Horns,old & new

[ridjrunr]

Just cobbled together a little priming horn. I got the raw horn at a flea market for I think $3. I used these other three originals as referance. The new one has an applied tip and butt plug of black walnut, sealed with bees wax and pinned with toothpicks. Used it today while shootin my Nov. targets and am happy with its size, shape etc. Nuthin fancy but very usable.

[greyhunter]

Pretty nice work fer just "cobbling" Ridjrunner. Gear you make yourself is the best. Something that you've made will be around long after you have gone under, nice to know someone will appreciate your work years from now.  

[BEAVERMAN]

Looks good Dan!, how big is the opening at the spout?

[ridjrunr]

Thank you GH,this is my first horn project that was completed so I am actually pretty happy with it. Next one will be only slightly different as of now. I am a little concerned that the applied tip will crack because of the thin wall,but if it does, I do have plan "B" in my head as a fix.

Beav',the spout hole is 1/4 and the next one (that is another primer horn,)I'll try 3/16 dia.

Also, I put true oil on the wood as its finish. This camera is 2 pixel so there isnt much clarity in detail.

[Hank in WV]

Keep cobblin. Looks good. I've never had any luck building horns.

[david32cal]

they all look great! i like a nice plain horn,good work ridjrunr.

[Roaddog]

Your work realy shines Ridjruner. I would of never gest that was the first one.

[BEAVERMAN]

Yes Sir, nothing wrong with that one for a first, you've been reading somewhere!

[ridjrunr]

Thank you for the kind comments.Last night I started the next one, it is only slightly bigger. The tip is cut,hole drilled and so far so good  
The first one was 6 3/4" on the outside curve,forgot to mention that. A "pocket horn".
Yes, I read anywhere and everywhere that I can find material on the subjects of all muzzleloading related stuff. Here, horners bench and the ALR sites and books.

[BEAVERMAN]

Hey Dan, you need to post this on the bench!

[Uncle Russ]

The first one was 6 3/4" on the outside curve,forgot to mention that. A "pocket horn".

Sounds to me like that's just about right for a Pocket Priming Horn.....I don't know what size is considered the perfect size, but sure sounds about right.
How much powder do you suspect that little horn might hold?
I guess what i'm getting at is, could it be used as a day-horn, with a dozen or so shots and a little bit left over for priming?

Anyway, it looks good.
Your setting / background made for a really nice picture....kinda old school or "Old-Tymey", if ya know what I mean.

Uncle Russ...

[ridjrunr]

Thank you Russ. It is very much like the three old ones in the end picture and I suspect them to be trade horns. I guess it can be used with 4F as primer for my .50, or when I get a squirrel rifle built,yes it maybe could be used with 3F for both main charge and primer. If 3F will work in the pan that is. I have heard people say they use it all the time, just for simplicity sake and it works fine. Time will tell I guess.
This next pix is a step up I guess. Slightly larger yet at exactly 12" on the outside curve. After  the current horn I am working on, I will be doing one (or three) this size or close to it.

[ridjrunr]

A member just pm me about horns and I sent him ref. suggestions including books and site that would be helpfull. I did want to show the difference in base plug shapes for anyone getting started.The top one is my currant project and the base plug will be left natural like the one I just finished wihich is the lower one in this photo ( but I will thin the walls). I traced around the base onto the wood scrap , cut it out with a coping saw and went at it with files and rasps. The one on the left in this pix is the old antique trade horn and this one, I believe has had the horn base itself rounded with heat and a form, and then the base plug was turned on a lathe rather than formed by hand.Just thought I'd show this little example.

ridjrunr

[HORNER75]

Those horns all look great!

Rick