Early Large Powder Horn?

[Oudoceus]

Let's say I wanted to build an early large powder horn to go with my fusil. If I wanted the horn to hold at least a pound of powder what size horn, minimum, would I need to start out with, in your experience? :idunno:
Thanks

 

[Many Klatch]

About as long as from the middle of your forearm to the tip of your fingers.

Many Klatch

 

[Pete G]

12" +

 

[Elnathan]

Mine is about 13" long around the ouside of the curve(about 10 1/2" internally, measuring the centerline) and is about 2 1/2" in diameter at the base, holds about 3/4 of a pound I believe.


Remember when buying a horn that you will end up trimming the tip and ends, perhaps quite a bit, to get about an inch of solid horn to drill the spout in and to get rid of any flaws on the butt end. I'd probably go for a horn over 18" if possible.

 

[54ball]

Get you a big fat Buffalo Horn and yes they are documented and correct for the 18th Century.
A buffalo horn done in the early eastern style can be striking. They are fuzzy though.

 

[omarick1948]

I just made a extra big horn, that was 17 inches around the outside curve and 3 1/2 inches across the base with a hollowed-out beehive base plug and held a little over a pound of real black powder. __ To big and heavy, but the customer is always right....someone said!

Rick

 

[Stophel]

I know, you wouldn't think so by looking at the can, but a pound of powder requires a HUGE horn. 1/2 - 3/4 pound would be a much more normal (and handy) size. I have one that I did years ago (when you could still get nice horns from Tandy... and this one's a pretty black and white one) that holds pretty near a pound, but it is immense. I just don't want to pack that thing around! :haha:

If you're really going to be "out" for THAT long where you'll burn through a whole pound of powder you've probably also got pack horses... :wink:

 

[Stumpkiller]

In the F&I period there were "campaign" horns that held enough for 90 or 100 shots out of a Bess - or a pound and a half of powder. The beautiful map horns of the era. For those four or six month trips to the frontier (Western or Northern NY).

Not something you want or need for a weekend hunt. Or a two-week hunt. Even the longhunters would likely have a "camp horn" as a resupply source but would carry a smaller horn when away from camp hunting.

 

[Rick Son]

Did you use those other yet? :wink:

 

[BillinOregon]

A one-pound horn was a basic requirement for many colonial militia members, if I remember right.

 

[Oudoceus]

Thanks for your input everyone. As with a lot of things in this hobby this isn't a case of something I really "need" but something I want. I built a French style fusil because I wanted something that might have been used by one of the first European settlers in my area. I've read a lot of books over the years and there seems to be references to large horns "that held at least a pound of powder" (not always French). So, I thought I might build one, just because. The horn I use most probably doesn't hold much over 1/2# and I've never needed more than that in one shooting session. Do you think I would be haunted by the ghost of Robert Rogers if I mounted a small brass compass in the butt of an otherwise French style horn?

 

[omarick1948]

Yep! You would be haunted for a fact!...I have for doing so and still can't stop making powder horns for many years now!

Rick :rotf:

 

[Wes/Tex]

On a slightly unrelated version...a few years back, one of the shops in the antique center where we had a shop was dealing in mounted horns. Jim Cox got in a set of some sort of mutant water buffalo horns with some severe damage to one side. He was intending to toss the whole thing out but I took it apart and made a powder horn, from the good side, you could have used for a whole afternoon of shooting a 6 pounder! I've been hunting for my photos for a couple years and can't find them...took a slice of tree trunk to make the plug!! What a hoot! :wink: :haha:

 

[BillinOregon]

Wes, you talking one of those great, long curved horn sets such as you Texans are known to mount as hood ornaments on the Cadillac convertibles you drive to Neiman-Marcus for a few Christmas baubles?

:grin:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Close! though this particular "hornamentation" had about a 2 foot opening and a length of about 2&1/2 feet, maybe more. There was another set even larger around but in tact. Jim was good at stories and had a few about the heifers these all came off of! He's also the fruit-loop who burned old pecans in his stove in the shop and told one dear, blue-haired lady he was roasting pecans. Week later this irate guy comes busting through his door yelling, "My Mom nearly burned her house down roasting pecans!"...oops! And I don't mean the "Openly Oppressed People's State"!

The only thing I ever bought from Nieman's was on sale in their "Last Call" store! Even then it were hardly a bargain! :wink: :haha:

 

[Rifleman1776]

A pound of powder hanging from your shoulder can feel like a ton after a couple hours.
But, this is a do yer own thang game. Whatever floats yer stick. Go fer it.