Antique Powder Horn Crack Repair

[MSK]

Hi all: I recently acquired an original powder horn with a small crack Starting from the base running for about an inch or so along the length of the horn. What would be the most effective/least invasive manner of fixing/filling the crack?




Thanks, Smollett

 

[omarick1948]

hotoSmile:

 

[MSK]

Sorry about that:

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[MSK]

Here are other photos of the horn. It's from New England, but that's all I know.
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[ohio ramrod]

For repairs I use a five minute epoxy mixed with "horn dust" sanded from a horn of slightly darker color. (The clear epoxy will make it look lighter. ) :idunno:

 

[omarick1948]

That crack as character and I would leave it just the way it is. Take a lead pencil and mark a line where the crack stops and watch it for a while. If the line continues to split longer, then you can think about repairing it. Bees wax or a woodworkers wax crayon stick in a close color can hide that crack easy enough.

Rick

 

[ddoyle]

Listen to Rick!

Do NOT put glue/epoxy/road tar in the crack.

 

[MSK]

That makes sense. Rick, would Renaissance wax work too? I love the stuff. I don't care about hiding the crack; I just want to have the option of carrying the horn on the odd occasion so it needs to be sealed I'd think. Also, any idea as to the age of the horn? As I mentioned, it's from New England, but that's all I know.

Thanks, Smollett

 

[omarick1948]

Ren wax is more of a sealer and not filler. I have found nothing harder than Johnson's Paste wax and it is my horn wax of choice. By me suggesting the use of Bee's wax or a woodworkers wax crayon was not to give the horn a protective finish, but to use as a crack filler that will continue to harden with age. Personally, I would melt a little bee's wax and let it cool a bit to a consistency of pliable putty, then with my thumb rub the wax into the crack and keep rubbing with my thumb to pick-up a little dirt on the horn already and blend the wax color on the horn. Might sound a little complicated, but only takes a few minutes.

As to your horns age. It is almost impossible to tell. as it is such a common style that was used everywhere in the 18th and 19th Centuries and even in the early 20th Century. I'd look at it as just a nice powder horn of our American history, as well as a great find.

Rick

 

[Rifleman1776]

As to your horns age. It is almost impossible to tell.

Wat Rick said. A horn represented as 'antique' is just someones guess. Lot of nice horns around, some featured here, that sure look antique. But the use of tea stain can add 200 years in minutes.
Like others suggested, I would just take some natural beeswax and rub into the crack.

 

[MSK]

Thank you guys. I'll do what Rick said with the beeswax.