#4 B&L Offset

I was given a trap the other day and I can't figure out what I have. The springs are B&L I'm sure but I can't read the pan, another thing that makes me think it might be B&L. I guess the big question is did B&L ever make an offset #4? Also the metal piece on the bottom that attaches to the cross piece has the end rounded. It's not pointed like a Victor or Newhouse. Anybody make any sense out of what I'm saying?

Is it a flat cross with post pan or a humped cross with clamp pan?

Nancy, it's flat and the pan is held by 2 pieces coming up from the cross piece.
Thank you for your help.

That would be an older model B&L, actually made by B&L.

I've never seen or heard of B&L making an offset traps. All traps listed in catalogs and promotional literature are regular jaws. That doesn't mean that B&L didn't experiment with making offset jaw traps but I don't think they ever mass produced offset jaw traps.

In my opinion, the most likely answer to your question is that at some point in time, a trapper took a B&L trap and swapped out the jaws for a pair of # 4 Victor that are offset. But that is just my opinion.

Hopefully some B&L experts will offer their opinion.

A picture is the only way to know for sure

I tried yesterday but I couldn't get it done. I'll get my daughter to this afternoon, she teaches business class at the high school, she takes pity on the old man and his computer skills. LOL

See if this works.



Thanks for any help.

Trap has been messed with some. Jaws appear to me to be reversed to achieve an offset. The chain is not original to that trap.

I agree 100% with Cohunt. Messed with jaws, no way factory original.

Thank you, so is it a B&L with B&L jaws reversed? What is the proper chain and when was the trap made?

Trap was made prior to 1969. Other than that difficult to say.

Correct chain should be what I call a "lock link" chain. Your typical older style B&L chain, in my opinion.

Most likely those are B&L jaws. Not 100% guarentee given that the chain has been swapped out.

Either use it or hang it on the wall. No collector value. User value about $8.00 or so, in my opinion.

Thank you Nancy, it will be used. I just got The Trap Collectors Guide but it's the one printed in 2012, I know there is a more recent one but my wife gave this to me for my birthday. What book do I need to get that would tell me more about traps than just the values? How to tell what's correct or not, maybe I'm just dense.

There is no way of knowing whether a trap is 100% complete and original. Trap manufactures were known to mix and match parts, if that got in a pinch. Suppose the trap chain is supposed to be 12 inches according to specifications. They get to the end of the roll of chain and there is only 10.5 inches left. More than likely they will put that last piece of chain on the trap and call it good. Especially on traps made in the 20s, 30s and 40s.

There is a more recent edition of the price book by Andreski & Parr. But the 2012 will be just fine, as it is still very reliable.

The next book you should get is The Steel Trap in North America by Richard Gerstell. Cost is about $50.00 but worth every penny. Hard book book. 350 pages. Lots of pictures. Not a price guide. Only prices listed are what various traps sold for when they were first made. Covers traps from the 1800s until 1985.

Thank you for your help.

I have had B & L Offset under spring traps ,made by factory.

Single under spring or double under Spring?

Blake Lamb made a small run of large double unders with machined offset jaws. They are well documented in the pages of TRAPS among other places. They are a collectible trap of moderate value.

One that i had was a double spring

I had one also Bruce- #4 DUS Offset jaws

Here's a Blake and Lamb #4 DUS with factory offset jaws.