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I have an old powder horn with some worm holes and a big chip in the base plug, I was thinking of redoing it so I can use it instead of it collecting dust. Any tips on this?
reworking old horns
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If it's an old original powder horn, don't destroy history! .... It has had a long life, so put it up and enjoy it! 
My suggestion is to get yourself another horn and go at that one!
Rick
My suggestion is to get yourself another horn and go at that one!
Rick
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If it has no antique value, the holes can be pluged with a mixture of horn sanding dust and superglue or a clear epoxy.The chip in the base can be fixed by cleaning out the chiped area and fitting in a new piece of wood and holding it in place with tightbond Three wood glue. :idunno:
paulvallandigham
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I would normally agree with Rick, but, I was given an old horn by a friend who found it in a flea market. The nose was broken, where someone had tried to make a repair years ago- like 80-100! Apparently there was damage at the base of the horn, too, as some early scrimshaw was sawed thru to make a new base, and a pretty primitive base plug was installed.
I took the horn to Bruce Horne, another horn maker and collector. He could tell me nothing of its origin, other than to say the more recent incarnation looked like horns that came out of Ohio band n the lat 1890-1900s. He restored the horn, cutting off the nose, and gluing in another piece of horn. The seam is covered by the strap that encircles thew neck now. He put a new butt plug in the horn, made to match the style of the neck of the horn. He managed to save all the remaining scrimshaw work on the horn, and I have left that " as is".
To me, the anonymous horn has more value being used, than sitting on a shelf somewhere gathering dust. When the original horn was cut back, the capacity of the horn was reduced substantially. It still holds more than enough powder for hunting, but I have a newer horn that is used for that purpose. I carry this horn as an "Extra", and its been used when marching in a parade shooting off blanks, where only powder is dropped into the barrel, and we consume much more powder to get the big "Boom!" that pleases the crowds. Its easier to transport a second horn of powder on our float to let me keep firing those banks.
On the rare occasion I have worn that horn at Rendezvous, or to the club, its spotted immediately by knowledgeable shooters, and draws lots of questions about how it has been restored.
So, if the horn has no indication of its age, or prior ownership( Provenance), go ahead and rest :hatsoff: ore it, and Use it!
I took the horn to Bruce Horne, another horn maker and collector. He could tell me nothing of its origin, other than to say the more recent incarnation looked like horns that came out of Ohio band n the lat 1890-1900s. He restored the horn, cutting off the nose, and gluing in another piece of horn. The seam is covered by the strap that encircles thew neck now. He put a new butt plug in the horn, made to match the style of the neck of the horn. He managed to save all the remaining scrimshaw work on the horn, and I have left that " as is".
To me, the anonymous horn has more value being used, than sitting on a shelf somewhere gathering dust. When the original horn was cut back, the capacity of the horn was reduced substantially. It still holds more than enough powder for hunting, but I have a newer horn that is used for that purpose. I carry this horn as an "Extra", and its been used when marching in a parade shooting off blanks, where only powder is dropped into the barrel, and we consume much more powder to get the big "Boom!" that pleases the crowds. Its easier to transport a second horn of powder on our float to let me keep firing those banks.
On the rare occasion I have worn that horn at Rendezvous, or to the club, its spotted immediately by knowledgeable shooters, and draws lots of questions about how it has been restored.
So, if the horn has no indication of its age, or prior ownership( Provenance), go ahead and rest :hatsoff: ore it, and Use it!
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