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.

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

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

 

 

 

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.

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.

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 :)

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.

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. 

 

.

 

 

M Cochran, the book is "Hooks, Rings, & Other Things An illustrated Index of New England Iron 1660-1860" by Frank T. Barnes

Many 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

Thanks, mjenki, im looking for it now.

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 it

Keeps the Dogs away.