Powder Horn

Go tthis horn from my father-in-law and want to know how best to make this a nice usable powder horn. The cavity is about 10 1/2 inches long and the horn is 22 1/2 inches along the longest curve.

 

[dlpowell]

If you've got 12" of solid tip there's way too much work to try to make a usable horn. I'd use the tip for powder measures and buttons. Take the open cavity and make rum horns.

 

[paulvallandigham]

While I can agree with Don that the tip is too much horn to use in a powder horn, I would hate to see the rest of the horn used for a drinking mug, altho' that is often what you see these long horns made into in Europe.

Mostly, I don't think I would want to carry all that weight around as a powder horn. The tip can be cut off and used for a variety of articles, including a powder measure. That long curve makes this a good candidate for a powder horn that will wrap around your hip or side. I really would like to see that ragged base saved, with some kind of plug put inside it, leaving the ragged edge to be decoratively filed and shaped, and hole cut in a " lip " to use to hang the powder horn strap at that end. Carrying more than 1/2 pound of powder gets to be a really " drag ", in more than one way. Wiht all that solid horn available, you could do some nice reduction and ring work on that neck. Ou might even consider making a fish mouth towards the front so it looks like the neck is coming out of the mouth to pour the powder. ( Maybe like a long skinny fish like a Northern Pike???)

Just some thoughts.... That is a beautiful horn to work with. It is just NOT going to look like more traditional powder horns, that are shorter, and wider around. So, don't try to do so.

Best wishes. :thumbsup:

 

[omarick1948]

David,
Don't let the long solid area scare you....you have a good opertunity to make a fine powder horn!

First: Get a good inside measurement with a piece of wire. Then hold the wire on the outside and mark where the wire end is and mark it with a marking pen.

Second: Now, from this mark measure 5 inches and cut the horn tip off square as possible. Now mark the center of the cross section for drilling your hole, then pencil a staight line from the tip on four sides to "eyeball" as a drill bit guide. Using a extra long 3/16" drill bit in a vari. speed hand drill...slowly start drilling your center hole....in a little then out a little to clean the hole. Watch the guide lines and go slow to keep everything straight and true. When you get through to the inter cavity...use gradual larger drill bits and enlarge your pilot hole.

Third: You have plenty of horn area to do alot with. You can first rasp taper the spout end down to a workable size and carve and file rings, flats, spiral etc. to your liking...use your imagination and have fun, but go slow! Let us see it when your finished.JMHO

Rick

 

Thanks, guys. gonna get some drill bits and make me a horn. Pics gonna be posted.

 

[Brasilikilt]

I second what horner said

You can see that the tip looks reasonably straight, so it shouldn't be tough to drill it out. This also allows plenty of "meat" to carve into.

 

[paulvallandigham]

YOu obviously have much more experience drilling pilot holes in horns, than I do! I use a 1/8" drill bit for the pilot hole, then enlarge it with a 3/16" and then to a 1/4 " bit. Marking the lines on 4 sides of the nose is good advice. They do help you hold the drill bit steady and square.

 

I gonna start with the smallest, longest I can get and work my way up. Looks like a hard way go since it'll still be kinda curved. Unless I cut the end off alot.

 

[omarick1948]

I gonna start with the smallest, longest I can get and work my way up. Looks like a hard way go since it'll still be kinda curved. Unless I cut the end off alot.

If your nervous about to much curve...cut a little more spout end off!....Hold your drill bit along side the neck of the horn and make a judgement call if you think you can drill it.

You can get extra long drill bits at your local hardware store for a couple bucks each. Stay away from those BRAD POINT bits, as they will get you in trouble with horn drilling. Your horn would be a dandy canidate for a SCREW END turned horn, but that's another matter!
Rick

 

After much deliberayion, I think I'm gonna make it into a drinking horn, just because my pa-in-law seemed a little upset that I was gonna have to cut so much off of it. So I will just have one really highly carved horn one of these days when I can get to it. Thanks for the advice gentlemen. :thumbsup: