Bison horn

[Robert Wolfe]

Finished a bison horn today. Saw the raw horn on a trader's blanket last fall for $5 and couldn't pass it up. The copper band seems like it should be a simple task but turned out to be tricky because you have to cut the copper in an arc since the horn is an irregular cone. Lots of fiddling. Decided to put some beads in it to jazz it up a bit more and to match some guns I've been doing recently.

[jbigley]

Cool! I like 'em both! -- JB

[Jeff Murray]

Nice work.  Isn't bison horn fun to work with!

[MeliusCreekTrapper]

Very nice horn work. The beads really make that a nice set.

[B.Barker]

Pretty cool looking horn.

[Robert Wolfe]

Thanks all. I don’t do a horn but every few years so have to relearn each time!

[elk killer]

What sort of glue is used to attach the beads?
Also would you apply the beads before or after iron nitrate is heated?

[rich pierce]

You’re killing it!

[Robert Wolfe]

What sort of glue is used to attach the beads?
Also would you apply the beads before or after iron nitrate is heated?

On both the gun and horn I applied finish before installing the beads. After installing the beads I applied more finish as part of the "aging" process. So, the gunstock was heated well before beads were put on. To install the beads I drilled an undersized hole, added a small amount of super glue with a toothpick, and then placed and hammered the bead home. The red wax was then added. There is a short tutorial on doing the beads in an old thread I did on a beaded gun.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=71495.msg714228#msg714228
(you'll need to scroll down a bit)

[TDM]

You did a beautiful job on the horn, love the copper band.

[DougS]

Both pieces are very sharp Robert!

They go well together.

Thank you for sharing.

Regards,

Doug

[elk killer]

Thanks Robert thats a great help

[Tim Crosby]

 Neat horn, I have to agree with you, those Copper bands can be a challenge to get right. I've gone through 3 or 4 pieces to get one right. I did find that if you make a pattern form the one that fits it can easily be adapted to the next one.

   Tim

[Robert Wolfe]

I made a pattern as well. Used card stock about the same thickness as the copper sheeting and kept cutting till the pattern was good then transferred it to the copper. Even with that there was quite a bit of fiddling to get it to fit right and reasonably tight. A little massaging with a light hammer helped.
 

[Tim Crosby]

 Save the pattern, it will be a close stat to the next one...if there is one.

  Tim