Looking for some help to identify one of the traps I picked up recently at an estate sale. It is a #4 double spring with offset jaws and the pan is marked #4 Newhouse. Also, bottom of trap is marked "Property of United States of America". Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Hunterjoe

Made after 1925 when Newhouse sold to Animal Trap Co. Offset jaws less common than standard but i don't think unusual..

trap was bought by the govt. and so stamped.

I bet there's a US marking in the jaws. That trap probably made in the 60s. You need a chain for it.

The trap pictured was possibly a tool used by US Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of Predator and Rodent Control employees working in North Dakota to reduce coyote populations on cattle and sheep ranches. During the 1970s considerable opposition arose to the methods used by the agency and following many changes forced upon the agency in the later 1970s, the Predator and Rodent Control Agency as previously constituted left the state of North Dakota. Most or all of the stock of Newhouse traps used by the agency in North Dakota were transferred to the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish. The trap pictured was originally issued with a twist link chain. Most of the 3s and 4s from that source that I have owned had the jaw offset reduced by clamping in a vise(employees preference). As stated above, the right top end of each jaw was usually stamped US. Since traps identical to the one pictured were also used in other states it is surely possible that your trap had a different origin that suggested here.

Good info Jim, thanks for posting that!

That is a good example of "Improved Standard Offset" jaws with correct pan offered by ATC in early 1930s. These are ATC's first attempt at smooth offsets with dirt clearance. They tended to be too light (thin) and were replaced by first series of Texas Special jaws...heavier, thicker, less off-set, and beveled jaw edge in late 1930s.
I highly doubt that this pictured trap was US Fish & Wildlife as that agency was not formed from US Biological Survey until 1940...several years after production of early off-sets had ended. Certainly, this trap could have ended up in US Fish & Wildlife use (Division of Predator & Rodent Control) in later years, but Gov't trappers quickly replaced the obsolete early jaws with first & second series Texas Specials A-299-5 jaws; so not many survivors.
Add a 6 ft early kinkless ATC chain (small welds) with swivel in middle to left spring and you will have a good trap.