3570 COLLECTION OF STEEL BEAVER & MUSKRAT TRAPS.

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Pictured on pages 224 & 225 of "The Fur Trade". The author describes the 1st six traps in this lot of 11. 1) "The first is unmarked, hand forged trap with rectangle jaws, weighing 4 pounds, 21 1/2 inches long, 8 inch wide jaws, two springs, and a small ring at the end of the base for attaching a chain. Circa 1790s to early 1800s". 2) "French Traverse trap. It has an oval base but no section traversing the oval. Oval based traps were first made in the 1600s for rodents but were also used as beaver traps. It has rounded jaws with teeth, a single spring, a short chain of heavy wire, and an oval pan measuring 7 3/4 by 5 1/2 inches and weighs 3 pounds." 3) "The third is a classic Mountain Man beaver trap. It is 2 1/2 pounds without the irregular hand forged chain that is 34 inches long. The jaws are curved at the top, are attached with double pan posts to the base, and are 6 inches wide with no teeth. The tap is 18 inches long. The pan is square with clipped corners and the base is marked J BLASD." 4) Marked, "HAWKINS, SOUTH BRITIAN, CONN, it is a size 4 and weighs 2 1/2 pounds and is unique in that it has two springs on one side, one within the other, yet only one on the other side. The 7 1/2 inch wide jaws are curved without teeth and the pan is square. The trap is 19 1/2 inches wide and is #5635. The Tenso pattern chain is 16" long." 5) "ONEIDA NEWHOUSE, NEWHOUSE COMMUNITY NY #4 Patent Sept 26 11 (1911?). It has two springs, 6 1/2" wide curved jaws without teeth, a round pan double reinforced pan posts and a 22 inch American coil style chain attached to one spring. It is 19 inches long, 2 1/2 pounds." 6) "TRIUMPH TRAP CO. #4, with a 1918 patent date. It is 19 inches long and 6 1/2 inches between the curved toothless jaws. It has two springs, is 19 inches long, and has a round pan. The 21 inch chain is the America Coil style and is attached to a steel pole. The trap weighs 2 pounds without the chain and pose. The chain is attached to the front of the cross, which is perpendicular to the base". 7) (Not pictured in book). "RARE "MILES STANDISH", circa 1840 19" 2 1/2 pound trap of "Highest level of beaver trap design that evolved in America during the height of the fur trade period. Hudson's Bay Company couldn't match the quality and preferred this American product." Stamped "M. STANDISH" on one spring." 4 more traps complete this lot. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Copy of "The Fur Trade, A History of Arms and Trade Goods" by Milton von Damm together with descriptive sheets. CONDITION: good overall - several with heavy pitting. PROVENANCE: Lifelong Collection of author Milton Von Damm. (02-22225/JS). $2,000-3,000.