A powder-horn. Powder was almost always carried in a horn. The horn was
usually home made and very simple. A cow's horn, which is hollow, was
patiently scraped on the inside until it was smooth and as thin as the
maker desired. In the larger end was fitted a bottom of wood, and in
this was fastened a ring or a nail. The small end was cut off to give a
hole of proper size. In the horn was cut a rim or groove. To this groove
and to the ring in the bottom a stout cord was fastened, which passed
over the hunter's shoulder and held the horn at a convenient place at
his right side. The opening was stopped by a wooden plug, so made that
it could be easily removed and held in the teeth, so that the hunter
might have both hands free to pour out the powder. Often a smaller horn
was carried in the pocket to hold a finer and quicker-acting powder to
fill the pan for firing. Being finer, it entered the hole more easily
and joined the powder of the main charge. Being quicker-acting, it
helped to lessen the "hang fire" habit.