One of my tricked out #11s

Might not seem a big deal to some, but when you pick a specific trap to satisfy your states regs and you are paying over $22 a piece the trap should be what the company says it is. In Pa. we can go up to 6.5 inches for outside jaw spread. I bought some #3 SC because they state that this trap has a 6 inch jaw spread so I figured there would be enough room to add laminations if I chose to do that in the future. Well that will not be a problem with the #3, but the kill area is smaller than I was anticipating. Now if I want to get the largest kill area and still be able to laminate will I be able to get #4 SC which are suppose to have a 6.5 inch jaw spread or is the jaw spread going to be smaller than stated like the #3's? Its a big guessing game that is more expensive than it should be because of inaccurate information.

Just sent a message to Sleepy Creek and asked them to clarify their jaw spread measurements. Is the number they state for inside jaw spread or outside jaw spread and why is it not what they state it is? Awaiting an answer.

1970's victor high lever with no 4 springs added
Some improved longspring connections also.

I put pit pans on all of my #3 and #4 long spring traps. I see some traps with the standard Pit Pans and others with the 4x4 covers welded to the top of the pit pans (For cats). What are the advantages of the big pans that cover most of the inside of the jaw spread? What are the advantages of the smaller standard size pans over the large pans? Is it just a cat strategy to use the big pans, or are the bigger pans good for coyotes?
Thanks
Doug

Victor no.4 made dogless and wolf proofed.

No 4 triumph I made dogless and baseplated, beat up by a wolf we released, and repaired. I pounded the pan back flat but left a wolf tooth dent in it for character.

It has a Homemade dogless trigger made from an old Vic no3 lever and a 30d nail.

Home made trap I made in shop class when I was 15, 1976
I added a TS pan recently, and now it has been rebuilt as a double longspring

I think big pans are a current fad. It has gone from big to small to normal and back and forth over the last 150 years.
Just my opinion, the biggest pan I use is the SVS pan. If you think big pans work for you, go for it. I'm old school. Factory size is fine for me.

i seen in the FnT catalog they advertise #3 longspring jaw spread 5 -13/16" and The offset #3 at 6"

i seen in the FnT catalog they advertise #3 longspring jaw spread 5 -13/16" and The offset #3 at 6" [/quote

sorry im talking bout the Sleepy Creek #3 long spring

Yeah, exactly. I have the offset and it measures what the normal jaw is suppose to be. I don't mean to quibble about eighths or sixteenths. I just wish they would be honest about it so when you buy a trap you get what you are expecting. In a game of sixteenths of an inch it matters a lot because you might buy traps that you think will be legal, then you get them and they're not. In my case the traps I purchased were smaller than advertised so I will be fine on coming in under the legal limit of jaw spread, but what it doesn't do for me is give me the maximum area between the jaws for kill area that I was expecting.

Now if you're trying to max out on jaw spread because you are trapping coyotes or cats with the larger paws and you bought the #3 thinking that it would be big enough without going over the legal limit even with mods done to it, you got screwed. Now you would have to buy more traps, the #4's, and you've spent a lot more money than you had to. Plus now if you don't have a use for the #3's you have to try to sell them and take a hit on the price to get rid of them so you are out more money. And so it goes. The consumer takes the brunt of all this misleading in advertising.

All I would ask from the manufacturers is...just be honest with the consumer! Doesn't seem like too much to ask.

Buy the way, its not only Sleepy Creek that does this. I bought a #4 Bridger that has the same issues. Its closer but still is not what is advertised.

I like that one that is 3rd from the left Dale. I had planned something similar for some of my traps.

Does it work OK?

Mike

Where is the famous #00?

Mike

The nail and nut spring swivel works very well, Mike. Just make sure when you are welding, you get good penetration and both the rod and nut both glow bright red the same while welding. Lee Steinmeyers welding tip. If both parts don't glow, it ain't welded. I also beefed up the factory swivels and added welded nail J- hooks.

Doug,
Hope these pictures help answer you questions as to big pans for fox & coyotes.




These are all Sleepy Creek #4 Regular Jaw traps with inside lams, and PIT Pan system and big pans. Inside lams, cause we here in Pa. can't have jaw over 6 1/2" outside spread.

ok grey i see what your talkin bout now

Just figured some might want to know this info before buying. It really is buyer beware.

Thanks Dale. Probably be a challenge to pull off with my Lincoln buzzbox. Lol

Mike

brand new #4 bridger with sleepy creek offset jaws installed and JC Connor's lamination strips. baseplate center swiveled

I don't understand. Bridger doesn't have a #3 dls trap. Is it a Bridger #4?