Well I had 1dz Victor 3N longsping traps Ive been wanting to upgrade. Not an easy task one handed (broke my arm) but I did ok I think just took me forever. Added a base plate with center swivel, new pan assembly, new heavy duty stainless steel dog and laminated the jaws. At this rate it will take me a month to do the other 11 traps but wow it really make a difference in performance. I’m happy with the end result.

Looks good!

looks great. I'd give ya 80$ for the doz

I hear ya, ol longspings get passed over these days. I’m afraid to even put a pencil to it. Probably have enough in these to buy a new dz mb 550’s.

I picked up a few this summer and modified them much like yours. Really beginning to like them!

Does anyone use the 3N with the stock pan set up? Those look awesome sharkhunter

Thank you, I’m working on the other 11 today. Something about a long spring just brings history back to life. These traps are 50 plus years old probably and have caught who knows how many coyotes. They’ll be catching again real soon ;-)

@20scout: Awesome !! I hope to put a few in the truck this year with them. Learned a few tricks off YouTube on using a vise to take the creep out of the dog and also a better way to attach the pan. They are as crisp a 3.5lb break as any high dollar trap I have. Springs are still really strong so I’m happy about that. Can’t wait to clean them up and get them in the dirt!

I’m not a welder but I didn’t realize you could laminate cast jaws.

You can but you had better know what you're doing or you'll crack em.

That looks great!

Not all cast is the same. A true casting would shatter when the trap closed probably. I wouldn’t put to much heat on them but they are Malleable steel and are probably drop forged and can take a good bit of heat . I get on and off with the mig gun running 75/25 gas with .035 wire. Deformation or cracking has not been an issue.

When I worked for USDA I modified all my 3Ns with Pos-i-trip pans and crimp on center base chain locators. Trapped a lot of yotes in double long springs.

Well, you did a good job on them. I have a few dozen I like for cats and yotes. Something about them makes trapping fun. Mine are exactly like yours except the lamination and I strengthened the springs with longspring inserts.

Where did you get the inserts at? I was looking for some but couldn’t find any.

Lookup Lightning Auxillary Springs

I have a Victor #3 dls that had weak springs. I took a couple #1’s that were missing other parts. I cut the eyes off the little springs and nested them inside the bigger #3 springs. Secures with a tiny nut n bolt. Worked good and they were free

I did the same but with 1.5 springs. They’re pretty stout. I drilled spring and used a pop rivet. Had to bend dogs down a bit to get back to 3-3.5 lbs.

I meant to add, I’m careful to not just snap the jaws shut when pulling. I step on them. My neighbor had an occasion to handle one and I got a cracked, broken jaw from it.

I can see how that can happen. Actually it’s probably not good to shap any trap cold. Like dry firing a gun.