A friend gave me this trap. He got it at an auction near Eau Claire, WI. Looks blacksmith made to me. I think it had two springs originally, and I don't think the horseshoe nails were the original wedges for the jaw posts. I can't make out any stamping or letters on the pan or the springs.

Here are a few more pictures.

Old one for sure

Check on the bottom of the frame for markings or names.

Holding the trap together with pins, nails or wedges is old construction, so is the single pin jaw posts. This trap goes back to atleast 1830 maybe even late 1700s

I'll look for any markings this evening.



That construction is neat for sure. I would like to know what the original wedges looked like. The horseshoe nails just don't look right, and there is a lot of movement in the jaw posts.

Looked at the trap for a while this evening. I can't find any marking in the frame or springs. There may be a faint small 8 on the pan, but that might just be my imagination and the rust pattern on the pan.

You should try to find a spring for it. There’s lots of handforged springs loose.

Don't know if this would help, but this could be a possibility.

Any ideas where that might be available? Looks very interesting.

Pm sent

I was able to purchase a copy of the book a few posts above. Excellent book, but no insights as to the maker of the trap I have.

I believe it was in Gerstell's book, where it was said that many hand-forged traps will never be identified. Too many makers, too little information.

I owned a Newton hand forged trap for quite some time. Mine was missing the pan but it was built similar to what yours was. My trap was stamped on the bottom of the base plate.

Yes, according to the book, his traps were typically stamped on the bottom of the frame and both springs. I can't find any evidence of stamping at all.

The jaws are also pinned with a single pin on mine. A trait not seen on any known Newton traps.