Ok, in my time here, I haven't seen a thread on the big ring that is on some of these older traps. What is the best method to use them? Is it admonishment to simply cut them off to use the trap at my own discretion? I can obviously hook them to any earth anchor I have, but it would take a giant washer on a stake to keep them from slipping off. Serious question, tell me what I'm missing.

On the small longsprings like the 1 and 1 1/2, it was common to drive a wood stake, often a beaver stick, through them. Either driving down a tapered stake until they were tight (or there was a fork in it) or simply using a stake long enough that there was no chance of the mink, muskrat, etc. of pulling over the top. Not uncommon for people to do the same with conibears set in the water. Alternatively those big rings were easy to wire off if you were using them for something like marten or weasel. They are handy to hang the traps from during the offseason also. I can't see a use for them on something like a canine trap, and from my observation they are much less common on those traps. Many new bodygrips still come with them on the end of the chain, I'm unaware of any new footholds that do.

Most of them are light enough I would be leery of hooking them to an earth anchor for anything like a coyote. And I would assume they would get deformed badly from driving and pulling earth anchors if they were used to attach to them.

Thank you bearcat2! Yes, they deform easily, and I really appreciate the vast insight on uses of yesteryear! These particular ones are on 3 dls, I have removed some n the past, but have made sure to do so in one piece! Absolutely love learning about the old ways, so that I can evolve the use of what I have into "modern" techniques!

Some of mine have what looks like a fairly short cut nail on the big ring, and I've never found a use for them. They all seem too small to be a useful nail for anything.

As I understand it, those "nails" are just that, they were pounded into "clogs", a piece of wood, to use as a drag, or into an exposed root.

I wish I had a good enough memory to tell you where I read about the “ nail “ but I can remember that it was used in conjunction with a wedge block for muskrat trapping. Guys were using a white or orange painted wooden block wedged against the stake , the “ nail “ was an aid in making the connection tight. When a rat was caught and dove for the bottom it pulled the trap ring and the nail came loose releasing the painted wedge and letting it fall into the water. Now the trapper can see from a distance if the set needs further investigation.

Anyone that remembers more or better details, please refresh my memory.

P.S. pictures are always great .