Cheap India powder horn customizing options

[ArmorerRoy]

Has anyone modified a cheap India powder horn to make them look older or more authentic? I have a couple of ideas but I’m curious to get some input from you creative guys.

Something like this…

 

[IanH]

First, make it functional by re-shaping the spout and tapering the hole with a rat-tailed file and sandpaper, maybe make a new stopper and get a new strap. Knock all the shine off and clean it up with sandpaper, blend the scratches with grey Scotch-brite and maybe wax it. Then use it regularly for a couple of months with real black powder and it will begin to age nicely.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

First, make it functional by re-shaping the spout and tapering the hole with a rat-tailed file and sandpaper, maybe make a new stopper and get a new strap. Knock all the shine off and clean it up with sandpaper, blend the scratches with grey Scotch-brite and maybe wax it. Then use it regularly for a couple of months with real black powder and it will begin to age nicely.

What shape do you recommend for the spout? Remove the detail?

Also I’m thinking cut off the acorn on the bottom and make it flat.

 

[64Springer]

You can sand that horn with 220 grit and hit it with some reddish-brown alcohol based stain.

Will help to age it a bit.

Darkening the raw looking wood would be a nice touch too.

 

[pajeepman]

Pretty sure all the powderhorns from India are water buffalo. Not as hard as a steer horn.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

I went ahead and ordered that one in the pic from ebay. I’m going to customize it. I don’t think I can really ruin it. I will post some before and after pics.

I’m inspired by the horn in this pic. I want the plug and strap to look like this.

 

[Gtrubicon]

I would love to see your progress with this project. It sounds fun. Keep us posted please!

 

[IanH]

What shape do you recommend for the spout? Remove the detail?

Also I’m thinking cut off the acorn on the bottom and make it flat.

Most of the ones I've seen are very blunt and thick on the spout end, worse than the one in the first photo you posted. I'd probably just slim it down and keep the existing shapes if it were me and I liked the ring layout. I'd also keep the acorn on the butt plug but cut about half the length off and whittle a new acorn. Just throwing ideas out there.

 

[TDM]

All good suggestions for you, your not likely to mess it up. Try to make it your own.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Im hoping the one I get is the same as the photo.

 

[ajbennettnc]

Here's how I customized a similar horn. Might still work on it some more, especially at the spout. Biggest change was sawing off the acorn and making a staple

 

[IanH]

That's the idea, make it your own. I like the staple.

 

[ajbennettnc]

That's the idea, make it your own. I like the staple.

Thanks!

 

[ArmorerRoy]

Here's how I customized a similar horn. Might still work on it some more, especially at the spout. Biggest change was sawing off the acorn and making a staple

Did you make the staple from scrap metal?

 

[ajbennettnc]

Did you make the staple from scrap metal?

I did. Can't remember what it originally was. I might polish it up some, ot still looks a little rough.

 

[ArmorerRoy]

I did. Can't remember what it originally was. I might polish it up some, ot still looks a little rough.

It looks forged. I really like it.

 

[ajbennettnc]

It looks forged. I really like it.

Thanks! I think it took five minutes to forge out.

 

[Two Feathers]

FWIW:
I used to be a custom guitar builder. If you're really serious about making powder horns, then I suggest buying a Tapered ream. You can get them from Amazon for $7.47 https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-Tapered-Straight-Handle-Plastic/dp/B086HLMCKD
Tapered spout holes are always better than a straight hole. There's more wood to horn contact, less slipping.
Just my $0.02.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Reds]

Looks just like one I got as a gift and I know it was on eBay. Mine was not airtight, if you blew air in the wood leaked terribly. I used Thin CA- Superglue and it will now “Keep My Powder Dry”
Put a good squirt about 1/4 of the bottle in then twirrled in like a drink waited awhile and repeated until the bottle of superglue was used up. Even the acorn leaked. Also taped off the horn and did the outside using cling wrap covering my finger. Hope this helps as I used mine waterfoul hunting all last season and powder was always perfect!!!

 

[DixieTexian]

I made this one as a first horn project several years ago:

Pretty much everything that comes on it is trash, and the carving that they do is terrible as well. Luckily there is plenty of material to redo the spout section. You can carve a new plug easily enough