Mirror in plug of old powder horn?

[3 stinky dogs]

Well , since everyone else is guessing , I'll throw in mine . Maybe the mirror was used to reflect sunlight into the bore of a gun , for inspecting it . :m2c: :results:

You mean that those little tiney Mag-Lights wernt around then ?

 

[hornbuilder]

bioprof :{
a day late and a dollor short, just teasin with ya ! i think you have made a great deal. i agree with you on it being a commercially done horn , but still a great value. could you give me an idea of the length--tip to plug . :thanks: also whats the powder measure made of ?
my opinion is don't change anything ! leave it as it is ..
it will no long be original if you alter it :m2c:
great horn !!!!!!!

 

[musketman]

I also don't think there is anything chemically in black powder that would do this. There would have to be silver or some other metal salt in the powder to produce a mirror surface. The carbon, sulfur, and saltpeter might blacken a surface, but I don't think it would produce a mirror-like surface. Good idea though.

The micro-fine graphite we work with in the rubber industry has a reflective quality to it, it is the same graphite that is used to coat modern black powder...

 

[Gary]

Purpose of the mirror is to establish the owner's identity. When you look into the mirror and see someone else's face, you know it's not yours. When you see your face, you know you've got the right horn. Works everytime for me. :crackup: Mind if I drop by to see the horn? :kid:

 

[bioprof]

bioprof :{
a day late and a dollor short, just teasin with ya ! i think you have made a great deal. i agree with you on it being a commercially done horn , but still a great value. could you give me an idea of the length--tip to plug . :thanks: also whats the powder measure made of ?
my opinion is don't change anything ! leave it as it is ..
it will no long be original if you alter it :m2c:
great horn !!!!!!!

It is a little over 10" long. I think the powder measure may be made of bamboo or some other woody material. It has really thin walls with a cork in the bottom. I ended up paying $125 for it. The dealer still made money so we were both happy. Interestingly, the powder horn still has loose powder in it. I suspect the last owner may still have been using it.

 

[Rebel]

It may also be 100+ year old powder. Then again, it could be smokeless powder. I would't try to use it for that reason.

 

[scott k]

Nice horn and a great price. I think you did good :thumbsup:
Lehigh..

 

[musketman]

I think the powder measure may be made of bamboo or some other woody material.

Looks like river cane to me...