What is this? Clueless.

[patack2]

Hi,
I am completely clueless with this piece. I'm not even sure how to photograph this. It is approximately 7" long and that awesome chain is 14" long and a ring.
The round disc toward the top looks like some sort of damper. Any idea how old and what this is and used for? I've attached three photos.
Many thanks.

 

[PelicanPines]

It's used to protect your 10mm sockets in your toolbox... it's a snap trap... will dismember any person or animal that steps on it... They are pretty much outlawed due to their ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Do not play with it... you will lose a hand/finger/foot. They are dangerous.

 

[patack2]

I am stunned at your response. I never even considered that. Well, I won't play with it, because I have no idea how it operates. I'll have to google it and find out more.
Thanks so much for your help.

 

[RoninB4]

Agree with PelicanPines, it's a trap that will break the leg/foot of small animals forcing them to either chew off the appendage, suffer with the broken appendage until released, or become a snack for a predator. Also agree that fooling with it to see how it works may very well result in a badly broken/shattered finger yourself. If you insist on trying it do understand the safe(r) way to set those. If you don't know how to set a common mousetrap safely then I'd leave it alone. It's old, corroded, and the trigger may not work properly but just enough to cause false confidence. Wherever you found it there are likely several more in the area set by the same person so watch where you walk. Some of the larger ones even have teeth so it bites into flesh.

 

[03.]

Yep as above. In Australia we call em rabbit traps. Don't think they are popular any more.
No one eats rabbit here anymore as far as I know.
Times have changed.
Great collectors item for the wall though, good find!

 

[2oolhound]

We call them leg hold traps in Canada. They come in different sizes depending on what animal you're trapping.

I caught a mink in one once, after it had killed about 24 chickens in our chicken coup. The mink dug underground about 15' and got inside. It attacked each chicken bleeding it at the neck until all were dead. I was glad to catch that sob but yeah, the traps are banned now and illegal here in Canada.

 

[RoninB4]

No one eats rabbit here anymore as far as I know.

-Interesting tidbit. Not many people in urban areas here do either but there are some in rural areas that prefer to eat domestic raised rabbits for the controlled diet they get.

Why don't people in Australia eat them? Same reasons?

 

[ex-x-fire]

I used to know a farmer that had a lot of these hanging in a barn.

 

[zendriver]

We used to have them laying around as kids. They were hard and fun to set, then dare someone else to touch the trigger.

No one ever did,unless with a stick.

As an adult, I have used them to trap rats. Just set one in front of the hole and they crawl across it.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

My Grandfather used them to trap Beaver. As a kid we used them to trap Muskrat and sell the pelts.

 

[laser3kw]

My Grandfather used them to trap Beaver. As a kid we used them to trap Muskrat and sell the pelts.

Ditto
we use to make pocket money with them around here back in the 70's.
I remember - 6:00pm, Wednesday night - the local gas station - meet the "Rat wagon" and sell our take. Sell'm whole or skinned.

 

[gnpenning]

In my part of the US leg traps are still legal and come in various sizes depending on your target species. Body traps have become popular in many areas. That one is to small to get a average human foot in with out really working at it, besides it would trip long before that can happen.

The patina makes them popular with the rustic interior decorator crowd. I see no apparent reason that it would not not functional. Setting is done under the jaws and can be checked with a broom handle, etc.

You didn't give any information on how you came about it and since you didn't know what it was don't mess with it, give it a good bath (trappers coat with animal musk) then hang on the wall.

 

[patack2]

So much interesting dialogue about this.
How did I come about this piece? Well, it was part of an auction for vintage vises that I acquired. This, along with the vises, and other items I am not aware of, was included. I'll probably be back in with one or two "what is it" questions on the other unknowns.
As for what I will do with this? I certainly will not use it, and will not full around with it. I am thinking of removing the chain because I've not seen a chair like that before.
Anyone know what they call that type of chain? Would make a neat light pull.
Thank you, all, for your quick and thorough explanations.

 

[PelicanPines]

Some would call it a drag link chain.

 

[03.]

-Interesting tidbit. Not many people in urban areas here do either but there are some in rural areas that prefer to eat domestic raised rabbits for the controlled diet they get.

Why don't people in Australia eat them? Same reasons?

I'm no expert on the subject mate but they introduced miximotosis here in I believe the late '70s, to try and get the numbers down and at that time people went off them because of this. My memory is not what it was but if they had cloudy eyes it meant they had mixo and were to be tossed. It got to the stage where nearly every one we got had it so we stopped altogether.

Too much disposable income the last 40 or so years most people only eat what they can buy in supermarkets now, the gamiest thing you will find there is kangaroo. Old Aussies won't eat roo any more than kids will eat rabbit!

 

[Eddie H]

Tractor Supply has them,they are used for Preditor to keep possum,Racoon,and Fox from eating the chickens and small farm animals. Not sure about the trapping for furs or food.

 

[LOW1]

Leg hold trap, victor and Blake and lamb were common manufacturers. I would guess that's a size 1 or 1 1/2 muskrat were a common use. Prudent trappers rigged up water sets so that the animal drowned. Connibear eventually made body hold traps which squeezed the whole animal rather than just the leg. Less cruel.

 

[txvwnut]

A couple of years ago I modified some for use as hog traps for a friend of mine.

 

[larry_g]

If you want to see some truly vicious looking traps search out 'Bear Trap'. These traps can be three feet in diameter with spiked jaws.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[patack2]

I think I'll keep the chain lol
Thanks again for all your knowledge.

 

[Dozerhand]

I can't believe so many don't know what that is. I thought everyone had a bucket of these in their end of the world preps

 

[Bsmb62519]

I thought I was reading a stepford wives forum for moment. Christ, will dismember anything or anyone? Pretty much outlawed? Drama queen much? You can buy those at any hunting, or farm supply store anywhere in the country. Not everyone thinks meat grows in the grocery store.

 

[anndel]

That's how Harbor Freight catches you.