Antler powder horn

[mylivelybags]

Has anyone tried to make a powder horn out of elk or deer antler? I have some elk antler and want to try to make one, but want to find out if it is worth the effort. Thanks!

 

[Claude Mathis]

The first thing that comes to mind is... it would be too difficult to hollow out, it wouldn't hold enough powder and it might be more trouble than it's worth, as "horns" are already hollow. :hmm:

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have a priming horn, Kyle, that someone made out of a deer antler. Its about 6 inches long, and I suspect the main hole is no more than 3/4" in diameter. More likely, either 1/2" or 5/8". I can't tell you how much priming powder it holds, I have never emptied it. They put one of those plunger measures, that throw only about 2-3 grains of 4Fg powder into the pan per stroke. I get frustrated waiting to get enough powder into the pan for my purpose, so I have only used it a couple of time. They did make a vent pick with a tip of an antler, and drilled a hole to hold the vent pick in the horn's top edge, and a short strap to tie the vent pick to the horn. I have an easier-to-use vent pick I made myself that i use instead, so this pick makes a nice decoration. But, I won this horn in a shooting event, and I am glad I have it. I have drilled antler before, and the smell is almost overwhelmingly bad. I am glad I did not make this priming horn, and would not encourage you to try, either. Better to buy a good horn, and make a powder horn out of it instead. Horn smells bad enough when you are drilling the hole for the spout. Drilling Antler is like drilling concrete, unless you boil the antler for a week to soften its core. Even then, it smells like burning flesh. :nono: :shake:

 

Here's one from the Victoria and Albert museum
Red Stag horn (very similar to elk) - 16th century - just click on the link[url] http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/firearms/antler-powder-horn.jpg[/url]
One made on antler wouldn't carry all that much as noted above - but it can be done. Whether it's worth it is really up to you - IMO it would be an interesting project just to do.....

Drilling Antler is like drilling concrete, unless you boil the antler for a week to soften its core

:hmm: Not sure where you're getting your antler, but I (and several hundred other knifemakers I know) regularly build knife handles out of antler and the outer "skin" is no harder to drill than any hard wood and the core/pith is like rotten wood generally. The antler I use includes elk, Sambar Stag - the densest of antler all with virtually no pith, red stag, mule deer and whitetail.

There is absolutley NO need to soak antler to soften it (unless one wishes to handle a knife using an 18th/19th century method or flatten it) - in fact that would be counter productive as then the antler would have to thoroughly dry again before using, with the exceptions noted.
FWIW I use regular hardware store drill bits and even wood working spade bits when drilling the core out completely (when it's too "punky" I drill out the core completely on knife handles and then glue in a chunk of good hard wood).
Go slow when drilling and clear the bit often, otherwise it can burn. I do recommend wearing a mask and goggles - the odor is not great, but to me at least it's not all that bad. You just don't want to breath that much dust of anything.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Gray Wolf: I wish there was not a 1000 miles between us, so I could get together with you and show the antlers( I still have some) that I have used for various projects. There is nothing " soft " about the cores at all. I came close to getting a masonary bit to drill that one antler for a powder measure. That is how hard it was. Oh, I had folks tell me that drilling antler was nothing at all, before I embarked on my projects, but I experienced much different results. I think we left the garage door open all night to help dissipate the smell! If you can deal with an odor that is a combination of burning flesh, and old hog dung, you can drill away on antlers. The porousity of the inner portion of the antlers were inconsistent, and I finally filled them with a good stock finish to seal them. I would probably use an epoxy resin to fill them today, just to add to the strength of the tool. I made to patch knife handles, one for me and one for my twin brother, drilling the antlers careful from one end, with increasing larger bits to the bits did not wander off line. When I got them to tang size, I filled the holes with epoxy and shoved the tangs down into the antlers and let them set up. I finished working on them with files and sand paper, then oiled the antlers to give them some protection from out dry winters here. He still has his knife; i lost mine someplace on a woods walk.

 

[roundball]

Plus, Elk antler is pretty heavy.

