Horn Repair?

[RANGER94]

Hello Everyone - this horn was made in the late 1970s by a close family friend (actually my Godfather) who is deceased.  His elderly brother just gave me the horn, and the spout is damaged & cracked.  Is there a way to repair it?  Or does anyone specialize in repairs?  There is sentimental value with this horn.

Thanks!!!

[Marcruger]

I personally would ask moderator Tim Crosby to repair that one.  I think he'd come up with a repair.  Perhaps epoxy.  Perhaps a metal band.  Perhaps a new tip.  In any event, Tim seems to excel when things get difficult with horns.  Just my 2 cents worth.   God Bless,  Marc

[Daryl]

I was initially thinking new tip, however epoxy might work is a paper dam was prepared & hold plugged with pine, then after setting, the wooden plug re-drilled for the horn 's plug.

[Tim Crosby]

 As a quick thought I would suggest trimming it and fitting a thimble on it, it would look like a period repair. Go to a flea market or antique mall and  find an old one. A new tip would be another option but take more work. I would not use glue on it, I don't think it would hold up and it looks like there is some damage that glue won't fix.

   Tim C.

PS: Thanks for the "plug" Marc. TC

[Frank Barker]

As usual, Tim has come up with a genuine early Appalachian style of repair. I have two step horns that Tim made and both of them have a thimble on them. I have an old original horn that I picked up here locally that once suffered damage very similar to Ranger's horn and it was repaired by wrapping the tip with copper wire. This along with a little epoxy would help to stabilize this area also.
Kind Regards
Frank Barker

[RANGER94]

Thanks for the replies!!!  By any chance (I am clueless) can you post pictures on the thimble and the other recommendation?

[Tim Crosby]

Thanks for the replies!!!  By any chance (I am clueless) can you post pictures on the thimble and the other recommendation?

  Sewing thimbles:  https://www.ebay.com/b/Collectible-Sewing-Thimbles/38060/bn_2310675

  They come in different sizes. File the horn to fit, drill a hole in it and pin it to the horn with a couple small Brads.

 The Copper wire looks neat but it is hard to hide the ends. Copper wire comes in different gauges:

  https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/hillman-16-ga-copper-hobby-wire-25-ft/0000000230398?msclkid=2576951b81cb1143a83fcaa5eed44886&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing%20-%2001%20-%20Shopping%20-%20Farm%20%26%20Livestock%20-%20US&utm_term=4581733674064624&utm_content=Fencing%20%26%20Gates

  Tim

[RANGER94]

Sorry Tim to be a pest, but I miscommunicated.  Do you have any pictures of the horns using these techniques.  I cannot visualize your recommendations. 

Thanks again!!!  This will be a great project for me to tackle (I HOPE).

Ranger94

[Robert Wolfe]

What about pouring a pewter tip?

[Tim Crosby]

Sorry Tim to be a pest, but I miscommunicated.  Do you have any pictures of the horns using these techniques.  I cannot visualize your recommendations. 

Thanks again!!!  This will be a great project for me to tackle (I HOPE).

Ranger94

  Take a look at these:

 https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=60353.msg604373#msg604373

 https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=55993.msg559924#msg559924

 https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=56153.msg561555#msg561555

 https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=41129.msg399824#msg399824

   Tim

[Robby]

Not an actual thimble but serves the purpose. Poor old horn, still on the job though.
Robby

[Tim Crosby]

 If I was going to try a Copper wire wrap this is how I would go at it, I hurried this along so it is not the best. That goes for the Pix too but you get the idea.
 This knot has a name but right off I can't think of what it is. A loop is laid paranal to the tip, loop on Left, the long tag at the top is wrapped tightly working Right to Left. At the end the tag goes through the loop and the tab on the Right is pulled which in turn pulls the loop and the other tab under the wraps. Clear as Mud right. Could be trimmed up better too.

  Tim
   

[Tim Crosby]

What about pouring a pewter tip?

 Here is a Tutorial on doing one:

   https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=8349.msg79110#msg79110

   Tim

[RANGER94]

This is exactly what I needed to visualize. Thanks so much!!!

[Not English]

Ranger, Not to disagree with Tim, I love his work and have one of his leather horns, but what about 5 min. epoxy? Tint it with some sort of black powder (ground charcoal?) and then wrap the tip with some wet rawhide or heavy twine. You have a perfect groove for wrapping the tip to hold it together. You can clean up the inside of the tip with a rat tail file. If you need a plug, a violin tuning peg works great. If you're in southern Wi. , I'd be glad to help.

[R.I.J.]

If you do a search for "how to "whip" wrap rope ends or apply "windings" on a fishing rod, you can see exactly what TC is explaining. Fine florist wire or jewelry wire will wrap and "hide" like thread. This also is a good way to finish the spout on a ball or shot bag.

[Greg Pennell]

I’d probably just try some wet rawhide...cut it a bit undersized and baseball stitch it tight.  When it’s dried for a few days, hit it with some shoe polish to knock off the shine.

Greg

[john bohan]

Ranger I think the best way to fix your old horn would be to wrap it with sinew and hot hide glue. You won't need to worry about strength and after it sets and the sinew is done shrinking you may file it 'sand it 'seal it then color as need be.I have used it to back bows,fletch arrows,haft stone tools and arrowheads,never had a fail.

[Tim Crosby]

 A couple of Good ideas.

   Thanks,  Tim

[B.Habermehl]

I repaired my horn with copper wire from a solenoid coil. Probably.015 or so dia. Useing the instructions in the Boy Scouts manual for whipping the ends of rope. Hope this helps.

[RANGER94]

Thanks everyone for their responses.  I think I am going to go down the thimble route.  I will keep you updated!!

Ranger94