Buffalo horn to go with the smoothbore I just built

[Fatboyz]

I built a .54 cal smoothbore as a poor man’s trade rifle. I wanted a rustic horn that would be something a free trapper might have had. Horn was a raw horn I sourced here locally from the abattoir. I made the plug from a piece of dry birch I cut here. The end plug and tip plug I cut from a dry branch. The strap is lamp wicking and some left over pieces of moose hide.

 

[TDM]

Nice, never thought of using lamp wick for a strap. Good work.

 

[Fatboyz]

Nice, never thought of using lamp wick for a strap. Good work.

I’ve sewn loops of it on canvas for stake out ties, and we always used it for snow shoe bindings too.

 

[TDM]

I’ve sewn loops of it on canvas for stake out ties, and we always used it for snow shoe bindings too.

Makes a good looking strap.

 

[IanH]

Nice, never thought of using lamp wick for a strap. Good work.

Me neither but I'm sure thinking about it now! Good looking setup there.

 

[Tradbow]

That’s a great use of materials. You done good.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

That's a great kit! Nicely done.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Nice outfit, and very creative use of available materials! Looks like sections cut from a marrow bone for the rings on that strap, too.

Nice finish on the buffalo horn, I might add. In my experience, the buffalo horn surface has a much more fibrous texture than cow horn. It takes some work to get it cleaned up, especially if you’re using hand tools.

Good work!

Notchy Bob

 

[user 31232]

An outfit I'd be proud of, great job!

 

[Fatboyz]

Nice outfit, and very creative use of available materials! Looks like sections cut from a marrow bone for the rings on that strap, too.

Nice finish on the buffalo horn, I might add. In my experience, the buffalo horn surface has a much more fibrous texture than cow horn. It takes some work to get it cleaned up, especially if you’re using hand tools.

Good work!

Notchy Bob

Yup took some elbow grease for sure. Used a cabinet scraper mostly. I finished the horn with 2 coats of Tung oil, then 2 coats of a mix of bees wax and bear tallow grease. Good eye on the moose marrow bone rings on my possibles bag.