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Post by spence on Oct 22, 2019 9:00:00 GMT -7
I collected a small original horn many years ago and had it around, but never used it. It represents, to me, what I think is much more likely the type of horn used by the average man, rather than the fancy carved, engraved and colored ones which most of us carry today. An 'everyman' horn, dead simple, knocked together for pure utility, not for show. Marks of a knife are evident on both butt plug and the body of the horn.   The butt plug has obviously been just whittled out, as has that end of the horn. There is a hole in the center of the butt plug which may have been for a missing knob or some other way of attaching a strap. A small shoulder has been whittled in the the neck, I guess for the same purpose. The plug is fastened in with square nails.   A couple of years ago I decided to put it back into service, so I whittled out a stopper, wrapped it with thread and treated it with beeswax to make a snug fit.  I carry it in my shot pouch when I decide to use it, and it holds much more powder than I ever need on an outing. I always find it more pleasing to use old original gear than the best modern reproduction. I'm certain the man who made that for himself, possibly from a horn off his own cow, never could have imagined where it would wind up, or that I would think of him every time I use it to load my gun. Spence |
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002 
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Post by Keith on Oct 22, 2019 13:51:04 GMT -7
I collected a small original horn many years ago and had it around, but never used it. It represents, to me, what I think is much more likely the type of horn used by the average man, rather than the fancy carved, engraved and colored ones which most of us carry today. An 'everyman' horn, dead simple, knocked together for pure utility, not for show. Marks of a knife are evident on both butt plug and the body of the horn. The butt plug has obviously been just whittled out, as has that end of the horn. There is a hole in the center of the butt plug which may have been for a missing knob or some other way of attaching a strap. A small shoulder has been whittled in the the neck, I guess for the same purpose. The plug is fastened in with square nails. A couple of years ago I decided to put it back into service, so I whittled out a stopper, wrapped it with thread and treated it with beeswax to make a snug fit. I carry it in my shot pouch when I decide to use it, and it holds much more powder than I ever need on an outing. I always find it more pleasing to use old original gear than the best modern reproduction. I'm certain the man who made that for himself, possibly from a horn off his own cow, never could have imagined where it would wind up, or that I would think of him every time I use it to load my gun. Spence Many thanks for this Spence, great images. Two questions, is that the original beeswax I can see around the edge of the base plug? Do you know if the plug itself was set in beeswax or if the beeswax was added after the plug was installed? May I use these images to add to my research & post on my sites? Regards, Keith. |
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Post by spence on Oct 22, 2019 14:09:37 GMT -7
Sorry, Keith, I don't know if the plug was set in beeswax. I suspect not, because I think maybe what you are seeing in that photo is a slightly delaminated layer of the old horn, not beeswax. It's roughly whittled and that made a kind of scolloped edge. Here's a bit closer view, with a look at one of the old nails rusting away. You can see there are actually three layers showing in spots.  You are free to use any of these images in any way you choose. For you, that's true of any image I ever post, past, present or future. Spence |
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Post by artificer on Nov 9, 2019 0:33:12 GMT -7
Spence,
Neat Horn.
That looks like a large size of spout hole. May I ask how large it is and if it is a tapered hole?
Have you ever tried to see how much powder the horn holds?
Gus
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Post by spence on Nov 9, 2019 8:09:38 GMT -7
The ID of the spout is 1/4", and it is tapered.
It holds 850 grains.
Spence
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002
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Post by Keith on Nov 9, 2019 13:41:22 GMT -7
Sorry, Keith, I don't know if the plug was set in beeswax. I suspect not, because I think maybe what you are seeing in that photo is a slightly delaminated layer of the old horn, not beeswax. It's roughly whittled and that made a kind of scolloped edge. Here's a bit closer view, with a look at one of the old nails rusting away. You can see there are actually three layers showing in spots. You are free to use any of these images in any way you choose. For you, that's true of any image I ever post, past, present or future. Spence Thanks again Spence, very much appreciated woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/11/spences-old-powder-horn.htmlRegards, Keith. |
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Post by artificer on Nov 12, 2019 0:51:15 GMT -7
The ID of the spout is 1/4", and it is tapered. It holds 850 grains. Spence Thanks for the follow up information, Spence. I bet that made/makes a dandy day horn. Gus |
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