Southern Horn basics?

[WadePatton]

Hey fellas, I'm wanting to build (rebuild) a powderhorn that roughly fits the TN/Southern style of the mid 1820-40's. 

I picked up a "pre-made" import horn for cheap at local flea mkt (less than kit) and intend to re-work it into something functional.

I think it has good color and plenty of material to work down.

What i'm looking for now is some basic general specifics as to what your opinions are as to the "proper" simple horn i might manage to whittle this one into.

I'm trying to be careful not to spend 23 weeks researching and deciding what to do, but to get to the doing and have something done.   (i'll learn plenty of how to do it better later, next horn--right?)  I've just not done a horn yet.

This one has a 1/4 hole drilled off-center hole in the spout, where the cross-section is about 1x3/4".  I plan to thin that to center-ish, once i determine how big a hole i need and preferred wall thickness at that point.  There are some very rough "decoration" on that end that should largely be removed by the thinning, but that i can likely leave some for a genuine band or such.  I haven't pulled the poorly-fitted plug yet.  It will likely be discarded or completely reshaped.  The strap is junk too.  Not a complaint, i recognize that i got what i paid for- a bit of horn to work with. 

Thanks. 

and no I don't have a lathe, this will all be hand work. 

[WadePatton]

Got the plug out, my was it funky in there.  Now she's really translucent.  But that i noticed some fractures from the drilling.

Is there a correct way to fill/redrill (i got real good at that with my rifle) or just work it down to that hole and glue it up if necessary?

Yes, i've looked at some tutorials out there on the web, but i don't know those guys and I trust this crew.  And also a lot of the photo links are broken.   

[J Henry]

Try this  go to this site,,  Thehornersbench.com  that site speaks horns,, clearly.. beware,,, once you enter there,, is no turning back.

[ed1215]

Sent you a PM

[ed1215]

Would like to see pictures of the horn so as to see what you are working with

[WadePatton]

Yes and thanks, I spoke with a local cuz/bro who gave me some good ideas.  Fine to hear more.  

Pics in a bit.

(been out in the woods rooting around for stockwood.)





Johnny and me decided that adding a neck to it would be okay.  comments? 

[skillman]

I would suggest that you need to put a throat and a tip on it. What I see so far would prove to be not very functional as you progress with your shooting hobby. I would suggest that you look at a lot of Southern Horns and decide on what you like before you go to far with your horn. Remember that the research will pay off with a horn you'll enjoy for many years.

Steve

[WadePatton]

Yes, that is what Johnny and I decided would be good per the previous post.

And this is what i'm here asking.  

What

do

"a lot of Southern horns"

LOok

like?

Or what does your favorite (assuming anyone has a favorite or ideal) Southern or TN or Appalachian horn look like.  Or what does it DOESN'T look like.  (like a TN rifle generally does not have brass or carving or engraving or an octagon to round bbl, so by association i might assume that a tn horn would be plain, but that there might be some characteristics favored?)

I'm trying to get a toenail on a rung here.

I don't want to make/modify this one into my ideas formed by limited experience and then have the whole "IN-crowd" tell me that it should/shouldn't be this or that.  That's why i'm trying to ask here where the bestest information is generally found.

Here's a good look at horns in general, I'll be busy for a bit:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=site%3acontemporarymakers.blogspot.com+%22powder+horn%22&FORM=HDRSC2

[ed1215]

Jeff Bibb`s website has a little of both on it look over Tim Crosby`s post and some of mine on here and also Scott Sibleys book Building the southern banded horn has some pictures of originals in it ..

[ed1215]

here is one of Jeff`s which is a good example of an Appalachian horn
http://www.jeffbibbpouchesandhorns.com/horn-gallery/

[WadePatton]

thanks, will look up.



Here's what David did with one that started like mine (albeit a nicer neck), but i didn't pay that much.

And I don't think that fits my school  

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2013/03/re-worked-powder-horn-by-david-crisalli.html

[WadePatton]

thanks,

thank you very much.

as you were. 

here is one of Jeff`s which is a good example of an Appalachian horn
http://www.jeffbibbpouchesandhorns.com/horn-gallery/

[Vomitus]

   Wade,
     After I received my Tenn.Mtn. rifle, I went on a quest much like yourself. These "southern mountain" horns, from what I've been lead to believe, are/were generally plain. So it basically leaves the door open to most any shape of a plain jane type horn. Being plain doesn't necessarily mean being ugly, just not as many embellishments on them. What I settled with was a beauty little horn by one of our members Kyflinter?, Ron is his first name. It's only about 12" along the belly and is a screw/applied tip. It is scraped back to a transparent green color along the barrel and has a nicely turned cherry plug. It's the perfect size for the forty caliber.Probably holds 3000 grains.Enough for 50 to 60-50gr. charges.(2fg)

[Vomitus]

    I just wanted to add,Wade. On the horns I make, I like the spouts to be as skinny as possible. It lets me stick the spout right in the measure and reduces a bit of powder spillage.

[WadePatton]

Yeah LB (and thanks for your input), I've been rasping that little end down all day (seems).  I decided that i really like the looks of a hexagonal treatment, love the blending of straight and round and curved and twisted.

It won't have the great proportions of one below, but i wanted to keep it quite simple as a first horn and also to keep from tying up a week in the making.

Working on the tip thinning/6 sides and blending back into the round,  a good ways to go yet.  I need some fresh rasps.  

Made a peg from antler.  Won't finish tonight, has to get ready for fishing tomorrow.

Here's my inspiration:



The horn is described as antique in photoset with a Joe Mills Bag. 

Photo Credit Jan Riser.  Found on Contemporary Makers Blog.  Thanks Art!

I had saved the photo and lost the source.  Did some digging today.  No foul intended.

[art riser]

photo credit Jan Riser Contemporary Makers...

[Vomitus]

   Yea, the paneling is pretty nice. Nice skinny tip also.

[WadePatton]

photo credit Jan Riser Contemporary Makers...

yes indeedy, thanks!

[WadePatton]

  Yea, the paneling is pretty nice. Nice skinny tip also.

I have come to think of "banded" being from the other side of the mtns, Carolina/VA.  Fancy designs just don't fit.  I find the panels simple yet elegant (on that horn, mine will be a bit crude), possibly even appropriate.

Also, i have a few of razors about to get re-scaled in horn.  One is my absolute favorite blade, but the old plastic reeks of old plastic and is nothing to look at.  Not for long!