What can you use on a Powderhorn to prevent it from cracking?

[Tim L]

What can you use on a Powderhorn to prevent it from cracking?
can you use olive oil, raw linseed oil, boiled linseed oil?

 

[Ames]

Unless its 200 years old, I don't think this will become a problem. Just paste wax it and watch for bug holes.
That said, nothing will help you if you are prone to dropping it, or shove a tapered plug into the spout farther than intended. Loose plugs tempt people to push them in too far and crack a spout. If loose becomes a problem you can rosin the plug spout. Or carve a tighter one.

 

[springfield art]

This is just a joke, but I want to say Bag Balm! Seriously, a lot of the old ones seem to be quite intact.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Not much, if anything, needed. None of mine have cracked. For the sake of this thread I just inspected a horn my father made in 1922. No special treatment ever. No cracks. As for the plug. Use only soft wood for a plug. Materials like ebony, bone, antler do not compress and can easily cause cracking at the spout. I whittle mine from green branches.

 

[eggwelder]

I use a brass spout cover made from an unmentionable piece of brass. No cracking there

 

[Grimord]

I have just used bowling alley wax on my horns, but it may not be necessary.

 

[oldwood]

Have three old powder horns , two of which are dated. one is a 1750's F /I War, another is Rev. war /1770's , and the 3rd is undated from the rafter of an old antique store as far north on Lake Champlain and still in the U.S.. All three horns have pine plugs. Guess folks back then didn't like to carry horns w/ heavy hardwood plugs either...............oldwood

 

[Sidney Smith]

I just spray shellac'd mine. Im one who doesn't like making a brand new item look 200 years old. If mine ever cracks Ill just make another one.

 

[Kansas Kid]

I have a nice flat horn that cracked. I filled crack with super glue and sanded level.

 

[oldwood]

Caution...Super glue can be brittle , so if the crack opens again , try Epoxie. Epoxie will take stain as well. ........oldwood

 

[tenngun]

Got a horn in ‘78, no crack yet

 

[Justin.44]

Not much, if anything, needed. None of mine have cracked. For the sake of this thread I just inspected a horn my father made in 1922. No special treatment ever. No cracks. As for the plug. Use only soft wood for a plug. Materials like ebony, bone, antler do not compress and can easily cause cracking at the spout. I whittle mine from green branches.

I'd like to see a picture of your Dad's 98 year old powder horn, that's really cool!

 

[Gun Tramp]

can you use olive oil, raw linseed oil, boiled linseed oil?

I would avoid the linseed oils. Believe the horn sheath we use is related to fingernails, so...

 

[Treestalker]

I would avoid the linseed oils. Believe the horn sheath we use is related to fingernails, so...

Wait- Fingernail polish??

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I had mine frozen in carbonite so they will never age at all.

 

[Capn'D]

If I am going to be out in long term wet weather with a horn I have in the past wiped it down with a thing coat of spar varnish from time to time. Gives it a nice patina, fills small holes and makes it waterproof. Modern spar varnish is also UV resistant.

 

[toot]

stored in a controlled temperature?

 

[Rifleman1776]

I'd like to see a picture of your Dad's 98 year old powder horn, that's really cool!

If the file thingy works it should be below. I once posted this pic asking members to guess it's age. Guesses ranged from Genesis to last week. But, as I said, it was 1922. My father made it when he was a Boy Scout. Scraped it with his pocket knife and scrimed with an old nail.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/rr329/Rifleman1776/.highres/MarioFuscohorn.jpg

 

[Justin.44]

If the file thingy works it should be below. I once posted this pic asking members to guess it's age. Guesses ranged from Genesis to last week. But, as I said, it was 1922. My father made it when he was a Boy Scout. Scraped it with his pocket knife and scrimed with an old nail.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/rr329/Rifleman1776/.highres/MarioFuscohorn.jpg

It worked, thanks! That's awesome

 

[Kansas Kid]

Here it is.