A Simple Priming Horn - The Firearms Forum

Shooter45 · 12-07-2012, 04:43 PM

I needed a priming horn for my flintlock rifle and couldn't find anything that I really liked. I had this old horn laying around and decided it could be something to learn on.

The horn was rough but the small size was what I needed so I started scraping. I used a piece of broken glass then a wood rasp to shape it.

When the shape was right, I found a scrap piece of Walnut for an end plug.
I should have used Pine as it's easier to work with but didn't didn't know until I had the Walnut fitted. Maybe I should have read up on horn making.

I needed a plug for the spout after drilling the hole and found an Oak dowel rod that would work. Again, maybe I should have used Pine. I turned it down on my belt sander so it wasn't too bad but I'm sure I'll end up making a couple more before the horn is finished.

I've been using sand paper then steel wool to work over any inperfections in the horn.

I still have some work to do such as wood pins to hold in the end plug and then fitting an end cap over the plug.

I may even try my hand at scrimshaw.
Here are some pictures so far.

76Highboy · 12-07-2012, 05:43 PM

I think that is a piece of art. Looks pretty nice and it looks like it would be fun to make.

Hawg · 12-08-2012, 04:06 PM

Your base plug needs to be sealed so its airtight. Round toothpicks make good wood pins.

soundguy · 12-08-2012, 04:17 PM

i'll have to dig the one I made out. made it a couple decades ago.. similar to yours using a small horn. many that brings back memories!

good job. looks better than mine by far as I recall.

Shooter45 · 12-08-2012, 06:27 PM

I plan on using toothpicks for the wood pegs.

I'm using parafin and epoxy to seal those cracks then making a nice endcap.

Shooter45 · 12-09-2012, 01:39 PM

Woodnut sent me several scraps of some nice wood.
I chose the Thuya Burl. Nice figure and color for the horn.

The endcap is in place. Now for the fun part of working it down.

It will be slow going but maybe a picture today.

I still have a long way to go on this project.

Shooter45 · 12-09-2012, 03:49 PM

I'm getting closer to getting this little priming horn finished.

The end cap is in place so I took this picture of the horn
and my hand sewn shooting bag made by Jimmy Allen back in the early '80's.

I still have to drill and install the wood pegs and add a metal
staple to the end cap. Then I can put a finish on the end cap.

It already looks better than I expected but it's my first try at
making something like this and I only have hand tools.

Woodnut · 12-09-2012, 04:00 PM

Love that Thuya Burl Sam. A little more polishing and that will be awesome. Great job.

Woodnut · 12-09-2012, 04:09 PM

I also like the way you rounded the sharp edge of the end cap. Looks good. The pictures of the progress is also very nice. You will own a piece of art when finished.

Shooter45 · 12-09-2012, 04:37 PM

I haven't rounded that edge much as I may thin down the end cap a little more. Maybe I need to look at some old priming horn pictures before I do anything else.

todd51 · 12-09-2012, 06:40 PM

Looking mighty fine. Those were very personal items so doing it your way is the right way.

1LoneWolf75 · 12-10-2012, 12:01 AM

Looks great!!!
Doinin it yerself is the only way to make it yers. Like Todd said those were personal items, they were made and modified by the owner sometimes over a period of years round campfires. When yer done you defiantly won't be able to buy its like anywhere, and that will make it even better.
We used to have a couple to blow to call in the dogs durin a coon hunt.

soundguy · 12-10-2012, 07:44 AM

very nice. my possibles bag I made looks much rougher!

are you going to add a cork stopper to the back plate to add powder?

carver · 12-10-2012, 07:57 AM

That's going to be a really nice looking priming horn when it's finished! Great job so far! I really want to see the finished product!

BlackEagle · 12-11-2012, 03:01 PM

Very nice work.

Shooter45 · 01-07-2013, 06:30 PM

I thinned down the end cap today and installed the wood pegs around the base of the end cap. I also got most of the polishing done.

Now for the scrimshaw.

I'll post pics of the finsihed product when done.

Hawg · 01-08-2013, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundguy

very nice. my possibles bag I made looks much rougher!

are you going to add a cork stopper to the back plate to add powder?

I would think he would use a threaded finial.

soundguy · 01-08-2013, 07:40 AM

i don't have a way to cut interior threads in wood.. so i went cork..

Shooter45 · 01-08-2013, 08:12 AM

I'll fill thru the pour spout with a paper funnel.

ampaterry · 01-08-2013, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooter45

I'll fill thru the pour spout with a paper funnel.

That's how I do it.
After all, you don't use THAT much powder for the priming - -

Hawg · 01-08-2013, 06:18 PM

You can buy a brass one.

Or use a tap and die on the wood.

soundguy · 01-08-2013, 06:28 PM

now there a thought. use a coarse bras threaded bushing and use a brass plug in the center.. drill the head of the plug for a lanyard.

HMM...

need to go dig out my old horn..

Hawg · 01-08-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundguy

now there a thought. use a coarse bras threaded bushing and use a brass plug in the center.. drill the head of the plug for a lanyard.

.

You don't want to drill the plug because you will need to unscrew it. Unless you just want to get your strap all twisted up.

soundguy · 01-08-2013, 06:45 PM

swivel... ez tech..

Hawg · 01-08-2013, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundguy

swivel... ez tech..

Not very period tho.

One of mine is slotted and the other is tied. The finial just spins in them.

