"Help" info. on making buffalo powder horn

[ole berthey]

I am trying to get my supplies for a building a buffalo powder horn. Need information Please.

(1) How long is a good size for a finished powder
horn

(2) So how long should the raw horn be?

(3) Should I get a female buffalo horn, or a bull
horn, or is there any differance between the
two?

I plan on this being a hunting powder horn. I would like this horn to hold enough powder for about 30 shots or so. I shoot 100gr of powder per shot. I shoot a percussion hawkens 54 RB.

Any other information you think would help me would be appreciated. Thanks Rowdy

 

[ricktwin]

rowdy,

A good size for buffalo horn is usually between 10 and 12 inches along the curve with an opening diameter from 3 to 5 inches. You can find XXXL horns in the 14 - 15 inch range if you look around. These can carry more than enough powder for your shooting. You will want a bull horn, as cow buffalo horn sheaths tend to be thicker walled and smaller in diameter. The buffalo will also usually have more scaling than cow horn. Some guys like to leave some scaling on, some like to go smooth as glass. If you like the shiny look, you can't beat buffalo thats been polished. I've made quite a few both ways. Good shooting ... and post pictures when you get it completed.

Thanks, Ron

 

[paulvallandigham]

Before you build a Big, Long horn for powder, put a one pound can of powder in a jacket pocket and carry it around all day. I have seen Longhorn cattle horns that were three feet long, and 5 inches in diameter at the large end. They were used to carry salt, corn meal, and other grains, but were hung on the sides of wagon trains, and not carried by men or even horses, if they had a choice. Over the years, my horns have gotten smaller and smaller, as my hunting trips have also gotten shorter. The knees just don't let me walk the miles I could when I was a young man. So, my biggest horn now only holds about a half pound of powder- more than enough for a range session with my rifle, and usually good enough for 20 or more rounds with my shotgun. I have an original horn that I had repaired and restored that carries about 1/3 of a pound of powder. I think they knew what they were doing back then. I don't think i would want to have a horn, today, that was longer than about 10 inches. Just my opinion, and Yeah, I have drooled over some of those ornate horns you see with the carving, and scrimshaw, work, and all the steps and colors. Nice to look at. If I was collecting horns, I would have several. But Don't ask me to fill one up and take it to the range, or on a seneca run!

 

You can go large or go small, that's your personal preference. But go with the bull horn for a powder horn. As stated, the buff cow has a slight twist besides the curl and is thicker walled. You can always cut the bull horn shorter for a 30 charge horn which you will want to do from the butt end. I used a piece of oak for the ******** in mine and chip carved it. The piece that you cut from the pointy end can be turned into a spout plug for the horn if you're careful. You can use locust thorns, cut nails, or even brass tacks if that suits your fancy for attaching the butt plug. I used a wire staple made from a finishing nail for the strap hanger and a simple groove about 3" from the mouth for the other end of the strap. I always use sinew or some other small cordage to braid up a tie string for the tip so it doesn't get lost from the horn in loading out in the hunt.

 

[boar]

I have made horns out of cow, but bought my buffalo horn. I have made all sizes, but carry a small horn as you don't get too many shots any more when hunting. I make a plain horn, nothing fancy, just a using one. Have 7 bags and have a horn for each one.When you have the base ready for plug, take a foam dinner plate and press the horn base in it, cut the circle out, this will give you a pattern for you to draw on wood, saves a lot of filing and rasping. I can make a plug now that fits with out softing and sometimes so tight that I don't have to seal it. To check a horn yust blow in small end. Remember a horn wall is on a slant. I make plugs out of Walnut,hard Maple,Hedgeapple,Cherry,pine and Cedar. I scrape my horns and oil them. My one buddy who did knives took one of my horns and polished it for me, it came out nice, I gave it to my daugther to hang on mantle. Hope this helps you . Yust remember, a little bit of powder, a little bit lead, shoots far and kills dead. Dilly

 

[Goldhunter]

I like that foam plate idea. :thumbsup: Think I might give it a try my next horn. I usually just trace around the horn on the wood then sand like hell. I'm all for less sanding.

 

[Brasilikilt]

Hey There

Most of the buffalo horns available commercially have not been sanded down like most of the cattle horns you get, so be prepared to do A LOT of scraping.
A technique passed to me by a fellow forum member was to take cloth/old rags and wrap them around a sturdy stick, then wrap that with duct tape.
You stuff that stick into your horn and secure it in a vise so it won't move around while doing the heavy scraping you're going to do.
I make more horns than the average joe, so I invested in a little 1" belt sander from Harbor Freight which has served me surprisingly well.
That is what I use to remove thick scale on horns.
Saves a lot of wear and tear on the scraping wrist

Hope this helps

Iain

 

[Goldhunter]

So how does that belt sander work on the inside curve of the horn?