Trap Mod Question?

I have 2 #3 dls regular jaw victor traps that I’m going to add into my cat traps. My others are bridger #4 dls offset jaw. My question is with a 72 hr check what do I need to do with my traps to make them more friendly for the longer check. Im going to add lots of swivels and center swivel all the traps but I’m wondering what to do with the jaws on my traps? Do they they need laminated jaws?

Laminating the Jaws is the only other thing you can do.

Either that or check the traps more often..jjust because you have a 72 hr check law doesn't mean you have to wait 72 hrs to check them

Yeah I know that I mean it’s obvious ha ha but unfortunately I’ll be running right up to that with my work schedule. Are the laminations worth the price of mind? Also would it make sense to grind and smooth the jaws on the closed jaw victors to make offsets or is that not worth it?

I would just leave them as they are. You can always modify later if 'there is a problem'
The center swiveling & extra swivels is plenty

Long Springs are not as fast as coils. I do like them in rocky stuff but fast is important with cats. Especially if if your checking every third day. You dont want to just get a toe or two. Lamination slows em down.

Offsets don't put less pressure on the foot unless the offset is so great the high points on the jaws touch before the foot stops them. Which means the jaws aren't tight on the foot Which allows foot to slide more easily in trap which will cause more damage. Offsets first became popular because they allow the levers/springs to come higher on the jaws for a stronger lock up which isn't as needed with better built traps these days. But the Offsets give the appearance of being more foot friendly.

Good points from Danny and Yes Sir....leave them as is and evaluate at the end of the season

I’ve heard that Danny on them slowing down and I don’t want to do that at all. I’ll just mod the chain with more swivels and center swivel like I wanted to. Most of my traps will be in rocky areas under cliffs so that’s why I elected to do exposed pan long spring sets

MChewk I think that’s what all do and see how it goes. We don’t have a lot of cats around here so it’s pretty important that I do everything I can to hold them. But sounds like I’m on the right track so far

In WY I often used #5 long springs for when snow got on my trap. They will reach up good.

Wide cast O/S is about the easiest on a foot that I’ve found.

Danny sounds about right hopefully everything works out good for next season

Law dog, I wished that they made a double long spring with cast offset jaws for cats it’d be sweet

Not hard to do with a decent welder and a angle grinder

All due respect…that’s a nice modification job but from what I can see, it is an outside lamination. Not an offset.

I don’t hate the way those jaws look by any means but I’m not handy with a welder like that so I’m hoping what I’m going to do will work for the small line I will run this coming winter.

Looks can be deceiving buddy




Really all it is is fillinh in the little gap between the jaw and the lam with weld then grinding it flat. Off set was made from a bubble weld on opposite side of each jaw that was then blended in with a grinder.

Here a post I did on the whole deal

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6504051/revamping-the-old-3-longspring

They were made, Victor 3Ns and 4 Ns

Those are sweet mods for sure, want to start buying new bridgers and modding them out to us that don’t have the time? Might be a pretty sweet side hustle

Does ID have an offset law? If not those lugs dont add anything. You do not want to make cat traps slower either.

Danny, in what ways can a person speed up a coilspring trap? Cats are fast, want to make the trap faster.

Any cat size coil spring made today #2, #3, #4 is plenty fast enough. If the trap is slow it would be due to its age and worn out springs and are easy to replace. Even older dbl long springs are plenty fast enough to catch cats with for they have been used with out modifications for well longer then anyone on here has been alive for. I love modifying and tinkering with traps but realistically most of today’s traps being manufactured today require little adjustments maybe a good chain set up to perform flawlessly the rest is just a cool looking factor imo.

I 4 coil mine. Snow, mud etc I want them to pop. My #1 goal is for the animal to be there when I get there.

Unless required by law I would NOT use an offset trap for cats.

Those doubles will work just fine as is. Cut miles triggers in them, or use foam underalls to firm up the pan and get some pan tension (or just slap a PIT pan on them).

Use them in exposed sets and you’ll probably never get a toe catch.