Powder horn project

[Omahkapi'si]

Alberta and Montana should just be one state anyway.

 

[Eutycus]

And be ready for it. Half the camp will tell you to set the butt with beeswax, half will tell you to glue it. Then the first half will tell you gluing it turns it into a bomb. Be ready for it.

Here it comes, kind of. How you decide to attach the butt on one end is entirely up to you. I have one just "beeswaxed"with a few thorns and another glued and brass nailed. Frankly I prefer the nailed one, brass nails are prettier than thorns.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I’ll just get it out there now. I’m gluing it. Then maybe brass tacks.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Here’s the other end of the bench for your viewing pleasure. The blue box has Goex in it.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Just a suggestion, when I make a horn, I try to find a piece of wood for the end cap from where I hunt at, usually near where the last deer I killed. A bit of sanding work and you have a horn cap. If you're going for the rustic look, I would use bees wax as a sealant on the end cap and black locust thorns for pins. I make a lot of my own accountment's and yes you want them to look nice. I get into what I think is the mindset of a hunter perhaps cabin bound say from the weather and thinks now would be a good time to make a new horn or bag, which I am in the process of making a bag now, perhaps later scrounge around and look for buffler horn and give that a go.

 

[Steve Martin]

I just want to jump in here and remind everyone when cutting and filing, sanding etc. on horn, wear a good mask! I did not know how bad the stuff coming off a natural horn was for my lungs the first one I made and suffered a week as a result. Wear a good mask whenever you are putting out horn dust - trust me!

 

[andy52]

You've got a bunch of material to remove on the spout end to make it look good. What kind of wood for the plug? I like fancy so some type of Burle wood. A lighter color probably, your horn is going to be dark and the contrast with the lighter wood looks good.

 

[ebsails]

I will try to keep it rough and primitive looking. Should be easy since I don’t know what I’m doing.

That's exactly the attitude and philosophy I've been using with my BP projects.
and now you've got me thinking of trying a horn, thanks, Eric

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Might start looking like a horn soon.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

For a first effort I’d say it’s coming along. Primitive being the operative word.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Had to call it a day, ergonomics are non-existent in my shop....

 

[Omahkapi'si]

A little more spout work. It won’t win any beauty contests but it will work.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

How's clear JB Weld for an epoxy for the plug? Good stuff?

 

[oreclan]

Might start looking like a horn soon. View attachment 126413

Looks great so far! You might either facet the tip or "bottle turn" it i.e. file it in concentric rings/ grooves for an interesting contrast to the rest of the horn. The butt plug could be domed with a staple or knob. Two holes could also be drilled diagonally through the horn base and out a flat butt plug for thongs to the strap.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

How's clear JB Weld for an epoxy for the plug? Good stuff?

I’ll take that as a no….

 

[Ames]

 

[copehill hermit]

thanks for sharing this project. It is nice to see what others are doing. I am going to try one as well. I have a blank tucked away from years ago, and will try to make one along the F&I style. A friend made one copying Arnold's path up the Kennebec and I will attempt my own poor version.

 

[Maven]

RanchRoper, The new Muzzle Loader magazine has an article, an illustrated tutorial if you will, on finishing/working with a buffalo horn. It's worth reading and quite helpful.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I will check that out. Thanks.

 

[Jaeger]

I make my horn plugs out of pine, which is soft. What works for me is pulling the plug out with my teeth and holding it there while loading, then replacing it by hand. That way I don't lose the plug or drop it. As a result, my horn plug is all chewed-up looking. It ain't pretty, but it works. I'll bet there were a lot of them like that back in the day. Pro tip: don't stain the plug with anything that tastes bad.