Salvaged Powder Horn

[Eutycus]

Some time ago a neighbor gave me an old cow's horn. It was so eaten full of holes by bugs that he was going to throw it away. I've been filling the holes with J B Weld and some cheapo epoxy that I bought at Harbor Freight.
Little by little it's getting patched. The darker parts of the horn in the pictures were holes all the way through.And I'm going to make me another powder horn. Not that a person really needs more than one.Do any of you think it's worth the effort? It does have "character".

 

[Eutycus]

Another view

 

[Treestalker]

I've salvaged some scaly, nasty horns in the past, but that one you're saving I would have given to the dog; If you can make it work and look decent, you're a better man than I am.

 

[Eutycus]

Something to do and it is a "light duty" pastime.

 

[mooman76]

If it's what you want, it's worth it. My dad use to make pens from antler. Super glue works well on small cracks and holes.

 

[Eutycus]

I can give it a try, if it don't work out I'll just be out a few bucks for the J B Weld. And like I said it's a "no-heavy-lifting-light -duty" pastime. And I'd like to add making things is a fun part of this hobby, to me anyway.

 

[ppg1949]

Euty, if it cost little and gives you some fun time, go for it. Personally, it sounds like something I would do, lol.

 

[Treestalker]

I can give it a try, if it don't work out I'll just be out a few bucks for the J B Weld. And like I said it's a "no-heavy-lifting-light -duty" pastime. And I'd like to add making things is a fun part of this hobby, to me anyway.

Right on! I love to make stuff too; my first powder horn came from an old cow skull left on a fence post and retrieved by a friend on a garbage truck, LOL!

 

[Eutycus]

Plus I forgot to add that the smell of J B Weld annoys my wife. It's kind of payback time for when Carol uses that stinky Clorox around the house, which she knows I don't like.

 

[griffiga]

I can give it a try, if it don't work out I'll just be out a few bucks for the J B Weld. And like I said it's a "no-heavy-lifting-light -duty" pastime. And I'd like to add making things is a fun part of this hobby, to me anyway.

I had one in about that shape, I put a couple of thin coats of clear varnish over the top and it shined it all up. It seemed to help with the flaking and cracking as well. Besides, there nothing like polishing your horn when you have nothing else to do.

 

[user 48679]

Fugly horns look plenty cool...…..

 

[Eutycus]

Well I think it has character, like the scratches and "dings" on a rifle.

 

[Oldbear63]

Personally I wouldn't. A new horn is too cheap and your time left on Earth is too valuable. Patches and fill-ins will age differently from the original horn and you don't know what it will look like in a few (or many) years.

Your dog might enjoy it more than you will after all your efforts.

 

[Treestalker]

I had one in about that shape, I put a couple of thin coats of clear varnish over the top and it shined it all up. It seemed to help with the flaking and cracking as well. Besides, there nothing like polishing your horn when you have nothing else to do.

Polishing my ??!! OH my virgin ears, LOL!

 

[rafterob]

As a something to do project, why not? Can't say as though JB Weld would be my choice though. I would stick with epoxy fill. You can mix epoxy with saw dust or other powders intended for this purpose. Spread in on, deep holes may take a couple coats. Then finish from there.

 

[Eutycus]

I prefer working wirh J B Weld instead of that stuff from Harbor Freight. Carpet beetles or some sort of insect seems to be a problem with horns. What did they do in the old days? Throw the horn away and go knock a cow in the head to get another?

 

[Grenadier1758]

In the old days, the sulfur in the black powder would keep the beetles away. Keep some powder in your horn and away from horns with insect damage.

 

[Ames]

In the old days they would reach for the next horn. Same as the new days.

 

[oldwood]

In the old days it was "waste not want not." Get out the handy cake of bees wax , and warm it up 'til it's soft. Fill the divots by rubbing them full of the wax. Put the waxed horn in the fridge for 30 min's to cool the wax. Buff the horn w/ coarse cloth like burlap until polished a bit. That's how powder horns were repaired by Indians and frontiers folk alike. Were no stores , traders ,etc that carried JBWeld out on the frontier. Besides , it's fun to make up a frontier cock and bull story about it's origin . Very few powder horns looked like the glittering beauties folks create today........oldwood

 

[Kansas Jake]

I've had two horns damaged by the beetles. It happened while they were in long term storage in the garage and I didn't check them. I suspect if they are in the house or used regularly the beetles would be less of a problem. They other answer is to store them in a cedar chest or cedar closest. I've also found buying cider chips intended for pet cages work to just hang or throw a bag in the closet for longer term storage also helps.

Now, back to the repair of horns. I'm anxious to see how it works out.