Traded a tanned coyote for this old riveted trap yesterday. Was something I'd never seen b4 so that's why it came home. Any info would be appreciated. Is a dog less style (I guess) also has a swiveling spring lock/safety that I thought was really cool

Your trap is European, French I believe.

Interesting

Your trap is known as a traverse pan or "tilt pan" trap. This design is French all the way which was first described by F. Fortin in 1660. By late 1600s, they were readily available for purchase in European markets. Very old hand-forged versions came to N.A. via French-Canadian fur trade and early examples are often found in trade museums up north. I have some of these traps from Prairie du Chien Museum that are all forged and very heavy for their size, but same basic design as yours.

Late 19 century tilt pans were still of the original design and had both manufactured and forged parts that were fabricated by "cottage blacksmiths" in France. The Riecke name is known in France and New Orleans La.

Later all-manufactured versions of this trap were available through end of WWII. The last advertisements I have for similar tilt-pans in French catalogs is 1940. However, I know European collectors who were still getting NOS tilt-pans out of warehouses in mid-1960s.

Guessing from your pics, I would say your trap is probably late 1800s to turn of the century vintage?

Nice trap.

Thank you IWN! Not that Im looking to sell. Valuable?

Value of any trap is relative to the interests of the collector. I never put prices on traps because those values are usually outdated or obsolete by sundown.

As a general rule, European/foreign traps do not command values equal to American traps in this country. My interest in Old World traps has been from a historical perspective, as they started it all in N.A.

Most American collectors fail to recognize the fact that if fate had delayed Newhouse family's immigration to US before Sewell's birth in Vermont, we all would be chasing English traps today! Furthermore, early accounts claim that his first traps made from axe blades and scrap iron were fashioned after a 1768 English design.

If I were you, I would add this good example of a French tilt-pan to your collection and appreciate its historical value over its monetary value...after all, it maintained the same design & function for nearly 400 years.