Making an antler powder measure

I've posted this on some facebook groups and another forum page in the past. But for those that haven't seen this and like to make there own pieces this may help you some. I've seen examined over a hundred originals from super simple to really fancy. I was lucky enough to see Jim Dresslar's outstanding collection back when I was a young feller. Some folks will tell you they were made one way or another. I've seen enough to know they were as diverse back in the day and they are no hard and fast rules. I will tell you how most of the best ones were made though. Most antler measures had pretty thin walls at the opening. How thin most are less than 1/16". Most of the cavities are tapered from the mouth to the bottom. The thong holes can be tapered from each side like they were made using a knife and some have straight walls like they were drilled. I have found that soaking the antler in some hot tap water soften them up and it is easier to dig out the cavity. It will make it easier to engrave the surface also. I have a few tools that I use to do my antler work and you can see them in the photo below. If you do use a chisel like I do to dig out the cavity you need to be very carful or you will ruin your day in short order. I generally use a drill bit around 3/16" to make my starting hole for the cavity. For the thong hole I use something around an1/8" sometimes smaller depends on what will work. Sometimes I will use my knife to counter sink the thong hole to. I stain my measures when I'm happy with the shape and finish. I'm not going to get into the nitty gritty on staining and dyeing but will say this. I haven't found anything that I can say is the best. I have dyed multiple pieces with the same dye bath and will get a different color on each piece. Antler is like wood every one is unique and will work differently but similar. Here are a few of the measures that I have made over the years. Some are my own design and some are copies of old ones. I also have a drawing of how I do my measures to give a visual of how I go about things. Have fun and use you imagination making you next measure.

Very nice work! I like them all.

Wow, nice work and thanks for the detailed write up.

Craftsman.

Beautiful work

Incredible detail on something so small.

Thanks for this. You do nice work. I was interested in trying antler work and was given a nice bunch of deer antler- you just got me re-inspired

Those are most excellent! You have inspired me as well!

PathfinderNC said:

Thanks for this. You do nice work. I was interested in trying antler work and was given a nice bunch of deer antler- you just got me re-inspired

Click to expand...

Maybe start with something simple like this apple scoop,,,,,



We've seen what you can do with your hands and some tools,,, this should be well within your basic abilities.

Wonderful, inspiring post and thread! Thank you Squirehawk!

Thinking I could turn out a nice intricate powder measure on the lathe, carrying it would be the problem cuz it would be 3 feet long…

Omahkapi'si said:

Thinking I could turn out a nice intricate powder measure on the lathe, carrying it would be the problem cuz it would be 3 feet long…

Click to expand...

I'm about to to see what I can do
Little worried about the bit of antler coming loose at high speed, so full body armor time

I have a good set of 5x5 bull elk antlers from a bull I arrowed two years back. All the other sets I either gave away or are sun bleached. I just think that you would need some pretty good girth to make a reasonably sized powder horn and not just a priming horn.
Very nice work!

Years ago I made a powder measure from the tip of a pronghorn antler. The natural little curl at the tip was easy to carve into the shape of an eagle beak and head. I carried that measure for years, tied with a throng to the buckle on my shot pouch. Then, one day after a hunt, I realized it was gone! I backtracked and searched for hours, but never found it.
The measure I use now, I made from a deer's femur bone. In my bag I keep a spare that I made from a deer antler.