Author Topic: Homemade powder horns. (Read 2033 times)

wormbobskey · « **on:** July 09, 2009, 11:01:41 AM »

I'm in the process of making a powder horn and was wanting some information. I've got the horn sanded down and the plug for the big end made. What I was wanting to know is is the big end permanetly attached? I've never used one let alone handled one so I'm not sure how one is filled. I still have to cut the small end and make a plug for it. Any help would be appreciated. Worm

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2009, 12:09:09 PM »

for the big end plug, normally they are first sealed with a glue or epoxy and then held in with brass nails/tacks. I havent attempted a horn yet myself. Post some pictures if you can!

wormbobskey · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2009, 12:15:11 PM »

I am techniclly challenged so I can't post any pictures. I'm using apple wood for the big plug and have brass rivets to attach it to the horn. I figured to use two part epoxy to help bond the plug as well as seal it. Because of the irregularity of the horn I plan to use an old chain saw file to cut a half round groove where the plug and horn meet. This is where the leather thong will be tied. Am I correct in assuming that the horn was filled through the pour spout on the small end? Thanks for the information. Worm

torpedoman · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2009, 06:20:17 PM »

i have a thread cutting die and tap for wood so i make a filler port that is threaded and use the end of that to tie my leather thong to.

necchi · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2009, 06:59:20 PM »

Here's a link I found very helpfull, I like his round toothpick method for attachment. It gives a nice looking finished product.

http://lumberjocks.com/decoustudio/blog/2482

To answer your ?, generally Yes,,it's filled from the spout.

I also really like this valve/spout from track, you need the bushing that is epoxied to the horn with it. You can unscrew the spout then screw in a funnel. I went to the valve after I lost a 1/2 pound of swiss powder because the plug fell out!

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(4nrrrb55asberbrnpbe5ao55))/Categories/partDetail.aspx?catId=1&subId=12&styleId=47&partNum=HVP

wormbobskey · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2009, 03:09:50 PM »

I whittled the big end plug round and left the knife marks. I used apple wood for the spout plug. I filed half round grooves for the attachment of the leather cord and its done. I'm thinking of maybe trying to do a little engraving, but my art work is very lacking and it may turn into a piece of junk before I'm done. The good part of it all is that it is a functioning piece to go with some of my other muzzle loading stuff, which is all its supposed to be. Worm

flintlock · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2009, 03:48:02 PM »

Some horns had a wooden knob on the end that threaded into the base and the powder was poured in there...Many just have a large staple on that end for the leather thong...

To fill from the smaller end, drill a hole through an old powder cap, cut the base off a .223 casing and glue or solder to the cap...

Sir Charles deMoutonBlack · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:12:48 PM »

I epoxy the plug in place, then drill a series of holes to accept pegs made of bamboo skewers & file the ends flush. Originally, I believe, the plug was fitted, pegged, and then sealed by rubbing beeswax into the joint.

I have generally left the plug complete, and fill from the spout end, after unscrewing the turned brass measuring spout. For the strap, I make a staple of coat hanger wire and epoxy the ends into the base, or into the horn at the base. I notice that some horns are fitted with a large threaded fill-plug, which can also be shaped to accept the end of the strap

At the neck I make a groove with that chainsaw file and fit it for another staple floating in the groove. Alternatively, a staple can be fitted into the thick part of the horn near the spout by drilling two holes longtitudinally and insert the staple with epoxy.

My main references were the GUN DIGEST series, BUCKSKINNING. I'm not sure if they are available anymore?

For a priming horn which can't be filled through the narrow end, I made the base of moose horn, and drilled and tapped it for a plug made from a moose horn tip which was drilled for a thong (to avoid loss on a trail walk or hunt). The priming horn was suspended around my neck from this plug

wormbobskey · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2009, 06:54:15 AM »

I checked out the site on powder horns and might go ahead and make one of those staples on the large end to attach the strap to. I've already cut the groove below the pour spout for the strap and drilled the stopper to attach a short leather strap to keep from losing the plug. Still thinking on whether or not to do any engraving yet. Any suggestions? If I do make the staple I'll have to thin the large plug down a little. This horn came from a holstein milk cow and it pretty short. The aol without the spout plug is 7 inches so its pretty small. Haven't put any powder in it yet to see how much it would hold. My brother-in-law works on a dairy farm and I'm going to see if he has any horn a little longer. I have to admit it was a lot of fun making this powder horn. Worm

flintlock · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:22:36 AM »

Seven inches will be fine, not all horns were large, some were used as horns for a day hunt and with the smaller calibers like .40 most were charged with only 25-40grs of powder...

I wouldn't attach a strap to the stopper, I've tried that...When I measure my powder the stopper is between my teeth...

wormbobskey · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2009, 01:39:06 PM »

I was going to attach a short piece of leather to the plug just to keep from losing it. Of course it would only take a few minutes to whittle another plug while in the woods. Been thinking of putting a trapping theme on the horn. I've trapped longer than I've used a muzzle loader, although there is only a year or two seperating the two. Figure I could scratch out the basic shape of a longspring trap fairly easily.

