Hey guys. I have a question. I would like to make a bear trap and I can not find any dimensions on the net and I do not have access to one to get dimensions. If anyone out there has access to one and could get dimensions off it for me or if you have found a print for one I would greatly appreciate any info you guys could give me.

therepairman1557

Here is a Bear Trap a friend of mine (Deloy Larson of Deloy Larson’s Ornamental Iron 225 E State Rd
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 Ph: 1-801-785-3660) made.

It is most likely a little to big for your needs!


Deloy_Trap_1 - Blacksmith Photo Gallery

Good Luck!
Ted Throckmorton

Dang, Ted. I want to see him set that trap. That's fer one big Barr!!! :)

What size stick did he use to test that trap?

Thats a little bit larger than I was thinking. But interesting those must be some pretty big bears.

A Duke #15 which is smaller than a #6 I think
closed
outside jaw dimensiion 11"
bottom of trap to top of curced jaw 8"
pan slightly larger than 4"
This has cast jaws which are 1 1/2" at the widest
The 2 posts which hold the jaws are 1 1/2: tall above the base plate
springs 13 1/2"
all are approximate

Thankyou very much for the info. It is greatly appreciated and when I get one done I will definately post a pic

I have also been wanting to make a bear trap, what is the narrowest measurements on the jaws. Would also like thickness of metal and widest and narrowest measurements of springs. Thank you for your time.

You guys don't realy trap bears do you? Sounds revolting. I'm not anti hunting, but traps....... These things were outlawed over here years ago, are they not ilegal in the USA???
I hope you don't trapped in it yourself.

Phil.

I'm building mine for a wall hanger, the only bears in NW Ohio are at the zoo.

just for a wall hanger

You guys don't realy trap bears do you? Sounds revolting. I'm not anti hunting, but traps....... These things were outlawed over here years ago, are they not ilegal in the USA???
I hope you don't trapped in it yourself.

Phil.

They're illegal in the US as well.

Flying Sparks;
there is still a need to be able to trap bears, but it is now done in a very humane way.
My brother is a bear trapper for the government, and has done so for many years, so I help him out every once in a while.

We use live catch

A few years ago I had a man-trap which had been used against poachers in the 19th century, It was much the same style (we call this pattern of trap a 'gin') but the pressure plate had spikes that would go sideways into the foot as well as the clamp. It had the appearance of having been fairly roughly made by a local 'smith. although the smaller sizes were mass-produced, I got the impression that the big ones were not made to any fixed pattern.
Could there be local variations across America in the design of bear traps?

The repairman1557 saw your post then saw where you are from, sorry to here about your bad luck!!! HA-HA Go Bucks!! Actually I'm making the trap for a friend that has a lot of wooded land and lets us hunt on it. They have a nice cabin on the property, and he mentioned about getting the trap to hang on the wall. He really doesn't want to pay the price for one. I decided it would probably mean more to him if it was made from me plus his wife likes all the blackiron work that I do. Would make a nice Christmas present.

You might want to look at Duke traps as they are designed as wall hangers and don't demand the price of old vintage collectible traps do. They are made in Korea actually, but look like the old originals. I saw a 1911 Newhouse sell at an auction this year for $1980.00! I have a fairly good collection of bear trap pictures if you need some, both factory made and blacksmith made. I want to make one when I have the ability.

Oak hill, Please post some of those pictures. They would be greatly appriciated and maybe a ruler next to them as to get a really good idea as to size of material. I really didnt expect this much response thanks for all the info everyone.:D

There haven't been any wild bears in UK for centuries so whether or not bear traps are illegal isn't really of much relevance is it?

Sometimes it's fun to build something just to say you did.

There is a large bear trap hanging on the wall at the Ft. Vancouver blacksmith shop.

Sorry guys, I've calmed down now. I was not just refering to trapping bears, just trapping annimals in general. The thought of an annimal getting stuck in a Gin or snare trap sent shiivers down my spine. As I mentioned I'm not anti hunting but snaring somthing by the leg is horrible.

Would look good on the wall though!

Thanks

Phil.

There haven't been any wild bears in UK for centuries so whether or not bear traps are illegal isn't really of much relevance is it?

If they aren't now they will be soon...I would imagine that our current goverment would leap at the chance to make something else illegal!

Oak Hill Please post the pictures, Thank you for offering to do that for us.

Sorry guys, I've calmed down now. I was not just refering to trapping bears, just trapping annimals in general. The thought of an annimal getting stuck in a Gin or snare trap sent shiivers down my spine. As I mentioned I'm not anti hunting but snaring somthing by the leg is horrible...Phil.

I agree fully. I am not anti-hunting, I would hunt in our woods if I was not so concerned about getting shot by a drunk. We have lost pets to poachers putting out traps. One of my wife's cats dragged a steel trap home before dying.

If I even considered making a steel trap, that would end our marriage.

PS: Which reminds me, drunks-with-guns day is approaching. The first day of deer season sounds like our house is in the middle of world-war-III. We can't even put up one of those things that discourage birds from nesting near the house, because it would be peppered with bullets.

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by UnicornForge

Here's some commercial traps, with standard and off set jaws.

Here's some details from Blacksmith made traps.