BEAR TRAP RESTORATION

This bear trap was found in a junk shop in northern Minnesota. The new owner asked me to make it operational. I would appreciate any advice or tips offered. I suspect this trap has been braze welded open for a long time. Will post pics as I progress...

Owner spent some time removing paint then turned it over to me. I figured the only way to get the springs unbrazed , would be to disassemble the whole works. First pics show how much brazing is on the springs and also where I heated an brushed off the braze on the dog and pan shank.... Using penetrating oil on the jawpost nuts now and will post more pics when I try to remove them...

I'm curious whether the springs will still have power over the long term. interesting project !!!!

Dale what make trap is that? Is only way to take the brazing off is with good heat. Will that distort the spring eyes?

I've had pretty good luck with the old forged springs coming back to life. Good steel?... The welds being just on the spring eyes should be a plus as the spring bends are still unaltered.

Jeff, It is a BL&CO (Blake & Lamb) #5... Pretty rare trap so I am trying to be very careful... My name will be sheet if I mess it up... I am hoping the braze will have a lot lower melt temperature than the spring steel....

After applying penetrating oil to the jawpost nuts for a few days I gave them a try. Put the nut in vise and wiggled back and forth with a wrench on the post. Got about a 1/8 turn on each and reapplied oil and let sit for awhile. Second attempt went without a hitch and nuts came off with good threads still intact.
Will try unbrazing the springs tomorrow..

I got some braze off of a couple of traps in the past with some moderate heat and swiping it with a knife blade (not a good knife) at an angle, it pretty much sheared it off. You know what happens if you get it too hot...you can get some oil on it and it will darken up a little but still won’t look right.

That’s going to be a nice trap if you can bring it back. I always cringe when I see a trap that’s been welded open.

In my opinion for what its worth you already did the challenging part. As pitted as it was and getting the nuts off could have busted a post. Patience is key. I would do it similar to what deerhunter said. I would use a putty knife. I would apply moderate heat to the braze first and work that off. Be aware you could get slapped if the springs have tension. I might use a c clamp gently to protect that from happening. If you don't feel comfortable consul a welder in your area.

You are making good progress Dale! Thanks for the play by play on the process!

Nice job Dale, No mater how it comes out, it looks like you are doing it right.

I see I should have checked replies before I headed to the garage this morning.. I just turned the springs bottom side up and applied heat to the small spring eye till they let loose. First one broke the tie wire when it let loose but the vise helped contain the situation. Put a clamp on it before opening the vice. Next spring I used two tie wires and all was good. I am very pleased the springs regained their shape and are still quite strong... Saves a lot of extra work.. A bit of dremmel work and all parts are soaking in the cleaner bucket...

Nice job. Can't wait to see the reassembled pic

Looks good Dale.

Wish I would have read these posts before I opened the springs..I think you and slickpan were right on the money with your tips. I used a small prybar (brake tool) to pry some braze from inside the spring eye. The stuff was at just the right temp that it held together like putty and came out in one big glob. Probably could have grabbed that glob with a pliers and peeled the whole works off the spring.. I went with melting a small area and quickly wire brushing. More work with the grinding tool afterwards...

Out of the cleaner and starting attempt to make the patina match....
Forgot to mention the swivel was froze up also. Used basically the same method I used to remove the nuts and works fine now....

Check the cant on those spring eyes. I guess I didn't need to mark the springs for reassembly.
Makes me ponder Triumphs years later patent....

Looking good Dale, you got the hard part done. Sent you a pm regarding patina matching.

fantastic!!! a very nice trap! she lives again! great work...

Guys for this old trap collector rookie ...what is a #5 B&L like this valued at?

Morning guys, so the few articles that I've read about this bl& company long spring bear traps have been pretty vague, can any one chime in with a history lesson, by the way outstanding job Dale!

The only info I checked was the Andreski Parr price guide. "1884-1895 $12000 to $15000"... I know nothing about the price but firmly believe the date of this trap is a lot earlier. The mid chain swivel and pointed cross should at least put it in the 1860s range. The springs also look to be completely hand forged, not trip hammered.
My Bad.. I was looking at old edition price guide... New one states manufacture date starting 1865...

Anyway, here is an update on your trap and I appreciate you letting me have a go at it. If the parts come out looking good I will reassemble it and you can decide if it should be oiled, waxed, or whatever.
There are more things I could do to improve appearance but I might already be in that gray area between restored and faked.....

According to Andreski & Parr, B&L put their first No,5’s and 6’s on the market about 1865. The early models had the chain, base and cross made by Oneida Community and patterned after their No.5. B&L did the casting on the pans. Chauncey Hart likely made the hand forged springs.

There’s a full page write up on B&L bear traps on pg 109 in The Trap Collectors Guide.

Nice to see those circle stamps pop out Dale.

You are doing a great job Dale like always. Nice to see different traps.

Had hopes of reassembly today but pan shank and one lower spring eye are not cooperating.


Some of the teeth braze got shined up in the paint removing and cleaning process but, in my opinion, adds character I will leave it be...

You are exposing a beautiful trap Dale. ED, you are a fortunate man!

You did a marvelous job on that. I am really looking forward to seeing the reassembled trap.

Jim, you're a Blake & Lamb collector.. What time period was this trap manufactured????

I got to reassemble today.... Gonna have a hard time giving this one back... Suppose I could keep doing a little detail work for another six to eight months!
Springs are still very strong and well matched.

Very nice looking trap , you did a nice job Dale.

Great job Dale. Those pan stamps are just extraordinary! I have never had an opportunity to own a Blake Lamb Co trap such as that one and am envious but extremely pleased that I know the owner. From the limited amount that I know about Blake Lamb productions during their early existence, I think that trap with those pan markings was made shortly after they began their business in 1865. There are at least three different #5 traps(along with two or possibly three #6 traps) that were made in about a 20 year period and the trap you worked on likely is one of the earlier ones produced. I own numerous small Blake traps from that period but nothing that can compare with that bear trap.

Thanks Jeff, You need to come to our summer get together.. Some pretty amazing trapping stuff shows up...

Thanks for that info.. I was sure this was earlier than what the price guide stated.. And I am sure you will get a chance to see it close up...

Nice save Dale, that is now a good looking trap - hopefully you’ll get visitation rights. The pan looks great.

Thanks Dwight, I was going to say you had the wrong page number in your previous post. I checked both my price guides and come to find out the last updated one I got turned out to be the first edition.

Your right Jim,I'm a pretty fortunate guy with a little luck involved! Special thanks to Dale I owe you big for this one! Pretty classy looking trap can hardly wait to see it in real life,

nice job Dale that trap is unbelievable i see you got the third 5 on the pan stamp legible it just keeps getting better and better I think ol Bumpy is really lucky in more ways than one

I really want to get up there. Last year just didn't work. I want to bring a 4 1\2 up and see if you can work your magic with it. Or show me what I need to do. We will get together soon I hope.

You keep selling those christmas trees and you MIGHT talk Ed out of it......... And I can see where you get your T man handle.

Jeff, You are welcome to stop by anytime you are in this neck of the woods. You know where I live

You did a fantastic job on that trap sir...you have that magic touch

That looks amazing. Its great to see that trap all together and back to operating condition.

perfekt!!!

Beautiful, great job and great trap

You are a very talented man!! Fantastic restoration!

Very nice work it’s nice to see something come back to life

Thanks Mike, That welded open #5 slickpan I got from you turned out pretty nice so I had a little more confidence with this one....

Amazing job!

Merry Christmas all

thank you