Many years ago I had a homemade underspring setter I picked up at a rendezvous. It was for setting #4 and 14 undersprings. It had two handles and a U shaped bar attached to each handle that went over the spring ends. When the handles were squeezed together they pressed against the base of the trap and the hoop on the high side of the spring pulled it down.

After two moves, one in 2002 and one in 2022 I don’t know what became of it. I may have sold it or given it to a trapper. It may still be in a yet unpacked box.

I’m certain I could fabricate it from memory but pictures of one would be helpful. I’m thinking I could modify it to work on coil springs or longsprings. The nice thing about this one was it made removing the animal easier than trying to manipulate setting levers around a leg and body. Especially when trapping from a boat or canoe.

If anyone has a similar setter, I’d appreciate pictures and dimensions.

I’ve seen the multi setter. I’d loose the long spring clips the first day in the field.

The one I had was closer to this one but one piece. And the parts that held the spring ends were rod rather than flat stock.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NnrgsR1uxeM&t=63s

Thanks for sharing.

Mac

No. This was a one piece tool with two handle that clammed against the base of the trap. When squeezed the toggle on the high side pulled the spring down and the toggle on the fixed end of the spring acted to hold the setter in place. I’ll do my best to sketch it tomorrow afternoon and post it.

I believe it was called the Jiffy Trap Setter? Call Sterling Fur Company they probably have one.

Not a Jiffy. I’m familiar with them. They are a single lever setter. This one was not a commercially made setter. I believe they were made by a guy in his garage in Western Washington specifically for the #4 and 14 undersprings. To my knowledge he only made a few of them.

It may be the one Fred Lawrence used and showed in his beaver book. I’ll try and scrounge a pic.

It probably was. Fred and I served together on the board of the WSTA. I have his book as well. Our house we moved into 2 years ago is half the size of our previous home with almost no storage or bookshelves. I’m slowly building and remodeling to create more storage and bookshelves so most of my books remain in the boxes we moved with.

This it? Lines trap setter?

That’s the one. Though mine was a copy built by a Western Washington trapper.

I just use my feet.