Repairing an old horn

[ohiosam]

I have a powder horn that was my great-grandfather's, maybe even his father's. It is small and very simple design,. The problem is critters (mice maybe?) gnawed on it at some point. Is it possible to repair it with an epoxy? I wouldn't even think about it if it wasn't for the family connection.

 

A colored epoxy would probably work but I have seen period repairs made with a wrap of rawhide as well as "shallow" inlays being put over the damage.
Mark

 

[omarick1948]

I think for your repairs, Papa knows best!...Sorry! You can go to a boat dealer/shop and buy you a fiber glass repair kit that has colors in it to mix on a piece of clear plastic, like everything is packed in these days. This kit contains the epoxy resin and hardner. Squeeze some of the resin on the clear plastic and then add just a dot of the colors you need to match the color of the horn and mix well. When you get the color match you like, just add the hardner, mix and apply to horn. Fill area's alittle higher than what you need and scrape or sand off!.....NOTE!..By mixing the epoxy on the clear plastic, you can hold the mixed epoxy up over your head and see how the mixture looks after it sets and is smoothed!

Rick

 

[ohiosam]

Thanks for the tips, I'll look for the repair kit.

I never saw the rifle this went to. A much older cousin got the rifle before I was born and sold it. :cursing: From what my dad told me it was a .28 caliber half stock with gain twist rifling and lots of German silver inlays.

 

[ohio ramrod]

What I use for repairing horns is a mixture of clear epoxy and dust from sanding horns. I mix the dust two parts epoxy one part dust. Then as the expoxy starts to set up I cover the patch with more dust and wrap a paper over the area. After allowing the epoxy to dry I remove the paper blow off the loose dust and sand lightly.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Sorry you didn't get the gun. Maybe see if you can find pics and make a replica.