Two-Feathers tells ya how ta

Make yer own Drinkin' Horn

The first thang yer gonna need is patience. This'll take at least a week. Now, git yerself a horn that's had all the bone and pulp removed. Lone Eagle at Smoke & Thunder has some purty horns fer trade, or they kin gen'rally be found at Rendezvous.

Yer gonna need this stuff, too; Bleach Denture Cleaning Tablets Bottle Brushes or Bore Brushes Dish Soap Vinegar Extra Stout Beer, Wine, or Popskull Sharp Knife or scraper Wet-Dry Sand Paper - coarse to fine Steel Wool - coarse to fine

Workin' the outside

You kin work the outside of the horn before or after you work the innards. Use power tools if ya wanna', but beware - ya can ruin a horn faster'n ya can cuss the belt sander or grinder that chewed a hole in it!

Soak the horn in water overnight or boil it fer about an hour. This'll make the scaly stuff easier ta scrape off. Do this outside! Boilin' horn is not a pleasant fragrance.

Usin' a knife, or a piece o' glass or obsidian, scrape the outside o' the horn. Scrape with the grain. Go both ways - mouth to point fer a spell, then point to mouth fer spell. Dip the horn an' the scraper inta a bucket o' water often ta wash the crud away.

Next comes the wet-dry sand paper. Start with coarse and sand with the grain jest like when you was scrapin'. Keep dippin inta the bucket ta keep the sandpaper an' the horn clean.

When yer satisfied, switch ta the medium grade, then ta the fine. Finisher 'er with steel wool, then you kin buff the horn with some polishin' compound if it suits ya.

A scrimshaw design kin be scratched inta the finished horn with a sharp needle or the point of an exacto knife. Rub ink or gold leaf paste or the like inta the scratches. If the horn be thick enough, you kin carve it with basic wood carvin' tools.

Iffin yer gonna make a powder horn, ya' don't need ta work the innards. Ya kin boil the horn to soften it so you kin shape the mouth around a plug. Only the mouth needs ta be submerged while boilin'. Dependin' how thick the horn is, this could take a few hours.

You kin apply a sealer, like varnish or acrylic, but if ya plan ta drink spirits, the alcohol kin disolve some finishes. Ya don't want anything that can turn toxic, or spile the taste o' yer drink! If ya decide ta seal the horn, wait 'til the innards are done so the finish isn't ruint by spilled chemicals.

Workin the innards

First Day - Disinfect and deodorize

Prop the horn up so you kin fill it up to the top with straight bleach an' leave it ta soak fer a couple o' hours, or until it stops bubblin'. This'll kill the bacteria an' germs that are just achin' ta get inta yer gut!

Rinse the horn real good. Stick a hose in it or prop it under a faucet an' let the water run fer five or ten minutes.

Prop the horn up again an' fill 'er up with water. Now drop in a couple o' denture cleaning tablets. Use three or four if it makes you feel better. Hell, if it's a big horn, add a couple more!

Let the horn sit like this overnight. When ya pour out the liquid the horn should smell sweet. If it still stinks, repeat with the denture tablets.

Second Day - De-slime and begin curing

Empty the horn an' feel the inside. Feel the slime? Ya gotta git all that outta' there!

Start with a .38 cal bore brush. It's important to git all the way to the bottom o' the horn. Work that brush inta the point an' scrub it good.

Switch to a 12 ga. brush an' scrub the rest of the horn. Don't leave anything un-scrubbed.

Rinse 'er out with water an run yer bare finger as far inta the horn as you kin. Iffin' anything feels slimy it's gotta' be scrubbed some more.

Once she's clean, wash 'er again, this time in some soapy water. Use yer bore brushes, an' finish off with a bottle brush, then give 'er a rinse.

Prop up the horn, fill it ta the top with vinegar and let it soak fer at least three days. Third Day - Still curing

Be patient

Fourth Day - Still curing

Wait for it . . .Fifth Day - Finish curing

Give the horn a ten minute rinse like before, then prop 'er back up an' fill ta the top with extra stout beer, wine, vodka, rum or yer favorite pop-skull an let 'er soak fer 24 hours.

Sixth Day - Finally! Pour out the beer, give the horn a rinse an' she's ready fer drinkin' !

You kin make a stand an' handle usin' a piece of stag horn or what ever yer imagination kin conjure up.

If ya'druther, ya kin fix a lanyard to it an' hang 'er 'round yer neck.

If ya wannna' make the mouth round, here's how.

Boil the horn. Only the mouth needs to be in the water. This could take 30 minutes or a few hours, dependin' how thick the horn is. Ya kin do this on the kitchen stove iffin' ya want. Since the innards have been cured an' the outside's been scraped an' sanded, the boilin' horn won't stink like a raw one will.

Take somethin' round fer a mold, like a water glass, that'll fit inta the horn. Use somethin' like tupperware or metal 'cause glass could break an' cut ya. If it's tapered it'll be easier ta work inta the softened horn.

When the horn is soft enough, force the glass inta the mouth as far as ya can an' leave 'er ta cool fer awhile. When the horn is cool, pull the mold outta' the horn. If yer mold is glass, be very careful! It could break!

Some folks like ta seal the innards with bees wax or acrylic, but it ain't necessary. Iffin ya drink somethin' hot, the wax will melt. Iffin ya drink spirits, some finishes may disolve an' become toxic.

Enjoy!

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