• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Cracked Horn Spout - How to repair?

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Aldarith

36 Cl.
Joined
Aug 5, 2021
Messages
94
Reaction score
43
Hey friends,

I was fitting a plug to a new horn and managed to go a MM too far, cracking the spout.

I know this will be a simple fix, but want to hear your expert solutions before I pick one to execute.

How would you go about repairing such a crack?
 

Attachments

  • 278460858_2408435382626676_3161893409885403220_n.jpg
    278460858_2408435382626676_3161893409885403220_n.jpg
    56.7 KB · Views: 54
I would use a natural hide glue such as "Old Brown Glue" or Tite-Bond "Hide Glue" both are all natural, made from bovine hooves, consisting of collagen and urea. It has a short shelf life, but it is about as natural as you can get. A lot of guitar and violin makers and repairers use it, as well as furniture makers. Since it is natural from the animal, it will blend in with your repair with a little sanding and polishing, you won't even know it's there. It dries to a semi translucent light brown color. I've used it to fill in weevil holes on old neglected horns.
 
Hey friends,

I was fitting a plug to a new horn and managed to go a MM too far, cracking the spout.

I know this will be a simple fix, but want to hear your expert solutions before I pick one to execute.

How would you go about repairing such a crack?
Glue of your choice and wrap the groove with copper or brass wire.
 
I had a horn crack like that. I filed a groove around the circumference and poured a pewter ring. Filed it flush and it’s held for the past 10 years or so. I didn’t glue the crack but maybe I should have. Anyway, it works and looks cool too.
 

Attachments

  • 69590D84-AAAE-4EE7-B999-5C1219FFCFE1.jpeg
    69590D84-AAAE-4EE7-B999-5C1219FFCFE1.jpeg
    88 KB · Views: 29
A lot of traditional original horns with split ends were repaired with sewing thimbles with the small end of the thimble removed. Sewing thimbles were an item traders carried , where ever they went on the frontiers. There are examples pictured of this repair , in horn books. In actuality , a modern time repair would be good with the addition of some Epoxie glue, as well.
 
If you do end up gluing it taping that whole area the horn around the perimeter of the crack with blue painters tape would be a good call. Helps on clean up!
 
I figured on a crack when I made my horn so I drilled it out larger and glued in a round piece of deer antler then drilled it for my plug. About 60 years ago and it is still good.
 
I finished up this Lyman kit. Stained it dark, draw filed and polished the barrel. Put a couple inlays and an overlay and can’t wait to try it out!!
 
Forgot the pics
 

Attachments

  • D609A871-EBE7-46D1-A2EB-C5ED3FCEFC7B.jpeg
    D609A871-EBE7-46D1-A2EB-C5ED3FCEFC7B.jpeg
    182.5 KB · Views: 20
  • B9624851-3042-44E5-A6F6-312D26AEEDC1.jpeg
    B9624851-3042-44E5-A6F6-312D26AEEDC1.jpeg
    158.8 KB · Views: 17
  • C3491EE8-BB4F-494B-AC0B-28EC88EC8D61.jpeg
    C3491EE8-BB4F-494B-AC0B-28EC88EC8D61.jpeg
    176.4 KB · Views: 20
  • F3F5F898-F0BA-43B4-9690-499C3DDC55A8.jpeg
    F3F5F898-F0BA-43B4-9690-499C3DDC55A8.jpeg
    143.3 KB · Views: 20
Back
Top