Old Original Powder horn question.

[Watauga]

I have some friends that buy and collect old original powder horns, They say that the powder they find in them is good after more than at least a hundred years!
They also tell me that horns with powder in them don't seem to be damaged by horn worms and empty ones get worm damaged?! like maybe the powder helps keep the worms from wanting to eat the horns....?!?  Has any of you noticed such a thing??

[Hanshi]

I've never heard that the presence of powder in the horn repelled insects.  But I've also never heard of powder that age being bad, either.

[Papa]

Have heard of what you are saying about horns but I use moth ball flakes. Old powder will definitely still ignite after a very long time. I collect powder flasks and they often have powder in them. I burn it when it is removed.
Mark

[Winter Hawk]

Probably the sulfur content annoys the bugs and they move on.  I have read of tests done on 19th century powder in the 1980s and it lost none of its potency by being old.  I wish I could say the same about me!   Or Hanshi....   

~WH~

[Watauga]

Probably the sulfur content annoys the bugs and they move on.  I have read of tests done on 19th century powder in the 1980s and it lost none of its potency by being old.  I wish I could say the same about me!   Or Hanshi....   

~WH~

Well,.. Not to start any trouble ,...But Hanshi,.. Did he just say what I think he said about you???

[beowulf]

Probably the sulfur content annoys the bugs and they move on.  I have read of tests done on 19th century powder in the 1980s and it lost none of its potency by being old.  I wish I could say the same about me!   Or Hanshi....   

~WH~

Well,.. Not to start any trouble ,...But Hanshi,.. Did he just say what I think he said about you???

[Red Badger]

Ouch!  this could be trouble when Hanshi digs himself out of the snow...

[Watauga]

Oh No!!!    The Abominable Hanshi Snowman is coming!!!      

[Hanshi]

  Okay, okay, I did see a bit of accuracy in that description.  Don't forget that I'm also considered the world's most intelligent human.  No, don't tell me about your border collie, African gray parrot, or pet crow; I said HUMAN. 

[CampbellClan]

My great grandpa purchased a powder horn from a fella back in the 1940s. The horn was nearly full of powder when he received it. Grandpa hung the horn in his office along with an old relic of a Harper's Ferry rifle. In 1980 I was 8 years old and was in my chatty, nosey questioning everything years, and asked Grandpa about his rifle and horn. After telling me the story of the horn and rifle he told me that the powder in The horn was still good and showed me by getting out a pinch and igniting it outside. Anyhow Grandpa passed away in 1981 and I inherited his Harper's Ferry and his horn...which was still full of powder. I actually shot some of it off, with a light load to see if it would fire and it did. I used it up over the years and now it's all gone.... But still have the horn.

[Watauga]

My great grandpa purchased a powder horn from a fella back in the 1940s. The horn was nearly full of powder when he received it. Grandpa hung the horn in his office along with an old relic of a Harper's Ferry rifle. In 1980 I was 8 years old and was in my chatty, nosey questioning everything years, and asked Grandpa about his rifle and horn. After telling me the story of the horn and rifle he told me that the powder in The horn was still good and showed me by getting out a pinch and igniting it outside. Anyhow Grandpa passed away in 1981 and I inherited his Harper's Ferry and his horn...which was still full of powder. I actually shot some of it off, with a light load to see if it would fire and it did. I used it up over the years and now it's all gone.... But still have the horn.

CampbellClan I love that Story    Well  It Looks like your Grandpa gave you the Black-powder Disease at a very young age...You will probably never recover...      

[Red Badger]

I only wish I had been introduced to BP at an early age....  Think of the trouble I could have gotten into!   

[CampbellClan]

I've always felt very fortunate to own my grandpas horn and old smoothbore. Yes I got a taste of the BP bug early...I never really got into it heavily until around 15 or so. Glad to share the experience with you guys!

[DandJofAZ]

I only wish I had been introduced to BP at an early age....  Think of the trouble I could have gotten into!   

Many years ago found out BP doesn't make a very good fuse for blasting caps and attached boom sticks.  Way to fast......