How do they make Viking Drinking Horns?
Viking drinking horns are no longer a thing of the past. Though most people still reach for regular cups, glasses, or mugs when they need to drink, a lot of people are also interested in using unconventional drinking vessels.
Drinking horns were widely used in ancient times. It supposedly began with the Scythians, who carried on through the Middle Ages. In the Modern Period, there was a decline in its use when glass, metal, and wooden drinking vessels came to be, but now, Viking drinking horns are making a comeback.
If you’re curious to know how drinking horns are made, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Finding the Horn
- GENUINE OX HORN: Every Viking horn is made of authentic, ethically sourced ox horn and chosen for its appearance, durability,...
- HANDCRAFTED WITH CARE: The secret ingredient of a finely crafted drinking horn is the care that goes into it. Each of our mugs is...
- AWESOME GIFT: Give a gift that will be cherished for years. An Alehorn drinking horn makes a great gift for bachelor parties,...
- ETHICALLY SOURCED: We are just as concerned with animal cruelty as you are, so we've made sure our horns come from a family farm...
A Viking drinking horn comes from animal horns. It can be from a cow, ox, or buffalo. Different horns from those different animals each have their own characteristics that make them unique, such as patterns and melting points.
Businesses that sell drinking horns can get the horn from the animals if they have a cattle farm, and they’ll be getting their materials from their own resources. However, those who don’t own cattle farms, can also get horns from meat stores. The general public doesn’t usually buy the parts that aren’t consumable such as the bones and horns.
Another way, which is a bit more complicated and may even take a lot of time, is to go hunting. Going out in the wild to find a buffalo to hunt is more for the hobbyist drinking horn maker.
Cleaning the Horn
The raw horns you get once cut off from the animal are not hollow. Drinking horn makers remove the marrow to make it suitable for drinking. For those who get their horns from horn stores, they may already be marrowless. But those who have farms or go hunting will have to clean it out themselves.
There are two ways to remove the core, which is the marrow, from the outer horn:
- Boiling - Boiling is a quick method to remove the marrow. Boiling softens the core, making it easy for the maker to scrape it out. It’s a messy process, but it’ll be clean in no time.
- Drying - If you don’t want to create a huge mess because of the softened marrow, you have the option to leave the horn in a warm and dry spot. The core will naturally separate from the outer horn, but it will take a lot of time.
After removing the core, any remnants of the marrow needs to be removed, too. Drinking horn makers usually pour warm water and then scrap it off. They do it repeatedly to make sure that all the fleshy material gets removed.
Styling the Horn
Drinking horns can come in different styles. You are not limited to a single shape or design. But, of course, if you prefer a natural look, you’ll always find those options.
Shaping
There are drinking horns that retain their natural shape. Makers don’t mold it to form new shapes, so it stays the way it is, with an opening, a slim and slender body, and a pointed tip. Drinking horns like those that get cut, cleaned and polished without further embellishments.
If you prefer a modernized drinking horn, there are plenty out there. Makers can mold the horn into a different shape. They do this by heating it and reshaping it when it softens. The process is a bit complicated because, as mentioned, horns have different melting points. If the maker is not sure how to estimate the right temperature, pressing the horn too early or too late can break, making it useless.
Engraving
Engraving makes the horn a little more personalized. Some drinking horn makers offer customization by letting you choose what engravings to put on your order. You can have your name or ask for it to have a Game of Thrones theme if you’re a fan or whatever you might like that they can do.
Again, engraving is another complicated process. Carving too deep may put holes in the horn, making it useless as a drinking vessel. However, it can still be excellent home decor. If you work from home and put it on your desk, at least you have something interesting to look at when you need a break.
Polishing
In ancient times, drinking horns didn’t have coatings. People in the olden days hollowed it out and then used it as it was, without coating the inside. People today may find it repulsive because there could still be a lingering taste or smell of the marrow. It also makes it prone to damage if you use it for dairy or acidic drinks.
To make the drinking horn last long, makers coat it with food-safe finishes to protect it from any damage that some beverages can do. If it has a coating such as beeswax, it can hold any drink without any structural damage.
Final Thoughts
Drinking horns are starting to gain popularity these days. Unusual things like these catch the interest of people, which could be why there is a rise in the number of drinking horn sellers. Of course, popular culture may have something to do with it, too. Shows like Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings have a historical setting where people use drinking horns. Whatever it may be, drinking horns is fun to have, and the process of its creation is also an interesting part of why they are so fascinating.
Best Viking Drinking Horns
Here are the best Viking drinking horns if you want to go shoppin':
- PREMIUM HANDMADE VIKING DRINKING HORN identical to historic horns used by the ancient Vikings and Norse who conquered Europe and...
