Glass power horns

[TexiKan]

I have had these reproduction glass powder horns for several years. Two were purchased from Texican Trade'n Post and the largest was found at a local sale. I have yet to encounter another muzzleloader using one of these. If you have one, I am curious as to how you are using it and if you are using anything else other than a cork as a stopper. As I understand it, these reproductions are no longer available.

 

[rafterob]

Can't imagine those were actually used for powder.

 

[TexiKan]

Although not common, Texikan Trade'n Post still has a historical account of their use. Likewise, here is more info on them. https://www.fohbc.org/PDF_Files/GlassPowderHorns_CMunsey.pdf

 

[Zonie]

Unless they were used by pa to keep his whisky in I don't know what they would be used for. I can't think of anyone who would actually use a glass powder horn to store their powder.
With all of the hard knocks a powder horn gets while the wearer is out hunting I would think they would end up getting broken.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

They look nice but I agree impractical.

 

[George]

Unless they were used by pa to keep his whisky in I don't know what they would be used for. I can't think of anyone who would actually use a glass powder horn to store their powder.
With all of the hard knocks a powder horn gets while the wearer is out hunting I would think they would end up getting broken.

The Pennsylvania Gazette
May 15, 1755
St. JOHN(in Antigua) February 22.
Last Tuesday Morning the following Accident happened on board a Snow lying at a Hulk in the Cove. A Negroe Man having Occasion to kindle a Fire in the Caboose, brought a Bottle of Powder thereto, and, after taking a small Quantity out, to supply the Want of Tinder, set the Remainder down by him: While he struck Fire, a Spark unfortunately reached the Bottle, which immediately burst, and reported like a Hand Grenade, whereby the Fellow was dreadfully wounded in the Breast: He did not seem hurt directly, but silently retired a few Yards, and leaned against Part of the Vessel, tho' in a short Time he gradually reclined backwards, fell on the Deck, groaned and expired. Another Negroe Man was also much wounded in his Head and Breast.

Spence

 

[Celticstoneman]

Although not common, Texikan Trade'n Post still has a historical account of their use. Likewise, here is more info on them. https://www.fohbc.org/PDF_Files/GlassPowderHorns_CMunsey.pdf

Well I'll be! I had sided with the guys saying that glass horns were a useless fantasy( I paraphrased, pardon me.) This link was really informative. Thanks, I learned something today.

 

[Celticstoneman]

The Pennsylvania Gazette
May 15, 1755
St. JOHN(in Antigua) February 22.
Last Tuesday Morning the following Accident happened on board a Snow lying at a Hulk in the Cove. A Negroe Man having Occasion to kindle a Fire in the Caboose, brought a Bottle of Powder thereto, and, after taking a small Quantity out, to supply the Want of Tinder, set the Remainder down by him: While he struck Fire, a Spark unfortunately reached the Bottle, which immediately burst, and reported like a Hand Grenade, whereby the Fellow was dreadfully wounded in the Breast: He did not seem hurt directly, but silently retired a few Yards, and leaned against Part of the Vessel, tho' in a short Time he gradually reclined backwards, fell on the Deck, groaned and expired. Another Negroe Man was also much wounded in his Head and Breast.

Spence

Even at this far removed time, the sad tale of his demise saddens me.

 

[oldwood]

More than one old book with a display of original powder horns , may have one or two glass vessels used by some early folks to carry powder. Every one I've seen has a common warning about dropping the glass container of powder on a stone surface , causing an immediate violent detonation. Just an observation.....

 

[Stony Broke]

I would worry about a couple of things with a glass container. First, the danger of it breaking easily and secondly the chance of glass and powder reacting to a static spark.

 

[TexiKan]

Stony Broke, the third page of the link I gave addresses that concern and has evidence it should not.

Another observation is that the glass horns I have are rather thick. Much thicker than most would think. The article and the info from Texican Trade 'n Post note they are rather rare and of course the doubt of their existence and practicality is a reason to question. The article link also states such horns had shorter straps and thus were higher and closer to the body which indicates less overall movement and potential damage.

When I first bought one, I envisioned it more as a trophy like item. Then I thought about using it for something like rum or other strong alcoholic beverages. As for using it as an actual powder horn, I am probably as skeptical as most folks. In all the years I have been in this hobby (since the 1970's) I have yet to see such a powder horn at a Rondy or a shoot. And as I said, I wondered if there was a reliable and authentic looking plug other than a cork.

 

[Rod Man]

This is pretty neat, I would like to have one as a decanter for a different kind of combustible, thinking that's about as far as I would go tho.

Thanks for sharing.

RM

 

[Zonie]

In his book, "THE POWDER FLASK BOOK", the author, Ray Riling mentions many different materials that were used to make powder horns and flasks, but I can't find that he even mentioned glass anywhere. The book covers time periods from when flasks were first used up until the times they were replaced by self contained cartridges.
IMO, if glass was used, he would have mentioned it.

That leads me to believe the glass powder horn flasks shown above are actually works of art, fashioned by some very talented glass blowers.
They certainly are neat and they are good conversation pieces but I doubt they, or similar powder horns were used to hold gunpowder, by anyone, "back in the day".

 

[appalichian hunter]

Zonie I am in line with your thinking, perhaps a wimsey project at the end of the day for a glass blower, perhaps a bottle for adult beverages. who knows but a neat ideal anyway.

 

[ord sgt]

There are several glass powder horns on display at Wheaton Village, Millville, NJ. Huge glass producing center, going back to the mid 1800's. Mason jars were first produced there.

 

[Whitworth]

You can make a rifle barrel out of glass too for art's sake but that doesn't mean you should use it. If you banged a glass horn against your gun you could break it. Bring it in from the cold and moisture could condense on the inside surface. As a guy who could break an anvil, I would no more use a glass powder horn than a glass hammer. I could maybe see selling such horns full of powder as a merchandising gimmick, the powder to transferred to a real horn once home by the savvy hunter, JMHO.

 

[Flinty Scot]

Great curios.
Store/carry your powder in a regular horn, for safety.
Reserve those as rum horns. You could probably get away with a very soft wood plug as well as cork, but nothing that would put pressure on the neck and which would not crush easily if pushed a bit deep (after sampling.)

 

[Treestalker]

I saw somewhere in a book a glass powder flask that looked like an old timey medicine bottle with a complicated push button valve system on top. Said it was from Texas about 1830's.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Even at this far removed time, the sad tale of his demise saddens me.

In a world where the brain dead youth remember only the newest tweet or Tik Tok garbage, I agree with you.

 

[Celticstoneman]

Something occurred to me today about the glass"powder horns". Assuming that a person did use one for his powder, wouldn't the light entering the glass create condensation inside where as a normal horn would not allow this sort of problem?