Two more powder measures completed

[braintan]

I finished these up finally. Antler tips. I don't use power tools. The one with 7 rattles holds 70 grains. The one with 9 rattles holds 90 grains.
tim

 

[paulvallandigham]

That is an interesting system approach to letting you remember how much powder each pours. I won't ask what you do for 85 grains...... I do like your horn measures. If you are going to cut that much off the top of a horn, this is a great use for the end. May I ask what kind of cutting tool did you use to deepen the cups?

 

Love em! Very nice especially since I use 90 -100 grains of powder for my 62. I just can't get in there deep enough. I guess if I kept at it long enough it would hold enough powder.

Very nicely done and great system.

B

 

[braintan]

Thanks Paul,
I use a brace to drill the hole, then ream and flare out the top with a knife. The antler works pretty easy. Then I use a combination of walnut and coffee stain.
I, of course, use a known powder measure to reach the desired amount.
As for 85 grains, I've been mulling that over in my mind. I could flatten one side of the last rattle or just make the last rattle half as thick,which I think would look better. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
tim

 

[braintan]

Love em! Very nice especially since I use 90 -100 grains of powder for my 62. I just can't get in there deep enough. I guess if I kept at it long enough it would hold enough powder.

Very nicely done and great system.

B

Thanks Billy,
The old butcher knife I use to do the flares with is pretty thin kinda like a filet knife so in reaming out the hole pretty much follows the shape of the outside. The depth of the 90 grain is only 2 inches.
tim

 

[Dave K]

You could extend the flat, that you use to tie the measure on, into the last round. That way in looks like the last round is incomplete and you would know it is a 85 gr. or at least a 5gr. increment. Just a thought.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Thanks Paul,
I use a brace to drill the hole, then ream and flare out the top with a knife. The antler works pretty easy. Then I use a combination of walnut and coffee stain.
I, of course, use a known powder measure to reach the desired amount.
As for 85 grains, I've been mulling that over in my mind. I could flatten one side of the last rattle or just make the last rattle half as thick,which I think would look better. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
tim

Are you drilling when the horn is softened by boiling, and what kind of bit are you using?

As for ideas, I thought it might be okay if you " tailed" that last "ring " to indicated only 5 grains, rather than a ring to indicate a full 10 grains. By tailing, I am suggesting you make a spiral to the tip rather than a ring. It would be easy to " feel " even in the dark, if you were choosing powder measures to take into the field during the middle of the night and didn't want to wake anyone. The rest does look a little like the rattles on the tail of a rattle snake.

I also thought It might help to count the rings if the 5th and 10th etc. rings were larger in width, so they can be readily distinguished at a glance, or by feel.

Just some thoughts. I tend to get excited when I see someone has done something truly creative, and my mind goes off to the races. Which leads me to an afterthought: You could simply make that last ring half the width of the others to indicate half the unit of measure.I do like my first idea of a spiraling tail for the last ring, better.

 

[rabjr]

Very nice braintan :thumbsup:

 

[braintan]

Paul,
I use a regular metal cutting bit that has been squared off a little on the shank so the brace will hold it better.
There is no need to boil these antler tips. They are a little soft in the middle, similar to bone.
That idea of the half width rattle is what I was talking about when I answered your first post.
This rattle snake idea was quite popular in early times as evidenced by the examples in Madison Grants books on both bags and horns. The book on horns shows much more than the pouch book does.

 

[smo]

Very nice work Braintan. :hatsoff:

 

[mazo kid]

A great idea! I have a bunch of antler tips just waiting for an idea like this.

 

[Walks Alone]

I never thought about being able to "feel" the capacity in the dark. Good idea and job on them - they look great. :thumbsup:

I scrimed all of mine for their charge capacity (both with 2f and 3f since I use both), no matter what they are made from, and have a bunch of them to cover any load I'd ever need in any firearm. Never been a problem as I only carry the right measure and powder horn for the hunting or target load being used at the time in the fiream. So in the dark they work fine too.

 

[Sherlock]

In many cases the measure was associated with the pouch & horn and a single gun. Thus you could make the "rattles" to suit and make a little flat space above to scrim "85 Ile Hav Or Non".

One of my little horns says "Libertie Ile Hav or...."and there is a tombstone with skull drawn instead of a word. Just a thought about your very good work, Wonky

 

[fatboy]

They look real nice fine job I must say !

 

[dlpowell]

Now you've gone and done it. I've got a set of small antlers I'm gonna have to hack up!

 

[Dutchman58]

Beautiful work! :hatsoff: