Raw Horn??

[oneshot]

Got a Raw Cow Horn.What do I do to make it a Powder Horn???

oneshot

 

[Stumpkiller]

Boil out the core (if it is still in place). Use a wood rasp to temove the rough outer sheath and smooth up the surface. Leave a collar (or a couple decorative rings) around the tip to hold the eventual strap. Then, scrape the surface smooth (a cabinet scraper or pieces of broken plate glass work well). Some folks scrape them so thin you can see light through them, but that makes them fragile, too. Use a piece of wire to probe in and see low deep the cavity is. Drill a hole in the tip smaller than the plug you intend to use into the inner cavity. You'll want it small so you can fit a tapered wood peg or fiddle pin as a stopper. Instead of drilling you can also heat a piece of coat hanger wire red hot and melt the hole in (it will STINK). This method lets you get a smooth hole in a curved tip with less danger of a run-out with the drill bit. Even if I do this I drill a starter hole so I don't mess up the tip. Trim the open end with a saw to make a flat, even opening. I wrap it in masking tape to mark a good edge before cutting. Take a piece of string and measure the large end of the horn. Cut a round wood plug of the circumference of the string. Taper the edges of the plug. Boil the horn again until soft and press the plug into the end. Let it stay there until the horn cools. Remove the plug and trim the wood or rasp the inside of the honn for a good fit. Repeat the heat and press fit until it is tight and even. The last time coat the edges of the plug with melted pitch, beeswax or epoxy to seal it watertight. Pin it in place with thorns in pre-drilled holes, nails or tacks. Use a piece of coathanger wire to make a hanging staple for the plug. Predrill and tap it into the holes.

That's the basics. Carve it fancier or leave it plain. Scrimshaw as the mood strikes you.

 

[oneshot]

Thanks !!! Sounds simple enough.

oneshot

 

[musketman]

Got a Raw Cow Horn.What do I do to make it a Powder Horn???

oneshot

First: Remove it from the bull...

If the bull is still alive, let your brother-in-law do this for you while you shout directions to him from the saftey of afar using a megaphone...

Just have him un-screw the horn from the bull's head, (left-handed threads, or was that right-handed? Hmmm, I wonder, no big deal, they go either way...)

Here is an actual picture of this event, just as my brother-in-law was ready to run pass me...

Then follow Stumpkiller's directions once your brother-in-law drops the horn on a flat-out run pass you with the bull closing in fast...

 

All good advice - an old pair (or new) pair of sizzors works well for scraping as well. The longer the blades, the beter. Just hold them open withyour fingers along the blade for scraping. I've used these as well as the woodworker's cabinet scraper, which is better due to the curled edge you put on them.

 

[2172]

I agree with all the advice, and would add that a Dremel tool cutting wheel is pretty useful in doing fancy carving around the decorative ring edges....also, I use jeweler's rouge on a wheel after I've done the fine scraping, and then use a paste wax and buffing wheel...this coat of wax also helps when scrimshawing.
To get a horn that is transparent, so you can check the powder level, I use a sanding drum in my drill press and sand the inside of the horn butt for a depth of about an inch and a half...this allows the horn to be held up to the light, butt up, and you can see if the powder level is below the level of an inch below the butt...Hank

 

[blckhrn]

If the bovine was made by Chrysler corp in the 60's the passenger side horn would be left hand thread, driver's side right hand thread. Hope this helps

 

[weeping wolf]

Hey there Oneshot! Making powderhorns is really fairly simple, but for the most part abit of a time consuming projest. However, One of the early Buckskining books, I believe either Vol. 1 or 2 has a chapter on all the processes involved. Pleanty of illustrations too, so theres very little left to guess about. Also, theres another more advanced article about the study of horns and their various schools of design in one of the later volumes which was written by Mark Odle, a fairly well known modern day hornsmith and re-enactor. This article also covers the making of flat horns also. Hope this proves to be a help to you. I've been making horns for a few years now, and have gotten many hours of enjoyment in crafting them. I've used the Buckskinning books for reference on many occasions.