- GENUINE OX HORN is 100% authentic ethically sourced from certified livestock. This is premium quality professionally made to food...
- 100% GENUINE LEATHER HOLDER Belt Holster for Party Use – Each Viking Culture drinking horn comes with a holster that lets you...
- ULTIMATE MANLY BEER CUP that turns any beer into a festival. Because our drinking horn is hand fashioned from real horns, each one...
- 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆...
- 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐗 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍: Crafted From 100% Ethically Sourced Ox Horn, Each Mug Is Carefully...
- 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗨𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥: Each Viking Drinking Horn Comes With A Genuine...
- 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Ordered Item may not same in color as two horns are never same
- ⭐ COMPACT SIZE ♦♦ 250ml drinking horns are especially popular because their reasonable size makes them easy to carry during...
- ⭐ 100% LEAK-FREE & ETHICALLY SOURCED GENUINE HORN ♦♦ Our drinking horns are individually made by hand, highly polished, and...
- ⭐ 100% GENUINE LEATHER HOLDER ♦♦ With the carefully handcrafted HOLDER OFFERED FOR FREE with your horn, you will never lose...
- ⭐ IDEAL FOR AMAZING MEDIEVAL EVENTS, SCA, WEDDINGS, COSPLAY, or LARP! Is there anything better than sharing a good beer or a...
- 🍻 HISTORY IN YOUR HANDS - Savor every sip in Viking style as you drink from an authentic ox horn — each one a unique...
- 🍻 COMPLETELY UNIQUE - Since our beer horn are made from real ox horn, each Norse-inspired cup is completely unique in shape &...
- 🍻 REFRESHINGLY CLEAN SIPS - Have no fear, all of our horns are deep cleaned using our three step sanitization process to ensure...
- 🍻 ARTISAN HANDCRAFTED - The secret ingredient of a finely crafted mead horn is the care that is put into the construction; Our...
- The viking drinking horn has been polished and sealed to keep the horn beautiful and leak free. Each tankard is uniquely designed,
- These medieval Viking horn hold 8 to 12oz. of your favourite mead, ale, beer or lager; and when you’re done drinking, slam it...
- Drinking Horn Mug Horn Holds Upto 10 Oz volume Traditional Drinking Horn Mug, Glasses, Vessels
- beautiful Viking drink horn cups come complete with an authentic Medieval style.
- Authentic Viking Horn Mug Set – Designed for men and women who love a classic pint of beer, ale, or mead this rustic drinking...
- Norse Style Medieval Drink Cup – This real horn mug is crafted from ethically sourced Ox horn and features a beautiful, Natural...
- Fur Belt Holster for Party Use – Each Viking Culture horn drinking mug comes with a horn mug stand and a drink holster that lets...
- Ergonomic Horn Beer Opener – A great touch to your beer drinking adventures we’ve even added a 6-inch beer horn mug bottle...
- EACH HORN MUG A UNIQUE PIECE OF ART: Each of our Viking drink horn tankards is made by hand while listening to Viking metal and...
- Features a Natural Finish and cut from a solid piece of horn.its a perfect vessel for Vikings, Game of Thrones or Reine Faire....
- GREAT GIFT: Our beautiful Viking drink horn cups come complete with an authentic Medieval style. This makes it a perfect and...
- 100% AUTHENTIC VIKING FEEL: You can now enjoy the authentic design, giant mug and feeling of drinking beer like a proper Viking!...
- Vintage Horn Beer Mug Set – This Viking mug is sourced from real oxen and comes with a 3-oz. horn shot glass and a horn bottle...
- Highly-Customized Details – From the smooth edges to the engraved design, our Viking drinking mug is made with elegant, yet...
- Sturdy, Handcrafted Handle – Guzzle down your fresh, cold brew by gripping the classic horn handle and then fill it up again for...
- Exclusive Color and Size – These 16 oz. beer tankards are crafted from all-natural ox horns, which means each one boasts its own...
- Viking Drinking Horn Mug: Raise a glass of mead or beer with this Viking drinking horn; with some variation in each organic horn...
- Handcrafted from Real Oxhorn: Wanting no part of the water buffalo to go to waste, we use sustainable sourced buffalo horns; made...
- Food-Safe Quality Material: Sealed to keep the horn beer stein leak free, the thoroughly coated interior of this tankard is 100%...
- Includes Burlap Jute Bag: Store this 20oz Viking tankard and bottle opener in the included medieval jute bag to protect your glass...
Last update on 2024-07-26 using Amazon Product Advertising API.
