" rings. I then tie the horn onto the "D" rings with 3/8" x 12" buckskin straps that make it easy to fine tune the length. I keep a 3-hole block & patchknife on the horn strap.

The strap on my hunting bag is 1-1/2" jute and rides under the horn strap - the leather edging helping to trap it and keep all in place. The "D" rings are also handy for attaching the measure and keeping a length of tick stuffed in for wiping the pan.



For many years I relied on a 1/2" leather strap for the horn. That works pretty well, too. ::

all of the above, plus. On my various horns I have woven wool straps, a hemp rope, leather straps and a rawhide thongy. Suit yourself, probably everything has been used...

Real men use 'barbed wire.' :kid: But, I think I've seen about everything used except that. Mine has a 1/2" wide leather strap that I cut a slit in for the pointy end to slip thru into a groove in the horn. The back end is just tied around the finial.

Bobwire is for sissies, real mountain men use concertina wire. :crackup:

And all these years I thought concertina wire was fer flossin' yer teeth, or tooth, in my case. :bull: :crackup:

Thanks for the feedback...but the more I think about this, I'm not sure I'm going to bother with a horn strap at all...of the two hand-me-down horns that I have, one is a huge 17" "S" shaped horn, the other is a small 6-7" single curve horn.

Since I'm only planning to carry a couple of extra powder charges, I can just use that small horn & a measure in a jacket pocket...a couple lubed patches & balls in a cap tin...should do fine for a morning or afternoon hunt.
:front:

Since I'm only planning to carry a couple of extra powder charges, I can just use that small horn & a measure in a jacket pocket...a couple lubed patches & balls in a cap tin...should do fine for a morning or afternoon hunt.
:front:

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That's a situation where a loading block would be real handy RB!

:front:

I like my horn rigged above the shooting bag, attached to the bag strap, like stumpkillers third picture down. I recently wrapped a thin brass rod around the front end of my horn in the strap grove, twisted it together tight, and put a loop in the top, cause I got sick if the leather loop coming out of the grove. Then I tie the short leather piece to it, and to the bag strap. I don't know if any of that made sense, but my horn no longer falls out on the front side. I also tie my powder measure to the horn, which I have found to be very convenient.

Jeff

If you look close you can see an iron staple that Griz added to mine to keep the front strap in place. This is a feature seen in some originals. The rear attachment is also an iron staple. The front one just keeps the strap in place, it is not the attachment point. There is still a groove and rings on the neck.

Thanks for pointing that out Stumpkiller, I see it. Looks like a good idea. I'm currently working on a horn. Might use that idea.


Thanks, Jeff

A "clove hitch" works great for tying the leather lace to the front of a powder horn. Once you pull it tight, it will not loosen. I tie my clove hitch in a manner that allows 4 to 5 inches of the leather lace to hang free from the end. I use this to attach my powder measure.

whats the matter boys you outta det cord ? more bang for yur buck that way
:m2c:

I use a hangmans knot to attach rawhide lace to the horn or to anything else. I tie it loosely then dip it in neatsfoot oil. Then when I pull it tight using pliers it is soft and compresses and gives a good tight trim looking knot. After it drys it holds well and looks professional.
To attach lace to a leather strap I use the loop method. Tie a loop in the lace, again with the hangmans knot, then cut a slit in the strap. The strap goes through the loop then the tag end goes through the slit.
Leaves a neat looking detachable attachment.

I've got one of those hand woven straps made of wool. The "ties" on it won't hold the horn, so I wondered about using short sections of leather lacing material to splice the two together. Comments? Ideas?

When I go to rondies, I steer away from folk that hang thier horns under thier right arms, right below thier locks.
As we all know, doogie rolls downhill. so do sparks.


I have all my gear leather straped to a colonial style black belt with hand forged buckle.

My horn hangs off me belt on the left side.

My horn is a copper one, that I have wrapped in rabbit fur, I used 2 inch wide straps to hang it off the belt. That just happens to match my bullet bag that hangs off my right hip.

Hawk to the left rear. Knife to the right rear.

One buckle and all my gear falls away.

When I go to rondies, I steer away from folk that hang thier horns under thier right arms, right below thier locks.
As we all know, doogie rolls downhill. so do sparks.


I have all my gear leather straped to a colonial style black belt with hand forged buckle.

My horn hangs off me belt on the left side.

My horn is a copper one, that I have wrapped in rabbit fur, I used 2 inch wide straps to hang it off the belt. That just happens to match my bullet bag that hangs off my right hip.

Hawk to the left rear. Knife to the right rear.

One buckle and all my gear falls away.

Click to expand...

Do you mean a "belt" belt around your waist, or a belt diagonally across/around your torso?

When I go to rondies, I steer away from folk that hang thier horns under thier right arms, right below thier locks.
As we all know, doogie rolls downhill. so do sparks.
- - -
My horn hangs off me belt on the left side.

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Don't you worry about the shooter to your left lighting off your horn then? :haha:

My horn is on my right, but when I shoot it is behind the gun, behind me, as I face the target at an angle. If the horn was on my left it would be below and considerablty closer to the lock.

Darkhorse,

I like that hangman's knot to attach to the horn too. It does look very professional. I leave extra length of leather on the stationary side so I can attach either the horn plug or an antler powder measure.

Smokeydays