Other materials used for "horns"

[The Professor]

I've seen brass flasks and the usual horns used for powder storage.  Was anything else used at times?  Were there any wood or leather items used for powder instead of brass or horn?

[smart dog]

Hi Professor,
Yes.  Wood, antler, copper, ivory, leather, and even conch shell was used.

dave

[David Rase]

Professor,
Here is a picture of a wooden powder flask I built based on one in Madison Grant's book.  It is made from 2 pieces of oak, has an antler stopper with hand twisted chain, square headed bolt and nut holding the two hollowed halves together with a piece of shotgun barrel as a the spout collar. 

DMR

[The Professor]

Now that is really unique and neat looking.

[RoaringBull]

That is REALLY cool!  How are the two halves sealed together?

[David Rase]

That is REALLY cool!  How are the two halves sealed together?

I used four 1/16" diameter alignment pins around the outside edge and then a thin coat of bees wax.  The bolt and collar secure the two halve together.  The 2 staples that support the strap also help to hold it all together.
DMR

[Larry Luck]

David,
That is quite a nifty flask.  I do not have Grant's book.  Can you provide some background of the place and time the horn was used?
Thanks,
Larry Luck

[David Rase]

David,
That is quite a nifty flask.  I do not have Grant's book.  Can you provide some background of the place and time the horn was used?
Thanks,
Larry Luck

Madison writes in "Powder Horns and Their Architecture" on page 107:
Manufactured items may be more efficient than homemade contrivances, but they com by the thousands, while the backwoods pieces are one of a kind.  They also have an appeal and atmosphere that is devoid of sameness.
This powder holder was made of two slabs of oak, hollowed out and held together by a nut and bolt.  An iron ring on each side provides for the carrying strap.
As is typical with most of Grant's descriptions, it is him expressing how the piece speaks to him and not so much the whereabouts.  There is no geographical mention for the item.  Maybe somebody knows more about this piece.
DMR

[smallpatch]

The most interesting ones, (and ingenious) dates back to Lewis and Clark era.  The container itself made of lead and sealed watertight.  The lead powder container could be "cached" and picked up later, powder poured into horns or other flasks, then the container melted down for balls.

[jwh1947]

Notice...materials that didn't produce sparks.  It must be written somewhere, horn was made by the Almighty to carry gunpowder.  No sparks, inexpensive, readily available, waterproof, light, contours to your body and can be held to light to see contents. 

[LynnC]

Here in the deep south it is was common to use the small variety bottle gourd for powder, ball and shot containers.  They make a good pocket size "horn"
Lynn