old forged trap

can someone please help me. I have some pics on my phone that I would like for some one here to post for me so that perhaps someone can identify. you can P.M. me with a phone # and I can send them. Thanks P.S. this trap has no markings or chain.

Pictures of Rick's trap.....

thanks 160

That is a very cool looking trap regardless of what it is worth.

I was kind of hoping more would chime in. there are some real knowledge hidden in some of these gifted minds.

Does it have 2 pins on each jaw post or is it a 2-3 pin.

2 pins or rivets, both facing the same direction > small head on outside/ big on inside, then the otherside has the pins with big head on the onside /small on the outside of the jaw post if that helps

I haven't been able to find out anything about it for you yet.

looks to me like I may have stumped the very best on here 160, no words from wissmiss or Ncattrapper

Hi Rick, Here's my two cents about your trap. It's a really neat trap that shows wear which I believe adds provenance to the trap. I looked in Dick Gerstell's The Steel Trap in North America and didn't see anything that resembles your trap. That being said, the trap has a lot of neat and interesting things. The little groove on top of the spring is one of the neat things about this trap. The long thin cross and the bottom of the base is awesome. It's really hard to tell the age of a lot of these handforged traps without a name or stamp on the trap. Your trap, I believe, is a piece of history even though it will be tough to find out who made it. My guess is it was probably made in the 1800, But that is just my opinion.

thanks cascade, does anyone else have any ideas?

Your trap has characteristics of traps that were made by blacksmiths that were doing business out of montreal canada. Most traps were 2,3 pin jaw posts. This trap is uniform and quite slender,traits of true fur trade traps and not just a eastern village blacksmith clunker. Some of those smiths were hired by fur companies and never marked their traps as the were employees.

so I do have a little history here, It would be nice to see the whole story. Rozz where did you come up with that information so I can research a bit? Thanks Rick

The whole story.Wished I knew. I have been collecting fur trade traps from the upper midwest for 35 yrs.I am in contact with the few knowledgeable fur trade trap collectors as well as my own observations of traps from my own collection of known trap makers. All traps in my collection are known to have been found in mn.,wis, or mi. I am from mn. originally, not far from you actually. Good luck in your search.

might as well throw the gang thing out. like they say > no credible history = it is not real lol.. I would give it to 160 but he is flooding the market already with his treasure trove on steel. jk

If it were mine, I would be glad to hear that it had no marks, and therefore not priceless, so that I could keep it and admire that beauty every day!

Priceless, not but I am finally happy that I found a treasure, too bad I cant find the story behind it. I will bring it to the mn trapper party in aug and show it off to some of the people that know more then me

If it ever works out to meet Rick I have one that I believe is very similar and we can compare them. Mine is probably about the size of a #5.

Any chance of seeing pictures of yours?

Here's the closest example I have to your trap. It is a 2+2 pin same base but this one is marked. No its not priceless and I enjoy them all, marked or unmarked.

well when my wheeler get fixed I will have to head back north then we can get together 160. I will bring it along, and yes the one I have is way larger then a #4 in fact my #14 NH is smaller.