Quite a few of my US gov't 14s have link & chain off the base. I am certain they could be ordered that way.

Initially, Mech jaws were installed on standard factory #4 (and #14) frames w/ chains. Later, certain wolf teams added P-I-T pans with beefed-up extended chains & drags (still off the spring).

On Mech jaws, "Zag's nubs" are actually called lugs and are part of the sprue-hole/flow-off gate where the jaws are connected to the casting tree for pouring. Most of the jaws from first run had those lugs ground off before distribution. I have seen a number of jaws from later runs being used with lugs still on. I don't see where they would affect performance either way?

I assume they learned that centered chains were more paw friendly because the agencies which continued with wolf capture/immobilization for collaring ended up going to LPC traps with link & chain off the base.
Some were like #114 setups and some were off a welded base plate ring at the center cross.

"Nubs" are shorter, rounded teeth on Mech & LPC wolf trap jaws that appeased the animal rights advocates. I have examples of both.

Is there a chance you could post a picture of your mech trap with the nubs? Are they similar to the one trap in digger Dale's picture? thanks

Thanks IWM...great info.

Are these listed in Blaise Andreski & Tom Parrs Trap collector's guide ? I cant seem to find them in the book . Very interesting trap.

Mech traps in general are not well documented in any existing book. When IWM publishes his book on Government Traps, or whatever he actually does cover in his forthcoming book, we can expect to see much more information on Mech traps including the Isle Royale traps and I would expect quite a surge in their popularity. I am looking forward with anticipation to that book.

I am looking forward to that book too. I might have a few traps that become "famous"....

I think I'm getting a little nudge from the guys on my book.

I have been researching gov't/research traps heavy since 1992 and am still finding new information every week. Just when I think I have a section completed, I get a call or email with pics that may change the context of that specific chapter...or add to it. This has happened just recently with Mech jaws and will lead to great enhancement of my original articles on them.
Throughout my wildlife career I have published under peer review, so am accustomed to "bullet proofing" my work as much as possible in advance. There are many smart collectors out there who will validate my book according to accuracy of each entry with the documentation. I want it to be comprehensively correct.
Finally, those of you who have been involved with the publishing process know how expensive it is. Editing, photography, layout, printing, etc all add up to significant expense before the first copy is sold. By the way, I have been advised that such a reference book for such a very limited target group will be lucky to break even.

That's about as many excuses for the delay as I can come up with at this time!
Thanks

^^^^^^^^

Found this today, thought I would share.
I'm not going to say for sure if it's a 4 pan or a 14 pan , pretty rough,
but I thought the stamp on the bottom of the base is interesting,

IVM any updates on your book?

Had to double check mine but no government stamps - maybe there are some on the other Mech jaw conversions. That to me is kind of an unusual government stamp, it almost looks etched instead of stamped. Dale and cohunt have a few that they can speak on and hopefully Dan will chime in at some point.

Bumpy: Any insight where the trap pictured came from? Might help identify which research project it was associated with. During the time period when the Mech jaws were being produced and added to #4 size Newhouse traps the folks who assembled those specific traps could have used either stamped or raised letter pans OR as in the case of the Isle Royale trap that Deerhunter51 shows, replaced the pan with a tensioning pan setup. You are building a sizeable collection, are you gaining on Digger?

Jim, this trap also came from northern Minnesota at least that's what I was told, pretty interesting all the different chain and drag set ups,as far as the stamp goes I half wonder if who ever assembled the trap added his/her own touch. Guess I was hoping ther is another one similar to it out there

I read a correspondence from a member of the mech team refering to the costs involved in getting these trapline ready. There was mention of procuring drags larger and heavier than the Newhouse drags...

I've seen some various stamps and your US base stamp looks to be hand stamped. I think these jaws were used by more than a few different Gov. branches and different regions over time. You can bet the Gov. trappers had plenty of shop time and trappers being trappers, were always modifying things.

Here's an example of a shop time trap....

MChewk,

Tom is assembling sections for the next book now and I look to send him my manuscript by June 1.
I have an extensive chapter on Mech jaws and wolf team traps with much new info gathered in last 6-8 months.

Enjoying the traps and the conversation! Great stuff! It would be nice to be able to pet some of these government traps the end of June. Maybe a little show and tell?

I'll throw another shop time trap in the mix,
LPC with the teeth nubbed off and a paws I trip pan

Hang on to that one.

Around 1990, wolf research teams and USDA wolf management specialists started replacing ATC 4s having Mech jaws with newly produced LPC 7s (OS w/ teeth). They were impressed with their carbon-steel quality but found the sharp teeth hard on wolves for catch & release. Several of these trappers began grinding the points down to reduce foot/leg damage and reported their success at the Second North American Symposium on Wolves in August, 1992. Thus, "nubs" caught on among the group along with popular P-I-T pans used on some Mech traps for tension control.

One wolf management specialist in MT approached LPC with the nub concept in mid-1990s and by late-1990s, LPC 7s could be ordered with nubs from the manufacturer. Being very strong and having replacement parts readily available, this was trap of choice for wolf relocation and collaring until the LPC 7 Easy Grip was perfected.

IWM,. I guess I'm not sure. Is that what is called the nub jaws?and would a set of mech Jaws with the same amount of teeth ground down down also be considered the nub jaws? Thanks for all education

Yes, nubs on LPC & Mech jaws.