Semisane · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2009, 06:05:22 PM »

Hey Wormbobskey, the problem with attaching a leather thong to the plug is that the thong catches on things when creeping through brush and pulls the plug from the spout without you realising it. You can find yourself with an empty horn.

Hank08 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2009, 07:29:12 PM »

Worm, by all means attach your plug by a short thong to your leather strap. In 50 yrs. I've never had one pulled out or lost one either. Attach your horn strap to your bag strap so that the filler end is higher than the back end so that even when the plug is out the horn can hang and not dump your powder. Don't be afraid to decorate your horn with anything you want, name , date , map, animals, etc. Your grandchildren will love their Grandpas old horn.
H08

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2009, 01:59:14 AM »

On the large plug, I get it whittled\sanded to pretty much the actual diameter then place the large end of the horn in boiling water for just a few min. This softens it up so you can pull it out then quickly pound the plug in for a tight fit. I then used thorns from the black locust maybe around 1/4" long and drilled the right size hole through horn & into plug and tapped these in with just a drop of glue. The tiny seam is sealed with Bee's wax as someone mentioned already. Finishing touches are to use car wax on the horn just like you would on a car.

I never did have a strap on the pour spout plug but would always make sure that the plug nipple had enough lenght to it. Once you start shooting for a while, the plug will get the black powder dust in the porocity of the wood and mine have always remained good n snug. I have only made a couple of horns for myself but helped others out making theirs.

Scrimshaw? many of older & newer books have historic scenes on them and you can place that page face down on a common copy machine. The paper stock can be of common paper but you may be able to find the type with adhesive backing. Wrap this around your horn centering the print to your liking then tape it in place and carefully etch out those lines with a carbide tipped contractors pen. The filler is black ink of course.
Many opt for just their name & date but do pay attention to the dble lined font that was used. A very common but timeless method on your name & date would be (Example)...
JOHN DOE HIS HORN
JULY 13 2009

I have a common horn for everyday but the one I take on the shoots has a nice twist to it replicating the golden era of the 1820's....many that I know have several and their filing details and scrimshaw get better all the time.

wormbobskey · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2009, 04:35:38 AM »

I drew a double longspring trap on the horn and tried to scribe it into the horn. Didn't turn out to good so I'm going to sand it smooth and try something else. I think I would be better off just making simple geometric shapes or something like that. I did put my intials in the end with the date. I made the spout plug very tight fitting so I don't think I'll need a leather strap there. Time will tell. Like I said if it does come out it wouldn't take but a few minutes to make another one. I made the strap sort of short so its pretty close to my elbow when worn. Because of the weight on the larger end the pour spout rides a little higher so if the plug does come out I don't think I'd lose all my powder. I do have to admit that the horn does look pretty good hanging on my gun rack along with my possibles bag. Worm

Bubber · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2009, 04:52:39 PM »

I have made several. Not hard, just time consuming. The two I still have are not much to look at, just made out of Herford horns with Juniper plugs.

After the horn itself is sanded down and I have shaped the plug I do like glanceblamm said and boil the horn for a minute or two to soften the horn. Drive the plug in and let cool. I then drill through the horn into the plug. A little epoxy will assure the decorative tacks are held in place. The hardest part is getting the front hole drilled straight and not cracking the horn. Just take your time and go slow.

I am working on one now that will be very ornimental. I have the image in my mind of what I want it to look like, now it is just finding the time to complete it where I won't be interupted.

wormbobskey · « **Reply #16 on:** July 14, 2009, 11:23:33 AM »

I didn't crack the horn while drilling the spout, but just short of drilling through to the insides I snapped a 3/8" drill bit. Thought I had really messed it up but was able to remove the broken part and drilled it out with a 5/16" drill bit. I may send the horn to my cousin up north and have him engrave the horn. He's a very talented artist and had engraved a few of my homemade knife handles.

wormbobskey · « **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:44:04 PM »

Finished the powder horn and traded it to my brother-in-law for 4 more horns. Finished the second powder horn today. Used walnut for the big end and a pine peg that was oridginally used as a coat peg for the spout. Tried the squared 12 gauge wire staple for the strape on the big plug. Heated it up in the vise first and put the twist to it. Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Epoxy is still drying on the brass tacks and staple. Going to the NTA (national trapping association) in Lima, Ohio in a couple of weeks and going to see if I can sell or trade a couplefinished horns for trapping supplies. Worm

hansg/Ups · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2009, 09:19:13 AM »

For stoppers,try old discarded fiddle pegs.

wormbobskey · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:11:28 PM »

Where would a person find those used fiddle pegs? Also does anyone know where I could find a good supply of horns to make some more? I've already used up all the horns my brother-in-law brought me. I put one on PIF and it has been sent out already. They were in my opinion a little to short, but will definitely work. The smallest would hold just over 1300 grains of loose pyrodex Rs powder and the biggest holding over 2000 grains. I guess thats plenty if you're just hunting. And not to blow my own horn, but the powder horns are definitely getting better looking as I go along. Got some better looking brass tacks than when I started also.

Foggy · « **Reply #20 on:** August 04, 2009, 04:52:28 PM »

I get mine from a music store that does repairs