powder horn build question

[PRB2]

Greetings everyone, been awhile since I posted. I have started working on my first powder horn from scratch and was wondering would it be historically accurate to leave the base of the horn in its natural oval shape or is it better to reshape it? What brings this up is a thin wall on one side of the horn that has cracked once already. Thanks

[Bigsmoke]

Just like today, 200 years ago horns came in the same shapes.  So, I am guessing that horns then were either made actual shape or those oval based horns were relegated to other uses.
How are you heating the horn?  You need to get it to about 325 degrees F.  If you are using boiling water, it is not hot enough.
Also, you can thin the rest of the base down to present a horn with equal thickness all around.  Then it will round more easily.
Easy answer to the question is if you want a round based horn, start off with a horn that is nearly round naturally.  Let the cow do your work for you.
And, although I have never really been too concerned with strict historical accuracy in my horns, I have made hundreds and hundreds of them more or less in their natural shape.

[PRB2]

Thanks for the reply bigsmoke, I was thinking of heating it by the use of a heat gun, I think I will try thinning the wall first as you suggest and go from there. What would you suggest to use as a form to insert into the horn once it is flexible enough? I have seen the turned wooden shapers but was wondering what else might be used as I don't have one of those handy. Again, thank you for the reply I appreciate it.

[ridjrunr]

Fwiw,I make forming plugs from old baseball bats.

[PRB2]

An old baseball bat is a perfect solution ridjrunr, thank you for that