Posted By: white marlin
making powder horns? - 05/04/25 05:59 PM
a guy at church asked if I knew how to make powder horns from a fresh skull. I told him I didn't, but I knew folks who WOULD know.
so...can you help a guy out?
Thanks!
Posted By: hippie
Re: making powder horns? - 05/04/25 06:51 PM
Fella half mile from me made this one and gave it to me. Bet he'd help and is close.
Posted By: the Blak Spot
Re: making powder horns? - 05/04/25 07:25 PM
K snow has done some and possibly Nessmuk
Posted By: Bob Jameson
Re: making powder horns? - 05/04/25 07:30 PM
I have made a few over the years for friends. Not too hard to make one. All depends upon how much detail you would like to have in finishing one. I have made them from cattle horns and buffalo horns.
Posted By: k snow
Re: making powder horns? - 05/04/25 11:14 PM
Yep, made quite a few. If they still have the cores in them, get them out ASAP. whack the horn against a solid post, and hopefully the core pops out. If not, I'd get a different horn.
After that starts the real work. In short:
Measure depth, cut off tip and drill spout hole. This is probably the "trickiest" part, so best to do first, in case you mess it up.
Then shape the spout and body. If the horn is heavy, this means the walls are thick, and you can carve the neck any way you want. If the horn is light, proceed with caution as the walls are thin.
A base plug needs fitted. It can be carved to fit the natural opening shape (cut the horn base off so its nice and square to the horn) or turned on a lathe. If lathe made, the horn base needs heated in oil (far better than water) to shape to the plug.
If you are really interested, the book Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn is an excellent resource.
Posted By: white marlin
Re: making powder horns? - 05/05/25 12:31 AM
appreciate all the replies!