Antler does make excellent little pocket pan primers to hold 100-150grns 4F...run a drill bit through it the same size as the threaded filler plug needs to be on one end, and the threaded seat for a 3-4 grn plunger / dispenser tip on the other...have a couple and they work great...keep them tethered in a shirt pocket

 

[wildeagle]

Afternoon Gents - Just some personal observations from my use w/ antler. Antlers differ greatly in density , it might be from when they are harvested . More porous if they are drops ,or still on the animal near to being dropped. More so the closer to the crown than near the tips. Some species are more solid than others . When you drill or what ever method to remove the pithy centers go Slow and keep the tool sharp , the more friction applied brings about that heavenly aroma ,and it takes very little friction. What ever you do avoid the dust or smoke from entering your lungs . I've been drilling antler for 30 yrs and learned the hard way - the acrid smoke or dust can cause serious lung complications. Also a good reason for not using them for smoking implements.I have a piece of elk antler about 7-8 "s long 2"s thick thats cut where the antler widens. It's so porous you can almost scrape it out with a knife , but the outside is about a 1/4" thick and solid as a rock . I've been thinking about a flask from it, maybe a pistol flask , its about the same size as a modern metal one. Maybe some pics in the future. But seriously AVOID the dust, good ventilation, a mask , use something. Wild Eagle

 

[Claude Mathis]

Here's one from the Victoria and Albert museum
Red Stag horn (very similar to elk) - 16th century - just click on the link[url] http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/firearms/antler-powder-horn.jpg[/url]
One made on antler wouldn't carry all that much as noted above - but it can be done. Whether it's worth it is really up to you - IMO it would be an interesting project just to do.....

I assume from the size, this is a "priming horn", not a main horn?

 

[tom hargrove]

heres one i made for my .32 holds plenty of powder for a day hunt or enough to do a little target work the bright spot is a dime i can get about 700-800grains of 3fin it

 

[wildeagle]

Here is the one that got me thinking. Not sure about the actual size.

 

[CrackStock]

I made a wonderful priming horn from antler. It had a push tip that measured out 3 grains of 4f. I set it down during a shooting session and never saw it again. I primed with my main charge and have never missed it since.

I would be interested in seeing a day horn made of antler.

CS

 

[Deadeye]

I make a lot of stuff (knife handles, pistol grips, powder measures, etc) from deer, elk, moose
antler, I saw it ,grind it, drill it, carve it,
scrimshaw it. it's no problem to cut and very little odor. I only know one shooter who regularly
carries an elk antler powder horn. It's about 2 "
x 10" outside diameter. It's probably 1 1/4" x 10"
inside which is more than enough for a days shooting. I have some pieces that large or larger. Shouldn't be to hard to make one.

 

[wildeagle]

That elk antler got me interested. I started on it this weekend. After about an hour and a half I got this far(pic). I used a new spade bit(sharp) and 1/2 round rasp to smooth up the inside. More pics coming as work goes on.

 

[mylivelybags]

Thanks for all the ideas! I have been working on a couple and hope to put some pictures up soon. Should I coat the inside with beeswax or something to seal the pores?
Also, I have a question for you wildeagle. On the pictures you put up, was that originally a Y-shaped piece? How did you get the harder less porous antler out from in between the two more poroous spaces at the top of the Y? Did that question make sense?
Also, what type of scrimshaw work should I put on there?

Thank again everyone! You have been very helpful!
Kyle

 

[wildeagle]

Kyle - The antler was cut below the inside of the "y". This made it hollow end to end ( if that makes sense), plus this piece of antler was very old whenI found it(it and 2 other pieces in a box at a garage sale). This piece was a drop, I assume, because the inside was extremely porous. I used a 5/8" spade bit and it made very short work on the interior. Then I just rasped the the last 1/4" smooth. The outside is very hard w/ a few hairline cracks but I think it will hold up pretty well. Wild Eagle

 

[BadHeart]

I made a horn out of elk antler. It holds enough powder for a day shoot. it is about 6" long and has wooden ends and copper spout. The inside of elk antler is porus and can be hollowed out easy. I first cut it to the lenght I wanted. Then I punched out what I could with a screwdriver and hammer. then took a roto-zip and carved out a little more then made the plugs. took an afternoon, but i like it and have gotten many compliments on it. I will get a pic posted of it.

 

[wildeagle]

I pretty much finished up the flask, I need to make a plug for the spouts yet. It holds about a third of a can of BP.

 

[billk]

That is an impressive powder horn. I like the top and bottom plugs using antler bone again. Did you epoxy it/
Great job,Billk :hatsoff:

 

[wildeagle]

Billk , Yes , the dreaded epoxy. I mixed fine powder- dust from filing and sanding to the mix to try to make it blend better, but it actually got darker. I ran out of 2-part white epoxy, it works alot better with antler or bone. I did use maple pins to try and make it look pc.

 

[50cal.cliff]

That is awesome!!!!!!! Just, really impressive!
OK, I just got to know how did you do the treads on the spout and in the horn itself? :hmm:
I have hand cut threads on an ole push broom handle when it got broke and its not easy to do freehand. Can't imagine tring to do treads on antler.
:bow: I like it, the way you did the top and bottom really sets it off. You done yourself proud on that one! :hatsoff: