Anybody tried out the new wcs scissor mole trap?

Have some in the ground but haven’t checked them yet. If you like the old victors it is basically the same trap.

Any info out there on this trap? How are they?

I see a new one sold for $38.00 by a trapper in MN

Howdy LT. Weird they are 129.00 a dozen from wcs.

We’ll they work but they could be stronger.

They work but I’m not a huge fan. First setup with them I came back to three empty snapped traps. Traps didn’t close all the way because the jaws rubbed too much.

You really have to make sure you cut good cut out jaw channels for those jaws to fire thru or you will have issues like that frequently.

Even with the old style stronger traps I had occasional trap misses from rocks, roots or some type of clog of this or that which prevented jaw closure. Folks running them over with mowers, taking them out of the ground etc.

I haven't used O/S traps for more years then I can remember.

I’m working on a fixture to replace the springs on OOS traps. So you can buy the new aluminum ones and put heavy springs on them. I’ve been doing it successfully for over a year. There is also a source for springs, too. I think they run $3-$4 each.

Just got a. Dozen. Nice pan. Larger surface then OOS. As for spring strength can't set them with my hands. Might not be l as strong as an OSS but are real close.

As to jaw closure some have a wider gap then others. This was a problem with the Chinese made OOS also. A lot of older maybe US made have wide gaps. That can be fixed with a die grinder. Problem is in the form used to make the traps. Almost like they used some Chinese traps to make the dies.

Problems with with hard dirt are not new even with OOS. Don't set straight up. Set at a angle. Top jaw will be in the dirt but not real deep. Bottom jaw will be in deeper and tight. Doing that will get less tripped and empty traps. At least it does for me.

When I get them done and the jaws tighten I will post a picture or two and show where and what I do. Hard to believe others have not done this.

The first two pictures are before pictures. The next two are after grinding.
The last ones show the modification. Before anyone whines about loss of jaw strength and breaking jaws I have done this for years with OOS that had jaw gap problems and never had one break. You should not free snap them even with out this mod.

As stated earlier there are mold differences. In looking at the 12 I have they are noticeable. Looks like 2 different sets of molds. One set will have a smaller jaw gap then the other. The one with the wider gap has a thicker area on one side where they come together. This seems to be one thing that may help cause the wider gap.

I will be using these shortly on some farm fields. When I do I will give an opinion on there worth to me.

Thanks for the info will.

Set them all yesterday. I found out why there is a weak spring question. Most had good tension but 2 where questionable. Not as bad as the aluminum OOS are but still noticeably weaker.

The old OOS springs have 13 coils. The WCS have 12. Same wire size. One more wrap and they would probably be equal.

When it comes to springs and spring strength there are many more factors that come into play when you talk about “strength”. The quality AND type of steel play a huge part on the strength. Diameter of wire and number of coils also plays a role, but also how tightly those coils are formed affects strength. I have 3 different aftermarket springs for the OOS. All three are different, with variations in strength.

The reason I have this info is because I have made a fixture to remove and replace springs on the OOS traps and have talked to a spring expert on the subject. I will have the fixtures for sale shortly. It will allow anyone to replace springs on any OOS traps, both new and old style.

Tony has a something good I would say.

The picture is of my first time use of some WCS traps. They work but springs are definitly not the same one trap to another. Some are not bad but some are weaker then the not bad ones. WCS needs to get them a bit stronger and more consistant. The frames will take a much stronger spring as they seem stout.

I’m not entirely sure if my fixture will work on the WCS traps or not. If it’s pretty close in size to the OOS I bet it will work.

Tony,
Your device might work. The only difference that might interfere is the cross braces in the middle seem to be a little bit closer to the top.
I hold the pan down with my middle when I set them and I can get pressure with my finger a bit easier with an OOS. I can do it with the WCS but takes a bit more to get good pressure as the gap is smaller.

Yeah the corners of the fixture might hit. Regardless I was hoping to give all those old OOS traps new life with this fixture. I’ve had very little interest. I guess no one wants to put the time and effort into saving their old traps.

What do you use instead?

We switched to the Trapline mole traps.