Can this horn be worked?

[Mike from OK]

I have pictures of this horn, but my device isn't cooperating at the moment... I will get the pics up as soon as I can.

Picked up a longhorn horn out at the ranch. It was over 30 inches originally. I cut most of the solid tip off and shortened it at the base end...

17.5" along the outside curve. I successfully drilled a 5/16" hole in the spout end.

The walls of the horn at the base are 1/4" thick or more depending on where you measure.

Obviously it is possible to make a powder horn from it. I guess the question is will I spend the rest of my life working it into a usable horn? I could see hours upon hours upon hours just doing rough shaping.

Mike

[Mike from OK]

Finally got it to work...







Mike

[KC]

I'm not a horner, but I can't see why you couldn't make a decent powder horn out of that. You would definitely have a lot of filing and scraping to do to thin it down some.
K.C.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Therer are lots of better raw horns to make into powder horns, Mike. If it were mine, I'd use the horn for other products, like knife scales and buttons.

[Tim Crosby]

Therer are lots of better raw horns to make into powder horns, Mike. If it were mine, I'd use the horn for other products, like knife scales and buttons.

 I would second that.

  Tim C.

   

[Mike from OK]

Thank you folks... I'm of the same mind.

When I saw what I was up against I started having second thoughts.

I set up the lathe yesterday and turned down a few items from the solid tips I had cut off. One was a spout for a horn that I goofed. And I turned a smaller piece down to a ring... mainly just to see if I could do it. Once my wife saw the ring she decided she needs horn jewellery.

So I may cut up that longhorn and set about making bracelets and trinkets and other stuff... Perhaps even some some bands for a banded horn.

I really enjoy turning horn... except for the smell... and taste of horn flour. Lol

Mike

[Clark Badgett]

I see an excellent candidate horn to make an octagonal horn from. I wish I could find horns that thick.

[Top Jaw]

After having worked a few of my own very marginal horns and reclamation projects, I have come to similar conclusions as those stated.    Although I might have teased my version of a silk purse out of a sows ear, the time invested did not offset the satisfaction gained.  So I now start with a better raw material dairy cow horn from the beginning.  It’s money well spent in my opinion!

[Mike from OK]

I see an excellent candidate horn to make an octagonal horn from. I wish I could find horns that thick.

I hadn't even considered that. It would take some serious work, perhaps even some mechanical assistance like a bandsaw or belt sander, to reduce rough shaping time. But it might yield some nice results.

I have no money invested in the horns. So any mistakes would only result in lost time.

Mike

[trentOH]

I could use a horn like that one was before it was cut. I need some sort of a name plaque for my camper at Friendship, and I've been thinking about a big horn with my last name on it, hanging from the back of the camper. It wouldn't have to BE a powder horn, just LOOK like one.

[Mike from OK]

I could use a horn like that one was before it was cut. I need some sort of a name plaque for my camper at Friendship, and I've been thinking about a big horn with my last name on it, hanging from the back of the camper. It wouldn't have to BE a powder horn, just LOOK like one.

Next time I'm out building fence I'll keep an eye out for another horn or two. I found one longhorn skull and pulled the horns off. I know my sister had another one or two that they lost... I'll just have to find out where in the pasture they hauled the carcasses to.

Mike

[Clark Badgett]

Keep me in mind too.