Horn Flasks

[crockett]

Dixie Gun Works sells flask heads you can attach to a horn. Looks sort of like a powder horn but instead of a peg there is a flask head.
Sounds good but are they PC? Is there any documentation these were ever made? Was the horn left round- like a powder horn; or, was the horn flattened?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Dixie Gun Works sells flask heads you can attach to a horn. Looks sort of like a powder horn but instead of a peg there is a flask head.
Sounds good but are they PC? Is there any documentation these were ever made? Was the horn left round- like a powder horn; or, was the horn flattened?

They are not pc. They look weird. The same caveat using those as a brass flask: DO NOT LOAD DIRECTLY INTO RIFLE. :shake: :nono:
There is no advantage to using them.

 

[MSK]

I actually researched this a bit and while I cannot say my findings are conclusive, what I observed is that such spouts would have been used (albeit with different mechanisms) from around 1500 to 1700 (trapezoid flasks, flat horns and antlers) and then again during the mid-19th century, mainly on metal flasks, but also on some horns. Track sells the later ones for horns, I believe. As Rifleman says however, I would avoid using such a set-up if you're F&I/Rev War.

Smollett

 

[Rifleman1776]

I would avoid using such a set-up if you're F&I/Rev War.

....or want to keep yer fingers and face intact. :shocked2:

 

[crockett]

I'd always pour from flask to measure to barrel- not direct. I was just wondering if such things existed. It sounds like flask heads on a ROUND cow horn would be rare/none existent. If horn was used - sounds like the horn was flattened.

 

[Rifleman1776]

It sounds like flask heads on a ROUND cow horn would be rare/none existent

When I first got into this game, back when the DGW catalog was on the table next to the Bible, I ordered one from them. Don't recall if I ever used it. Still have, hanging around.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I have one on a horn and love it.
speaking of P/C correctness are the round tubular flasks like CVA/Traditions sell P/C ?
similar to this. http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/69/2/FLASK-HS

 

[MSK]

In the back of my mind, I recall seeing a brass spouted horn ("normal" shape, not flattened) from the first decade or so of the 19th century. It think it was part of a British rifleman's kit (Baker) but I cant say for sure and I can't find the source. Perhaps someone will reply that I'm either misguided or have the source...

Smollet.

 

[LRB]

TRS offers castings for a conical styled horn spout, with a spring lever closure. They claim it dates from F&Y until the Baker Riflemans horn. I have seen one or more at the CLA show in Lexington KY, and they look pretty good. Actually they look very good to me.

 

[LaBonte]

Mountain Man Mariano Medina's flask head powderhorn with rawhide repairs - circa 1833-1863 but probable original build date late 1840's to early 1850's.

Like Wick I've seen a few other originals as well - not many but enough to know they were used by some folks out west at least in the mid 1800's....

 

[crockett]

Thanks for the photo. Horn looks black (cow buff?). The strap/cord is real short, I wonder how he carried it.

 

[crockett]

On the tools- looks like he has a prick of some sort and a nipple wrench (Percussion).