My new horn

[Bartek]

I just bought this antique horn (XVIII century).

It is a little damaged

I think the renovation of this horn will be my favorite hobby for minimum next month I never did it befor As You can see it's flat. I was looking for some antique powder horne and I note, every one I have seen was flat :: I have found only one example of "normal" horn in Poland in old days. It is this picture of polish rebel from 1863.

Can You give me any tips for good beginning my restorer career?

 

[2172]

Bartek, in the interest of preserving antiques, I'd urge you to get a modern cow horn and make a copy of this one, and live this antique just as it is...Hank

 

[ladysmithtrading]

I agree with Hank!, if you want a flat horn, their not that hard to make, the trick in getting the horn flat is to use vegetable oil to boil it in not water as oil has a much higher point to heat to boiling, makes it alot easier, also submerge your horn into the cold oil and gradually bring the heat up , checking your horn for pliability, dont drop it into the hot oil ans it may crack from the shock! try making your own and let us now how it turns out, good luck!

 

[bnail]

I think the Sibley's recommend peanut oil, which was the first I ever heard of boiling a horn in oil at all.
how long do you let it boil? and how do you flatten it? I'd imagine between two boards in a vice? I've wanted a flat horn for years, but never managed to do anything but mangle perfectly good horns.
By all means Beaverman, elaborate! :thumbsup:

 

[Bartek]

Thank You all. I think it is the best idea to leave this horn as it is and make the duplicate :blue:.

 

[ladysmithtrading]

I think the Sibley's recommend peanut oil, which was the first I ever heard of boiling a horn in oil at all.
how long do you let it boil? and how do you flatten it? I'd imagine between two boards in a vice? I've wanted a flat horn for years, but never managed to do anything but mangle perfectly good horns.
By all means Beaverman, elaborate! :thumbsup:

Actually your rite on the money! but if you leave the horn in the oil long enough it becomes very pliable and really doesnt need that much force as a vice, bring it outta the oil, let it drip a bit and then place on a 2x wide enough for the horn and I use a couple pieces of scrap 1x to hold the horn sideways where i want it on the 2x material , lay the other piece on top and start to press with your body wait, check ocasionally as you work the horn for aligment,and tilt of the horn and how much your closing it, if it cools off to much to work, just add it back to the oil for round 2, start and practice with some cheap horns, it really isnt that hard, I used to work horns and hoofs into neckerchief slides as a kid at scout camp usiong boiling water to soften and scrap, then 1 year an old timer was in charge of the handicraft area, we used oil instaed of water and man what a diff, i watched him make a flat horn and scrim it in 3 days! the man was a master, tried my first flat horn at 12 yrs old, wasnt a thing of beauty but it was mine , wish i still had it, good luck, let us see what uve done, I will be making a few flats after hunting season and the holidays for store stock for next years rondys, i will try to take some pics as i go along and post on here, Jim

 

[doverdog]

Peanut or vegetable oil is the way to go. You don't have to "boil it" as such. I find that when making a small priming horn, heating it in the oil at about 300 degrees for just a minute or so, gets it hot enough. Make sure you have a form, of the shape you want for the horn, made out of thin wood the thickness the internal cavity will be. This will keep the horn from collapsing on itself. Take the horn from the oil and place it between two smooth metal plates in your vise, and squeeze away. A thing I learned the hard way...do not drill the spout hole until after you have squeezed the horn flat. If the hole is already drilled, it will collapse and become elongated during squeezing, negating all the work you did fitting the plug. Attached are two horns I made using this method. The smaller of the two horns is only 7/16" thick. The larger is a Bag Horn, big enough to carry about 10 shots worth of powder, doing away with the need to carry a large horn, for just a short hunt.