Powder horn needs repair

[WadeP]

I visited my mom the other day and she gave me this old horn that I carried on many adventures when I was a youngster. Neither of us remembered where it came from though it has to be at least 50 years old. No sign of ever having a plug so I guess it was some kind of signal horn. I'd like to make it into a powder horn but it has several through and through bug holes and the spout has some chips. What should I use to seal and repair? Epoxy or something else?

 

[S.Kenton]

Man that’s a tough one, if you have any horn shavings you might mix that up with epoxy and try and fill the holes, if the holes are large enough you can cut pieces out of another horn and file them to fit your holes and epoxy those in. I know this has sentimental value to you, but it’s going to be a lot of work to make it a usable powder horn.

 

[waksupi]

That one is best left as-is, to show the grandkids some day.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Worm holes. Very common. Either live with them or do as I do, just plug with softened beeswax and leave alone. Horns stored in drawers, boxes, etc. will get those invariably. Left hanging in open usually never.

 

[French Colonial]

If you must try and save it and plan on using it as a powder horn, and I assume you do not have access to horn glue, use epoxy and then sand smooth. You will always be able to see where the holes were but it will work.

 

[rafterob]

Epoxy works well, I repaired a horn of mine resurrected from the 70's. Just used it clear.

 

[Kentuckyjed]

I have used the Gorilla glue clear epoxy to fill worm holes on a powder horn or two of mine. No problems. It does not foam up like the other gorilla products and you can get it a Lowes for less than $10 and it can be used on lots of things.

 

[rchas]

You can dye epoxy with minute amounts of oil paint to get a color match.

 

[PathfinderNC]

An old hunting horn. Don’t know why you’d want to wreck it- it’s unique. Probably was used like the fellow on the horn below

 

[WadeP]

Thanks for the advice! Probably just leave it as is.

 

[oldwood]

Bug holes in horns are an easy fix since this old signal horn has no plug. Put masking tape on the inside of the horn where the hols are. Apply off color epoxie on the outside. Remove tape , dress up the hardened epoxie , done. Remember , damage to original horns back in the day , was done by applying a cake of bees wax to the imperfection and it is water proof again. Just rub the cake over the crack , and done.

 

[SDSmlf]

I visited my mom the other day and she gave me this old horn that I carried on many adventures when I was a youngster. Neither of us remembered where it came from though it has to be at least 50 years old. No sign of ever having a plug so I guess it was some kind of signal horn. I'd like to make it into a powder horn but it has several through and through bug holes and the spout has some chips. What should I use to seal and repair? Epoxy or something else?

As others have suggested, maybe patch it up with beeswax, then give it the retirement it’s earned. I wouldn’t take an old horn like that and make it something it never was, but it is your horn. New powder horns are not that expensive.

 

[treebone]

As others have suggested, it is not a difficult repair. Fine (powdered) horn and clear epoxy with the appropriate tint would do the trick. Think plastic repair! Lots of ways to do the repair if you choose to. It's your horn!

 

[Pratt]

I ask what are you going to do with the Horn? It maybe the wisest idea to leave it as it is and use it to talk about. Think it over before you make a decision.

 

[Moonshine Joe]

I have one like that, from my families pioneering days in Arkansas. I wish I had learned how to blow it.
I didn't know how they were used until I read a book of South Carolina sportsman's reminisces from the 1800s. They were basically used by hunters like walkie-talkies are now. They were deer hunting on large plantations, running deer with dogs and shooting shotguns with buckshot. There was apparently a system of signals to convey messages like a long toot for "everybody ready, let the dogs loose," or three toots for "I got a buck".
Other hunters would have planned out who was on which stand, and would know who had **** just by the direction the toot came from.
All very traditional, and actually ages old technique that we seldom think of today.