tharpforge Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Has anyone ever made a functioning bear trap. I am wanting to build a working one to hang on the wall of my shop. Are there any pics or diagrams available? Thank you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Are you talking about the big scary one with teeth you see in cartoons? I have a small one somewhere sized for rabbits if it'll help I can measurements and pictures and you can scale it up. I have thought about making a few more but can't figure out a good spring temper yet so I have to wait a little longer bad link removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjenki Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 This winter while I was working in the blacksmith shop at a local Festival in Winnipeg, I made a trap and took pictures at the end of each day. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cloverdaleforge/sets/72157651449217235/Its not a bear trap size and doesn't have the spike/teeth, but it functionally its the same, and I learned a lot in the process. Hope that helps.Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I'd advise you to make a non-functioning one if your shop gets people like mine does! Saves cleaning up the blood off the tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottMitUns Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I made on in high school 25 years ago. I think I just up scaled a #6 Victor trap. Get your hands on a smaller trap that you like the looks of and eye ball it up to what ever size you want would be my advice. If I could do it in a shop class at 15 it could not have been that hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 This winter while I was working in the blacksmith shop at a local Festival in Winnipeg, I made a trap and took pictures at the end of each day. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cloverdaleforge/sets/72157651449217235/Its not a bear trap size and doesn't have the spike/teeth, but it functionally its the same, and I learned a lot in the process. Hope that helps.Matt What is the book you show a picture of? I might like to find a copy of it to put in my reference section :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Very nice forged trap. Early forged traps the jaws were riveted to two posts that were threaded and a nut held them to base plate or held with tapered wedge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Over the years, I've made several "decorative" Bear Traps, ... with untempered, mild steel springs.They still function, ... but aren't so potentially dangerous.I put small holes in the end of the "dog" and the corresponding "notch" in the underside of the "pan", ... so that they can be "safety wired" in the "set" position, ... for display purposes.The "pan" hides the "safety wire", ... and nobody has ever noticed that it's there. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjenki Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 M Cochran, the book is "Hooks, Rings, & Other Things An illustrated Index of New England Iron 1660-1860" by Frank T. BarnesMany types of designs. 781 is correct about the threaded post versions and I would recommend that style for anything bigger than what I made... it was a little tricky/nerve racking getting the spring installed (back bending the base) while the spring was compressed.The pan pivot was done with a tenon and slot for a wedge. Worked great and made assembly and dis assembly easier.Hope that helps. https://instagram.com/explore/tags/cloverdaletrap/Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Thanks, mjenki, im looking for it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Make a mean looking Bear Trap,Mount it near the door of your Shop,with a Door Bell push-button, only accessable by putting your hand into the trap.Hang a bucket, marked "FINGERS", below itKeeps the Dogs away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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