Rum Horn

[Harddog]

This is a rum horn that I just finished up yesterday. It is approximately 3 inches tall and 3 inches by 3-1/2 inches at the base. The base and top are made from very close grained pine and the spout and spout plug are maple. It is dated 1757.

Randy Hedden

 

[adrian]

Damm fine work, :bow: now make some rum to go with it and you'll be off an running

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Nice work, Harddog. :grin: The rum horn is new to me. Are there original rum horns? GW

 

[Harddog]

Nice work, Harddog. :grin: The rum horn is new to me. Are there original rum horns? GW

Grey Whiskers,

Rum horns seem to have been fairly common during the 18th century. Not as common as powder horns, but you do see old examples of rum horns.

Their surface was a pallet for the scrimshaw artists just like the powder horns of the same period.

Randy Hedden

 

[fw707]

Are they for shootin or for drinkin?? :grin:
Harddog, whatever they're for, that's a very nice piece of work. You should be very proud of it. :winking: :grin:

 

[CWC]

I hadn't heard of rum horns either. A horn doesn't seem like it would have a very nice flavor. Does it impart a weird taste to it's contents? Do you line it with wax or paraffin to cut down on taste problems?

 

[hawkeye1755]

Great work :bow: .At that time they prefer the rum over the whisky.
:thumbsup:

 

[shmrck1]

Harddog,
Very nice work! I had one made by 'Griz'
but it holds bourbon. Lined with beeswax, I have
never noticed any taste but Old Crow.It holds
around a half gal.:rotf::rotf: Just kidding.
Maybe a pint.
snake-eyes :winking:

 

[Goldhunter]

That is awesome! :bow: Very nice work. How did you heat it enough to bend it that far, heat gun? I must not be heating my horn projects enough. :shake:

keep em coming! Very nice work.

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Hi Harddog,
Nice looking stuff. I didn't know you did scrimshaw. Ever do a fire kit using a horn? Glad to see you're on this list. Kind of like old home week.

Pletch

 

[Harddog]

I hadn't heard of rum horns either. A horn doesn't seem like it would have a very nice flavor. Does it impart a weird taste to it's contents? Do you line it with wax or paraffin to cut down on taste problems?

CWC,

I line all my rum horns with beeswax. Some guys use pitch pine, but I never liked the residual taste of the pitch pine in a canteen so I don't think it's good for rum horns either.

Randy Hedden

 

[Gary]

I'll withhold judgment until I sample the contents. Hic.

 

[Harddog]

How did you heat it enough to bend it that far, heat gun? I must not be heating my horn projects enough.

Goldhunter,

There was no bending involved in making this rum horn. This is it's natural shape with the end plugs shaped to fit the natural shape of the horn.

If you want to bend a horn, heat it in cooking oil. Any cooking oil will do. I buy whatever kind of cooking oil is cheapest or on sale. I heat the oil on a Coleman propane stove and check the temperature with a candy thermometer. Heat the oil to 340-50 degrees and then put the horn in it for about 12-15 seconds and then you should be able to form your horn. If you leave the horn in the hot oil for much longer than 15 seconds, it will turn to rubber. Also, if the oil is much hotter than 360 degres, it will burn the horn.

Randy Hedden

 

[Harddog]

Hi Harddog,
Nice looking stuff. I didn't know you did scrimshaw. Ever do a fire kit using a horn? Glad to see you're on this list. Kind of like old home week.

Pletch

Hey Pletch,

Yeah, I have been doing scrimshaw off and on for maybe 25-30 years. When I get serious about gun building I lay off the horn work, but when the gun work gets tedious and boring I switch to making bags, horns and other accoutrements,

I have made a lot of different horn items besides powder horns, including tinder horns, rum horns, salt horns, horn snuff boxes, etc. Horn work is horn work.

Randy Hedden

 

[renovato]

That's some really nice work!

 

[brubincam]

take your horn down to McDonalds and have them put it in with a batch of fries.... :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[bnail]

If you want to bend a horn, heat it in cooking oil. Any cooking oil will do.

What about transfats won't that clog the horn? :rotf:

thats a fine piece Harddog, how long you have you been making horns? :bow:

 

[Goldhunter]

Thanks. It looked like it was oval shaped, like it could fit in a coat pocket with little bulging. I've tried the oil twice now, with fair to not so good results. I need a little more work to perfect the technique. :shake: Is the plug turned with threads or wedged in? I am thinking I want to try one of these.

 

[whitetrash078]

That is truly a thing of beauty, you do first class work. :thumbsup:

 

[PitchyPine]

Very cool, nice work. :thumbsup: