Back in the 60's they sold a clamp on set of hacksaw size teeth that could be added on. Most every state has outlawed teeth on a trap now.

That trap picture you posted appears to be what we refer to as dogless design. Looks like the top of the pan has a small ridge to catch the jaw with. That would be a good reason for the frame configuration to me anyway.

Victor No. 14 Jump Trap. My favorite since I caught my first otter with

I remember those! Lot later than the sixties though. Might have been as Collectables, or even an old advert in ephemera? Didn't they go on under the jaws?

We keep this up and I'll be dragging out my US Ephemera folder! I know where it is. Remember I had a nice pamphlet about cougar trapping in there.

Might well dig it out, actually. I have a working scanner right here, after all.

Those teeth were still around 20-25 years ago. It wouldn't surprise me if some place like Sterling Fur might still have them available. They were just stamped out of thin sheet metal, and had tabs, to crimp them on to the traps jaws. I always saw them added underneath the jaws, but I suppose they could have been put on top as well perhaps?

That's the ones! Would have been about twenty years back I heard of them.

This is great; After a lifetimes interest in such things I'm still finding answers. So, those little, scratchy teeth hold better? I never would have worked That out!

Thanks!

Wow! The real thin?! Amazing!

Maybe I'll have to dig out my Verbail Chain Loop, to get even?

I wouldn't go so far to say they worked good. They were cheap to produce though. I bought a trap once that had fence staples brazed under the jaw. Didn't take long for me to get rid of those things.Bet that chain loop foothold is rough on feet as well.

Drifter; The Verbail Chain Loop became a fixation of mine back when ~ feels this whole thread seguing nicely into 'Trap Collecting'! ~ a guy by the name of Bateman wrote a book called " Animal Traps And Trapping ". Seventies? Eighties? Google it.

Anyway, it was the first book of its sort. Completely blew my mind. So Many Traps! I wanted them all, of course!
Most of all though? Apart from, maybe the twelve inch jawed, spiky toothed, double springed (Scottish?) Fox Trap? I wanted a Verbail.

Got the Verbail.

Dunno. Old mate of mine got the Aldrich Foot Snare legalised, in England. So he could catch up any feline non native nonsense which might turn up, for the govt.

When the Men In Black asked him how 'Safe' this weird contraption was. Would it not Hurt what it caught? My man simply whispered: " I wouldn't think so. " And shoved his own, bare armed, hand against the pan. Looked them, un flinching, in the eye. It got passed into law.

Frankly? I think I'd happily stick my Finger into this Verbail.

Why aren't you producing and trapping with them today? My guess would be the spring strength, to start with. Spring doesn't seem strong enough to be " Rough on feet ". Weight of 'foot' needed to drop the pan? Dunno. Just didn't seem to equate, to me, Maybe that's why the Verbail is now a lovely little historical icon?

The foot damage in my experience comes from the critter fighting the trap. If it can move the foot around they will abrade the skin. Too tight of a hold and will cause damage due to no blood circulation. Studies showed the blunted teeth of the Newhouse held the foot in place best but the mental image of toothed traps was what doomed them.

I know at least some of the Verbail traps were intended to be used to capture birds, on top of fence posts and such? That is if my memory serves me correctly? I have or had some of them, not sure if they are still in the trap "collection" or not. I do know I have some of the afore mentioned Newhouse in #2.5, #21.5, #3.5, #48, along with quite a few other sizes, but those specific sizes were all sold as otter traps.

I think the Verbail traps used to be pretty common in Alaska, because in Territorial days (statehood was 1959), the Territory had a bounty on Bald Eagles, so I suspect many were used to collect eagles to bounty....
The Territory had a bounty on eagles from 1917-1953.

Hang it!!! I replied here an hour ago. Must've hit the wrong button, somewhere? That's unlike me.

Never get the same enthusiasm, when repeating ones self. But, I'd basically said that the news about the Verbail is amazing! I've had my #2 pan sat on a shelf in my work room for years now. Bit random, thinking about it. Spring's in a box in another room.

But, yeah; What had since become an interesting little trinket has now been swiftly elevated to 'Cold Dead Hands' status!

I also mentioned that my F&WS booklet of 1945 " Mountain Lion Trapping ~ Circular 6 " (Why do I even own that?! The things that take our fancy) seems to demonstrate the use of plain jawed traps. Dunno what that's got to do with anything.

Finally, I said I'd dug out the flyer for the 2003 Chester Parker Collection sale, in Michigan. Still a sore point, with me. Because it lists a " Wolverine Trap ". And I never even put a bid in for it. What's worse? I'm pretty certain I later heard it had gone for a song!

I seem fated to never know just what a " Wolverine Trap " looks like. One of my all time favourite animals. I'd be absolutely fascinated to at least see that one.

Anyway; I also had the civil decency to indicate I Am aware this thread's morphed somewhat closer to a 'Trap Collecting' one I'm sure a Mod' will slide it over to there, should they deem it better to.

T4E, did you get a new skiff?
Also, you are not only the Otter Master, but a glutton for punishment in the skinning shed!
Hope all is well.

Drifter,
I've got a bunch of beaver traps with fence staples brazed on the outside of the jaws. Work great on beaver and otter. Did you ever actually try the trap you bought or just assume they wouldn't be good for some reason?

Took em off as were illegal in the state I was trapping in at the time.

I don’t know if this would hold an otter or not.