Now that we can trap wolves in Montana, I figured it would be interesting to build a few traps. This was my first attempt at building a wolf trap. I had to change several things as I went along, and ended up building the trap over three or four times. I didn't like the looks of the angle iron that is welded on the spring levers of the Alaska #9's so I drew up and designed my own. Now that I have it together and working, I plan to make some jigs and build a few more. Everything was made from scratch, including the coilsprings. I still have a little work to do on the pan and dog to work a little smoother.

Good looking trap! Ive been thinking about building a few traps. What kind of wire did you use for the spring?

I used music wire for the coilsprings. They turned out extremly strong after I wound them and heat treated them.

Looks nice but I'm not sure I understand your comment about 'angle iron' on #9's.

If you really plan to use that on wolves I'd suggest changing those regular nuts for Nylocks.

MThound that's pretty slick, hope you do well with them this season. Would you mind elaborating on the technique of making the springs and how to, or why, heat treat them? In the rare event I get a spare weekend I'd like to fab one up.

White, I plan on using 1/4" steel rivets in place of all of the bolts. I also plan on welding on another piece of flatbar to laminate the jaws. There are a couple of small changes I will be making again on the next one.

If you look at the spring levers on the #9's, they bend a piece of 1/8th inch steel in a U shape. Then a small piece of angle iron is welded to each side. The angle iron are the "ears" that the springs then slide under. I did not like the looks of the added on "ears". I decided to offset the spring levers enough to allow the spring to be placed under the lever itself. This is done on several smaller traps and I modified the levers accordingly. So far they seen to work good.

I understand.

Don't get me wrong ....I think the bolted jaws are a good idea because they would be readily replaceable that way. I just don't like those nuts.

That looks good! Will be cool to catch a big dog in your own trap!

Looks like you are on the track of very usable and serviceable wolf trap.

Have you thought of making a dogless one. What do others think ?

The jaws look a little heavy and may come up slow or maybe not, but if you are going to laminate you could trim them down some to speed them up.

Have you compared the the speed to other traps or for sure an AK #9?

Not real oridgnal idea for a wolf trap. you just knocked off a AK NO.9 . Good job!

I think it is super cool. I am not sure the idea was to come up with something new as much as it was to do it yourself. Make a bow and arrows the old way from scratch and hunt with it... nothing new or original there, BUT... it is a heck of an accomplishment.

That is my take on it.

If the pan is level or lower than the jaws it is an improvement on AK #9 and I can see the dog is shorter since the hinge on the pan is moved back so that also is an improvement over the AK #9.

whats any of it matter? there is always going to be something above the open jaws.(except maybe a dogless)

This is my first attempt at building a trap. I have never seen an Alaskan #9 in person until just a couple of days ago. I was not attempting to build something new or unique, just some good traps to use this winter. It has been a fun and very challenging experience. It would have saved me a lot of time to have had another trap to look at as I was going along. Another person sent me prints of his version to make one and I tried to copy much of his. For some reason I could not get many of the pieces to fit and had to change them. After much work, I got this trap put together.

Any comments are appreciated. Especially from those fellow wolf trappers that are knowledgable of how the traps function and their weaknesses. I am looking to make some changes to improve them the best I can, and your information shared will be very helpful. I don't want to spend a lot of time making a trap that will not be beneficial to me in the end.

Thank you and I look foreward to your comments.

What happened to Paysho ? ( the french canadien)
Is he still on here ?

MThound,

Looks good. I'll send you a message on FB.

Really a super looking trap.The guys that taught the wolf class liked to see something on the ends of the spring pins to keep the ends(angle)and or springs from being pulled off the pins.

What is the jaw spread?

What is the width of the offset gap.

If I had the ability and tools to do work like that,I would want to make all my own.Real quality there.

Sweet, very nice trap.

Power Plant #16, AK #9, Power Plant #9 and a MB750
I have build a couple as well.
I'm working on a cross between the #9 and 750

Wow! Now that's a trap!