12-07-2012, 04:43 PM	#1
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	A Simple Priming Horn I needed a priming horn for my flintlock rifle and couldn't find anything that I really liked. I had this old horn laying around and decided it could be something to learn on. The horn was rough but the small size was what I needed so I started scraping. I used a piece of broken glass then a wood rasp to shape it. When the shape was right, I found a scrap piece of Walnut for an end plug. I should have used Pine as it's easier to work with but didn't didn't know until I had the Walnut fitted. Maybe I should have read up on horn making. I needed a plug for the spout after drilling the hole and found an Oak dowel rod that would work. Again, maybe I should have used Pine. I turned it down on my belt sander so it wasn't too bad but I'm sure I'll end up making a couple more before the horn is finished. I've been using sand paper then steel wool to work over any inperfections in the horn. I still have some work to do such as wood pins to hold in the end plug and then fitting an end cap over the plug. I may even try my hand at scrimshaw. Here are some pictures so far. Attached Images -->

12-07-2012, 05:43 PM	#2
76Highboy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Meridian, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,094	Re: Simple Priming Horn I think that is a piece of art. Looks pretty nice and it looks like it would be fun to make.

12-08-2012, 04:06 PM	#3
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,586	Re: Simple Priming Horn Your base plug needs to be sealed so its airtight. Round toothpicks make good wood pins.

12-08-2012, 04:17 PM	#4
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,746	Re: Simple Priming Horn i'll have to dig the one I made out. made it a couple decades ago.. similar to yours using a small horn. many that brings back memories! good job. looks better than mine by far as I recall.

12-08-2012, 06:27 PM	#5
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	Re: Simple Priming Horn I plan on using toothpicks for the wood pegs. I'm using parafin and epoxy to seal those cracks then making a nice endcap.

12-09-2012, 01:39 PM	#6
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	Re: Simple Priming Horn Woodnut sent me several scraps of some nice wood. I chose the Thuya Burl. Nice figure and color for the horn. The endcap is in place. Now for the fun part of working it down. It will be slow going but maybe a picture today. I still have a long way to go on this project.

12-09-2012, 03:49 PM	#7
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	Re: Simple Priming Horn I'm getting closer to getting this little priming horn finished. The end cap is in place so I took this picture of the horn and my hand sewn shooting bag made by Jimmy Allen back in the early '80's. I still have to drill and install the wood pegs and add a metal staple to the end cap. Then I can put a finish on the end cap. It already looks better than I expected but it's my first try at making something like this and I only have hand tools. Attached Images

12-09-2012, 04:00 PM	#8
Woodnut Forum Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Diamondhead, MS Contributor Posts: 2,182	Re: Simple Priming Horn Love that Thuya Burl Sam. A little more polishing and that will be awesome. Great job. __________________ Carl Never doubt the beauty of wood. Carl’s Album www.cwgrips.com Web site Updated 01/01/2013 NRA Life Member

12-09-2012, 04:09 PM	#9
Woodnut Forum Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Diamondhead, MS Contributor Posts: 2,182	Re: Simple Priming Horn I also like the way you rounded the sharp edge of the end cap. Looks good. The pictures of the progress is also very nice. You will own a piece of art when finished. __________________ Carl Never doubt the beauty of wood. Carl’s Album www.cwgrips.com Web site Updated 01/01/2013 NRA Life Member

12-09-2012, 04:37 PM	#10
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	Re: Simple Priming Horn I haven't rounded that edge much as I may thin down the end cap a little more. Maybe I need to look at some old priming horn pictures before I do anything else.

12-09-2012, 06:40 PM	#11
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: A Simple Priming Horn Looking mighty fine. Those were very personal items so doing it your way is the right way. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

12-10-2012, 12:01 AM	#12
1LoneWolf75 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Humboldt KS Posts: 604	Re: A Simple Priming Horn Looks great!!! Doinin it yerself is the only way to make it yers. Like Todd said those were personal items, they were made and modified by the owner sometimes over a period of years round campfires. When yer done you defiantly won't be able to buy its like anywhere, and that will make it even better. We used to have a couple to blow to call in the dogs durin a coon hunt. __________________ They can have my guns when they pry them from my cold, dead hands!!! "Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not." - Thomas Jefferson "I've seen the system fall apart from the rules and all our presidents lie"--"Soul Survive"- Asphalt Ballethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6DgVrYWw00

12-10-2012, 07:44 AM	#13
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,746	Re: A Simple Priming Horn very nice. my possibles bag I made looks much rougher! are you going to add a cork stopper to the back plate to add powder?

12-10-2012, 07:57 AM	#14
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,550	Re: A Simple Priming Horn That's going to be a really nice looking priming horn when it's finished! Great job so far! I really want to see the finished product! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

12-11-2012, 03:01 PM	#15
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,248	Re: A Simple Priming Horn Very nice work.

01-07-2013, 06:30 PM	#16
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	Re: A Simple Priming Horn I thinned down the end cap today and installed the wood pegs around the base of the end cap. I also got most of the polishing done. Now for the scrimshaw. I'll post pics of the finsihed product when done.

01-08-2013, 07:40 AM	#18
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,746	Re: A Simple Priming Horn i don't have a way to cut interior threads in wood.. so i went cork..

01-08-2013, 08:12 AM	#19
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,790	Re: A Simple Priming Horn I'll fill thru the pour spout with a paper funnel.

01-08-2013, 06:18 PM	#21
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,586	Re: A Simple Priming Horn You can buy a brass one. Or use a tap and die on the wood.

01-08-2013, 06:28 PM	#22
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,746	Re: A Simple Priming Horn now there a thought. use a coarse bras threaded bushing and use a brass plug in the center.. drill the head of the plug for a lanyard. HMM... need to go dig out my old horn..

01-08-2013, 06:45 PM	#24
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,746	Re: A Simple Priming Horn swivel... ez tech..