Priming horn question

[mtsage]

I'm have a small horn that I want to finish into a priming powder horn. My question will follow. I have cut the tip off the horn and i want to file it down smaller to fit into the pan area a little better. What exactly is the white area of the tip? Can I file down to it and not affect the strength of the tip for putting in the plug. Or should I leave some of the black surrounding the hole for some support?

Thanks,
Marlowe

 

[IanH]

File into it and see what happens. It appears to be de-laminating but you can add a ferrule or epoxy to stabilize it if required. The contrast is very striking, it would be neat to see the white tip changing to black if you are careful with the file and make some small steps or bands at the transition.

 

[Absoroka]

You might check the color inside the large end of the horn to see if it is white also. When carving the tips of cow horns you can often go from a light color on the body of the horn to a dark color towards the tip. Carving into the tip will accentuate the color change. The reverse is unusual based on the horns I have worked.