Does a horn need nails?

[fischereco2]

So I know absolutely nothing about powder horns other than what their intended purpose is. My wife bought me one for Christmas that looks identical to this only it has no nails holding the base plug in:

She said it was advertised as the 'Cureton Deluxe Model' and she got it from Powder Horns and More. It looks nice enough, but it seems like every other horn I see has visible nails or tacks holding the base plug in place. Is it a problem that mine doesn't? Should I/could I add them after the fact?

 

[kullas]

Most of the base plugs are glued in and the nails are for just a little added protection. you can add them with a 1/16th drill bit and brass nail or can use toothpick use a good wood glue before you install. i would practice on a scrap piece of wood

 

[rustyh]

I used round toothpicks on the few horns I have made. Use a drill bit just a bit smaller than the diameter of the toothpick, a little wood glue on the tip of the pick, cut it off a little long and after the glue dries sand it down smooth.

 

[omarick1948]

I can't believe that Gerry (Powder Horns and More) let that horn leave the shop without the base pins missing!...Just for the record. Don't put in BRASS pins, as the old originals didn't use them. There is probably an example or two of horns with brass pins, but I have never seen them. If you want to use nails or brads, use the steel or iron brads with the flat common nail head and file or stone the head in a square top. That way they will look like you are using square nails like they use to have and use.

Side note! Base plugs never have to be glued to seal and secure. A heavy coat of bee's wax when pressing in the wooden plug on assembly (WITH PINS), is all that is needed to seal and secure it.

Rick

 

[fischereco2]

Thanks for the advice guys. I figured it was probably secure without them but for whatever reason it kind of bothers me. I will try to find some appropriate materials and add them myself.

I can't comment with 100% certainty that this horn came from Powder Horns and More, so I don't want to speak ill of them, but their horn was the only one on my Christmas wish list and my wife said she just ordered what I asked for. Perhaps it was just a simple oversight on their part. I can live with it, heck maybe it'll be kind of fun doing some of it myself...

Thanks again!

 

[CrackStock]

Wooden pegs, thorns, iron spikes, nails or tacks can be used depending upon the style and location of the horn. The number of securing items varies greatly. For example, Adams County would be 3 iron nails while some people might ring the butt with brass tacks. Most common are tooth picks which are inserted into drilled holes and glued into place.

 

[MSK]

FWIW, that's a photo from Track's site, of the "Powder Horn,large, 11 to 14", with antique patina finish."

Smollett

 

[Rifleman1776]

thorns

Yep. I was going to suggest that. They can look neat. Hardest part is collecting them from locust trees.

 

[omarick1948]

Not really, I get most of my thrones from a Tooth Pick tree!

:wink:

 

[swathdiver]

I have a nice Bison horn made by Dave Foy without nails, glued in place. It has a nice look that way, clean.

The coolest thing with all these accoutrements is that they are made to satisfy the tastes and needs of the owner, uniqueness is their one consistency!

Make it yours. :hatsoff:

 

[omarick1948]

Tradition is my consistency, as I don't want to spill my powder on the trail after it popped off the horn. Maybe that is the reason the "Old Boys" had pins unique consistency in their dirty powder horns.

 

[swathdiver]

I reckon the old boys didn't have Tightbond either; or did they(something like it)?

Did anyone ever make a threaded cap?

 

[MSW]

they had a glue like stuff called 'brewers' pitch.' I don't know the exact formula, but I am given to understand that it was the two- part epoxy of that era...

OK - all you traditionalists out there - cover your ears!

I use the two part epoxy of our era. It's not PC/HC - i'll be the first to admit, but it works really well for me. I never claim that my horns are made the 'old fashioned' way - and if anyone asks, I tell them how the horn was built and I am careful to point out that isn't really the way it was done 'back in the day.' Rick is really good at this, and has the skill to do it the old way, but I'm not nearly at his level.

OK - traditionalists - you can uncover your ears not, the heresy is all over...

 

[omarick1948]

I can see from the onset, that you are not a Traditional BP history enthusiast and just trying to start an argument, so I'll answer you second question. Yes, I have and do make both screw tip powder horns and have made threaded horn containers.

 

[George]

What about hide glue? That has been around for a very long time, surely the old boys knew about that.

Spence

 

[omarick1948]

Spence, Sure they knew about hide glue and pine pitch, etc., but my point is that they pinned their powder horn base plugs on the body of the horn. Also, many base plugs were and are commonly constructed using just bee's wax with pins.

 

[Artificer]

Here is a link with a photo of the end of an original FIW powder horn that has been damaged and we can see "into" the rear of the horn. It is the fifth photo down. I have looked at this pic quite a few times and can not tell if there was beeswax on the base plug or not.
http://www.fortticonderoga.org/blog/robert-fairchild-and-his-powder-horn/

Gus

 

[omarick1948]

That's neither here or there from the photo, but you can see the horn is pinned.

Thanks for posting it!

 

[CrackStock]

Thanks for posting that website. The Fairchild horn has beautiful artwork on it.

I will look into going up to see it and others in that collection at some point.

 

[tenngun]

I can't believe that Gerry (Powder Horns and More) let that horn leave the shop without the base pins missing!...Just for the record. Don't put in BRASS pins, as the old originals didn't use them. There is probably an example or two of horns with brass pins, but I have never seen them. If you want to use nails or brads, use the steel or iron brads with the flat common nail head and file or stone the head in a square top. That way they will look like you are using square nails like they use to have and use.

Side note! Base plugs never have to be glued to seal and secure. A heavy coat of bee's wax when pressing in the wooden plug on assembly (WITH PINS), is all that is needed to seal and secure it.

Rick

Thanks for posting that. I have never gave it a thought, but never saw an old horn with brass pins. I wonder why? Wooden pins, iron pin, never brass, they pined knifes with brass :idunno: