Simplicity in a Horn

[Crewdawg445]

Just a quick share of a simplistic horn that I completed this evening. From a raw horn to a finished horn this one surprised me with some finer cracks and imperfections that I couldn't completely remove. However it has beautiful natural tones the camera wouldn't pick up. Rather than worry about the small things, turned it into a rather nice simple horn, nothing fancy just water tight and functional. To me, simplicity is beautiful!

Started life as a regular steer horn that was rather banged up. After removing multiple layers, scraped the entire horn and finished polishing and burnishing with beeswax. Walnut plug fitted, pinned with maple pins. The spout had a fine crack running about a 1/4" of the way down the neck. This was repaired and wrapped with bison rawhide and elk sinew. A simple maple stopper was made and lashed with brain tan deer hide, wrapped again with elk sinew. To end the endeavor, fashioned up a quick staple. Completing a finger woven strap to accompany this horn that I feel should complement the finish and walnut plug wonderfully. Nothing to run home about, just a quick and fun project! :hatsoff:

 

[50cal.cliff]

What's not to like about that one!!

Simplicity is like a woman with just a touch of make-up, perfume that intrigues not overpowers and clothed to make the mind wonder.


Oh Oh, sorry about that I slipped over into the dirty ole man again!


Simplicity,...”¦ is elegance! :thumbsup:

 

[Black Hand]

Simple but functional.

Seems a good candidate for a poured pewter spout repair...

 

[Crewdawg445]

Simple but functional.

Seems a good candidate for a poured pewter spout repair...

Do tell!

 

[Black Hand]

Have you ever poured a pewter bolster? Very similar process. https://joeldelorme.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-make-pewter-bolster-on-knife.html

You will need to file down the horn and leave a ring (or rings) for the pewter to grab. Put a dowel in the hole (make certain it is tight so the pewter doesn't sneak by into the hole), make a collar (light cardboard), melt pewter (lead-free plumbing solder works well), heat area where the pewter will go with a heat-gun, pour pewter and allow to cool. Remove cardboard collar, shape with files & scrapers and you are essentially done.
https://www.bing.com/images/search...08053237117551470&selectedIndex=72&ajaxhist=0 https://www.bing.com/images/search...08023404318098942&selectedIndex=73&ajaxhist=0 https://www.bing.com/images/search...ctedIndex=2&qpvt=pewter+horn+spout&ajaxhist=0

 

[Crewdawg445]

Now that indeed is nice. Thank you for sharing that info. Certainly a option I did not consider for a horn! I have plenty pewter buttons laying around that will indeed suffice for this project!

 

[Black Hand]

As I mentioned, use lead-free plumbing solder (the thick wire on a spool) and save the pewter buttons for other projects. The solder is similar to modern lead-free pewter. The other option is order pewter ingots used for casting buttons (Jas Townsend?).

 

[Crewdawg445]

Good point on the buttons... Just looked at the cost and they have risen a bit. Plenty of solder to go around!

 

[Coot]

Mrs Coot searches thrift stores for cheap old pewter pieces to melt down & make into buttons. Less expensive than buying new pewter bars.

 

[Crewdawg445]

"Thrifty find" :grin:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Finishing up my starp, simple diagonal finger weave. The colors are brighter due to lightning, however they are very subtle and very natural looking being 100% wool. Fingers have woven all they can weave tonight... Started a nice chevron weave and became dissatisfied with the color pattern. Decided again, simplicity is beauty!

 

[necchi]

Very nice.
How did you do the band? Paint?

To end the endeavor, fashioned up a quick staple

Short critique, a "quick" staple is fine,, but it would look a lot better if the coat hanger didn't look quite so much like a coat hanger.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Glad it's not a coat hanger! :grin: piece of mild steel with a twist, again nothing fancy obviously.

Band was filed in with a combination of a rat tail file and a fine mill file. Dyed the area once I was satisfied.

 

[Black Hand]

I like a staple that sits close to the plug with just enough space for the strap to fit. This keeps the strap from slipping to the side and minimizes the possibility of twisting.

 

[MSW]

great looking horn!!

 

[Crewdawg445]

Yes, I agree. I pre-drilled the holes before setting the staple into the plug. However, when I went to drive the staple in it bottomed out. I wasn't going to risk fracturing the horn or plug. Likely will back it out and try again, as now it certainly is bothering me...

 

[Silky921]

Its to fancy for a simpleton such as yourself. Better throw it in the trash or give to me.

Looks good!

 

[Crewdawg445]

That's a compliment! Thank you my friend!

 

[Redstick Lee]

I love it !

Just 1 mans opinion, but a pewter nozzle would kind of spoil the "simplistic" effect.......
but
yes, if you DO go with the pewter nozzle, then you may want to do away with the staple, for a fancy filling and strap attaching butt plug........

 

[Black Hand]

I love it !

Just 1 mans opinion, but a pewter nozzle would kind of spoil the "simplistic" effect.......
but
yes, if you DO go with the pewter nozzle, then you may want to do away with the staple, for a fancy filling and strap attaching butt plug........

It was a repair made by people who cracked their spout - nothing fancy about it.
BTW - there is nothing period about a fancy filling and strap attaching butt plug (unless the period is late 20th century)...