Enviable powder horn plugs

[TexiKan]

Ever so often, while going through books showing numerous powder horns, I notice a nice and unique powder horn plug. The plug will have something like a glass insert, an interesting inlay, or just a unique shape or function.

Years ago, when I got my first Karl Wilburn (K-W Cap and Ball) horn kit, I noticed he offered an optional patented "Cap and Ball Dispensing Plug." I still have the flyer that describes it as:

"Lead balls and caps are stored in seperate compartments safe from the powder storage area. To use, the muzzleloader loosens the cap retaining nut allowing the cap to rotate and index with the storage area of the desired component. Tilting the horn allows the ball or cap to drop into the hand. Available in 8 calibers."

It was an interesting item but it added a whopping (!) $11.00 to upgrade from the standard plug to this one. (that was back in 1981, and the standard horn kit was $14.00!) Have never seen a horn with one of these added to it, too.

Anyway, out of curosity, is there an interesting, authentic or modified plug that made you want to duplicate one like it or wish you had one like it? What other embellishment added significant appeal to the horn?

TexiKan

 

[Griz]

I found a picture of one from the early 1800's of a partioned horn, so I made one like it. It has a divider about 1/3 the way down from the base cap and it has the base cap pinned in place, the base cap has a hole in it that is about 5/8" and a plug made to fit in the 5/8" hole. The powder goes in the front partition and round balls in the back section. A wire staple is in the base cap to attach your strap to it.

 

[2172]

on quite a few of my horns, I've tried to carve an animal head on the plug...what I thought was a hound dog got called a 'bunny' by the first person who saw it, so I'm now doing simple violin plug style plugs...Hank

 

[Arrowstorm]

on my priming horn plug, I didn't carve anything too fancy. Just some grooves around the circumference. But one thing I did do was whittle a small channel along the length of the plug that goes into the horn so that when I pull it out, there is a nice pile of 2-3 grains of powder just waiting to slideinto my priming pan.

 

[riarcher]

Seen a few "oddities" on the big end before.
One had a sliding cover for spare flints.
Anouther was drilled for a vent pick.
Even saw one with a grease hole.
the only one that seemed practicle was the vent pick. To me anyways.
All novel ideas I guess. But not something I've tried.