« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Nice old simple horn  (Read 5084 times)

JohnnyM

  • Guest
Nice old simple horn
« on: August 25, 2010, 05:26:26 PM »
Here's an old (I think) horn I picked up a few years back for a song.  I like it's simple architecture.  It's scraped thin.  About 11" along the longest curve and about 2 1/2" diameter butt plug.  Very thin, tiny staple. The neat thing is, due to the curve of the horn and the intelligent placement of the staple, this horn will hang nice on either side of the body.






Here's a closeup of the spout.  The remnant of the plug is in real tight. Any attempt to remove it will just chew up the wood.


This would make a nice horn for my squirrel huntin' rig.  What do you think?  Thanks for looking.
Johnny
« Last Edit: September 01, 2010, 06:30:10 PM by Tim Crosby »
Logged

Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6538
  • I Like this hat!!
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2010, 06:01:53 PM »
That would make a nice horn for any rig!!!  If it were me I would drill out the plug and replace it unless you just want a shelf ornament......
Logged
De Oppresso Liber
Marietta, GA

Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others. – William Allen White

Learning is not compulsory...........neither is survival! - W. Edwards Deming

Offline Tim Crosby

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 18385
  • AKA TimBuckII
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2010, 07:02:47 PM »
 A classsic. If you decide to drill it out start with a very small bit and then use a needle file to finish the job. A large bit or using a series of larger bits may cause the horn to crack.

 Tim
Logged

Offline Ky-Flinter

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7496
  • Born in Kentucke, just 250 years late
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2010, 07:18:39 PM »
Very nice old horn, indeed!

As a suggestion, if you decide to remove the spout plug, drill a small hole and screw an eye-screw into the hole for something to pull on.  Maybe a little oil or WD40 would help.  If the wood is real crumbly, perhaps it can be picked into pieces after drilling a small hole in the center.

-Ron
Logged
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

JohnnyM

  • Guest
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2010, 06:43:50 AM »
Thank you gentlemen for your replies and suggestions.  My inclination was always to drill 'er out and use 'er.  Think I'll do it.  Hope she's air tight.
Regards,
Johnny
Logged

Offline smylee grouch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7907
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2010, 05:21:43 AM »
A little melted beeswax might seal it up if it leaks.    Gary
Logged

Offline trentOH

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 591
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2010, 02:29:50 AM »
Maybe you could turn some termites loose on it for a couple of days, and they would eat out just the plug?????
Logged

Offline G. Elsenbeck

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1234
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2010, 02:46:01 AM »
Johnny that is one fine old classical style powder horn and is a quality horn in all respects.  Fine find and thanks for sharing with us.  And like the good Doctor mentioned, it would look great with any hunting bag. 
Gary
Logged
Journeyman in the Honourable Company of Horners (HCH) and a member in the Contemporary Longrifle Association (CLA)

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

david50

  • Guest
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2010, 02:58:59 AM »
that is just the kind of horn i like,nice and simple,nothin fancy.
Logged

Offline Kermit

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3099
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2010, 04:53:29 AM »
Can you tell what pins the plug in place? Curious... :-\
Logged
"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." Mae West

JohnnyM

  • Guest
Re: Nice old simple horn
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2010, 06:11:16 PM »
Here's some more detailed shots of my horn.
The butt plug is fastened with iron "nails".  They are not uniform in shape and are filed flush with the horn.  I checked with a magnet and they are indeed iron.




The maker used many such nails on one side and a lot less on the other.



I was able to pull the spout plug.  Got a good grip with a needle nose pliers and slowly twisted back and forth.  Looks like hand whittled from a branch or twig.  Note the powdered wood fibers from where the plug was crushed from the pliers.



Well, I checked for "air tightness" by blowing into the horn and she leaks like a sieve.  Air feels like she's blowing from the sides where the butt plug is fitted.  Couldn't feel any air from around the staple which is good.
So, whatcha think? Should I attempt to seal 'er up or just let her keep settin' on the shelf.  I do have some deer tallow/bee's wax mix somewhere (probably not with me at the moment).
Thanks for looking and many thanks for your input and interest.
Regards,
Johnny
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »