Kudu horn for powder horn

[Heinrich]

I've been working on Nyala horn in the past, now the next member of the spiral horned antelope is up for a project. A member on Whitesmoke was so brave to offer a piece of kudu horn and black ivory wood for me to turn into something resembling a powder horn.

Here is the horn, before any major work has been done, apart from removing the bone core.

After quite a few days of sanding, the results have come to this, you can now start to see the different colours that is inside the layers of the horn. I have only found it looking like this on the spiral horned antelope.

I shall cut the horn shorter because now it is too large, and way impractical.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Tis your horn, and you can do what you want, but I would NOT cut that horn down. Use it as is as a hatrack, or something, but leave it whole. Its quite an art piece as is.

Buy a cow's horn to make into a powder container.

 

[hornbuilder]

I agree , it would be a shame to cut that up to attempt to make a powder horn , :nono:

 

[Bob Riegl]

:v The Kudu horn was used by the Zulus and other African tribes as signal horns. The Scouters (Adult Scout Leaders) internationally use the Kudu Horn to open and close all Wood Badge reunions. Wood Badge is a Training Course which is the ultimate training an adult leader can receive. It requires at least a full week or four weekends to complete this course and make the scouter eligible to receive his beads after working to actively improve his work in Scouting. The beads are small wooden tokens worn on a leather necklace that symbolizes the attainment of this prestigious award. These beads imitate the beads taken from the Zulu chieftain Dini Zulu after he surrendered to the British Army, after the Zulu uprising. He wore a breast plate made of these beads. Of course the modern replica's are quite obviously not from that original breast plate. Just FYI :thumbsup:

 

[Heinrich]

That there kudu horn is not anything special in size, and in our neck of the woods kudu horn is a common as elk sheds.

:grin:

 

[hornbuilder]

well heinrich :

if their that common I'd like to trade ya for a set of whitetail antlers ? interested ..... I think the kudo horn looks pretty cool myself .....

 

[Heinrich]

I'm interested, we can surely talk about it. I've got a large collection of antelope horns that serve very well for making horns with.

Spent some time sanding, and sanding. I start with 120, then proceed to 240, then 360, every time basically removing the sanding marks from the previous session.

The 600, and lastly I have used 800.

Next session will be 1000, and then I shall finish with 1200 grit.

The horn turned out to be VERY thick, and you will be able to get in less powder than I expected, but it will still be a LOT.

I have also cut the tip of, luckily the cavity ran all the way into the tip, and drilling was rather easy. Next operation is to install the spout. And then that FANCY black ivory plug.

It's only on young animals that the cavity run so deep. Look at the beautiful colours that has come out.

 

[Heinrich]

I took these pics halfway through the sanding process, after I had cut the horn.

 

[Heinrich]

This is the result of all the sanding, polishing has not happened yet.

For this horn there is very little polishing that will happen. The person that I am making this for has requested me to NOT sand out the fine cracks in the horn, he does not want it to look like plastic.

I am fitting a brass brass spout that he has supplied together with the horn, and the wood.

 

[d.thomson]

That is going to make one beautiful horn. Nice work so far. It looks like it has preaty thick walls to it , a nice releaf would realy set off the colour difrences. But that just my 2 cents :thumbsup: F.K.

 

[Heinrich]

There are plenty colours to that horn, doing a good deep cut will show many colours.

The man that I'm making this for also makes powder horns as a hobby, and he is pretty good with engraving these horns.

Over here in SA, there is no business in making powder horns to sell. We just make them, and give them away... :grin:

 

[d.thomson]

I here ya there are only a hand full of real BP.shooters around here. I'm trying to convert more. I have three who have taken the hook and line , and about a dozzen who are just nibbling. I'v made two horns the latest one is from African Cattle horn( white to black). I put a nice releaf, celtic braid were the white runs into the black. I know what you meen about no market to sell them. If I had to charge to make a horn, no one would be able to aford them. But they do make nice presents. F.K.

 

[Heinrich]

They do make great gifts, and the people who receive them really appreciate the effort. Only way to grow the passion is by getting people active.

Here is just one of the ones that I have made using african cattle horn, specifically Afrikaner.

 

[Heinrich]

The back part of the horn has now been sanded, and polished.

This one I'll turn into a powderhorn for myself. And it's going to be a large one.

 

[jweston]

Heinrich,
You say that the horns are common -- What would it take to ship some to the US. I will be honest that I don't at this point know whether there are import restrictions into the US. PM me if you are willing.

BTW Please have pity on an American the next time you drink some pinotage, which I can not find in my locale.

BBurg

 

[Heinrich]

Now I am pretty much finished.

Put in staples (a touch that I've learnt from the American Master hornmakers) makes it easier to attach the sling.

And polished it too the level that owner said he liked, which is not so smooth, and not shiny.

The black ivory base plug has been put in, and also polished, also not too much. And even managed to get some of the white that was in the wood.

 

[soggy]

:bow: :bow: Beautiful job! Well done Heinrich :hatsoff:
Soggy

 

[RC]

WOW! NICE NICE NICE! RC

 

[billk]

Excellent job!!! :thumbsup:
I like the step be step pictures.
The base plug color and fit looks awesome.
Billk

 

[wildeagle]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: exellent job,fine looking horn for your buddy.