what is the story on this trap,,,it is a 3 1/2 with a #4 pre pat pan,,42" chain,,,,

1st model Paul, before they had the 3 & 1/2 pans made up. They slotted the #4 small pan for use and to accept the Breast plate. Next model will still have the #4 slotted pan and will have 3 & 1/2 stamped over the 4.

Thanks Bruce

Cool traps guys.

Does over stamp increase value ?

Very informative!

Bruce, I believe that this is the first model #3 1/2 because of the older, lip edged style pan. This is a very rare model and I only know of 4 of them. It is actually a 3 stamped over a 2 1/2 stamp, but it is not a #2 1/2 pan because the pan shank is 1/2" longer than a #2 1/2 pan shank. I am not really sure were the #4 pans fit in. PaulB's trap has a long chain and bullet teeth, indicating that it is a latter trap. The early #3 1/2's had the short chain and the latter models had the long chain. I have 2, #4 pans and they both have short chains and the latter bullet teeth. One has the same spring stamp that PaulB's trap has and the other has an arched Kenwood, N.Y. stamp. The 3 1/2 over 4 pan traps are early with the short chain and strait teeth.

Great trap Dean.

Yes Dean, the lip edge pan is the first model and there are very few of them out there. Great Trap.

I bought my trap in the 1970's out of an antique shop here in the lakes area,,,,it was unused and had a cardboard tag on it from Sears Roebuck ,,I lived in rock Rapids at the time,,,the $3.00 I paid for it came out of my hard earned trapping money,,,I am not sure of the years Sears sold Newhouse traps,,

Thanks for the pics guys. Great traps.

I need to get a few pics posted up.... bump for a great old thread.

Here is my 2 1/2 lip edge, first model.

Here is my 2 1/2 rivet tooth, lip edge

and the 3 stamped over 2 1/2 lip edge

Great traps FourMile !