Can any one tell me if this is real? I have never seen a single long spring #4 trap. It does say Newhouse on it. Any one anything about this trap?

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The 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 traps were of similar style (single longspring with teeth) and had the cutouts in the pan for a "breast plate". My first thought is the pan was replaced with a #4 pan but #4 pans don't have the cutouts. Everything looks to be original, is there any indication the pan was replaced and/or modified?

Clark

I agree with what you are all saying. The print on the pan is much larger than the 2 1/2. But the jaws are much larger than the 2 1/2. They are even wider that a number 3. As you can see the jaws are a good 6 inches wide. And it does not look like the pan has been replaced.
Still a puzzle to me.

Your trap is probably a 3 1/2 Newhouse. Which is one size larger than a 2 1/2.

The pan is a mystery.

Give this thread some time and some of the Newhouse experts will chime in.

Looks to me like it is a 3 1/2 with a number 4 pan. I am not a expert, but they are out there. The chain appears to be shortened from the original with the ring reattached.I think they were 3-4 feet long. I have one somewhere just like the one pictured with the full length chain and breast plate.

I believe its the first model with the slots farther out on the pan. Nice find

This is interesting as my Uncle just gave me a barrel of traps which he purchased at auction years ago when he was in Montana. The traps were like a history of modifications I used to read about in The Trapper when Tom Krause used to edit that fine magazine. There were a number of Newhouse traps in the mix and I came across to single longsprings which were huge, and like your #4, but without the teeth.
I was puzzled by them, but as you have a single spring #4 Newhouse, I am convinced that Newhouse manufactured such a trap. I am wondering if this was a beaver trap with the teeth or could be used for cats. It can not be chance there are traps like this out there and it is likely they were manufactured.
One more thing, there were two traps in this in which the longsprings were broken at the bow, and another which was crushed. While there are no marks on them, I am thinking they must have been driven over, in perhaps trail sets, as I was surprised to see this many broken and bent springs.
These single spring Newhouse traps must have been a western trap as I noticed you were in Oregon. As the beaver and cats were gone in the east and that was more Blake and Lamb country, these single springs might only be found in the northwest.
There was a pile of Blake and Lambs in this barrel too. It was the first longsprings I had actually seen. I can see why people praised them.
Hope this helps as I believe you have the real deal and it is rare.

One more thing as I saw something on your trap as I posted this, the jaws on your trap have the Newhouse lock only one side. Those jaws were designed for only one set of springs. You have a true single spring trap. This was a wonderful find you have there.

I believe many trap companies when up against a parts shortage would substitute parts. Or perhaps more likely someone ran the pans through the wrong die? Or I can even imagine that they need to fill an order for 3 1/2's, but the pan die is broken so they just put some slots in the #4 pans and send them out. I can imagine a lot of things. Does anyone know if the slots in the pans were cast that way or machined or punched out after at OC?

Ok now the big Question what's it worth?

Traphound(above) has given what I think is the correct answer to your question of what is it? Tman member Brad Cords is expert on the 3 1/2 traps(of which yours appears to be the earliest variation) and could give a reasonable estimate of its value if he happens to read this post. Some general information about the trap. The 3 1/2 trap was introduced in the mid-later 1890s as a larger size of the 2 1/2 otter trap that had been successfully introduced about 10 years earlier. Both size traps were made with the unbalanced cast jaws with teeth seen in your picture where only one spring would function correctly so the trap was not designed for double long springs. There were early variations of the 3 1/2 that carried pans stamped 4, 3 1/2 over 4 and eventually 3 1/2 alone.

I could be wrong, but I think there was a model earlier also. One model had what they call a "lip edge pan". The edges where the slots were were raised. I think some of the earlier models also had riveted teeth.

I think that was only on the 2 1/2 actually though. I will think before I type next time lol.

any spring stamp? anything stamped on the base? All these will help determine value

Ok The number 17 is on the inside of the spring and looks like FU or FC is on the bottom of the frame.

Nice Trap. Nice pan and the trap should clean up nice. Trap is right as on this model they did use the #4 small pan and slot it. I have seen this model with both the straight teeth like yours, and the bullet teeth, with could relate to a time line modification change on the OC line during the period. The letters on the base would be a trappers make and the 17 on the inside of the spring would more than likely be a parts or inventory number. The spring stamp on your trap would more than likely be the 3 line OC stamp. S. NEWHOUSE, ONEIDA COMMUNITY, N. Y./ In your last picture on the one jaw, there appears to be some pitting or flaking. Condition is everything and condition determines a wide range in pricing. I would say your traps should be in the $250 to $275 range give or take a bit, depending on spring stamping and other variables. Thanks for posting pictures of your trap. Just remember, Trap collecting is not a hobby, it's a disease, and very very addictive.

the early 3 1/2 newhouse traps had #4 pans with both straight and barrel tooth jaws like Bruce said also a model with the 3 1/2 stamped over the #4. I've seen quite a few #4 pans with shorter chains yours appears to be altered with the link next to the ring. still a nice trap