Wood Barrel Mole Trap

[Axholme Ferreter 0]

Well I re-made the flat top trap making it shorter so the distance to the trigger seems about right. I have added the catching loops etc so the trap would actually function if it were used.

Having now looked at it I realise that this can not have been a very humane trap, at least using a willow 'spring' at any rate. At best it would be just likely to hold the mole, at worst it may escape injured. With the power of the willow 'spring and the design of the trap it would be unlikely to kill quickly. The more sophisticated versions of this using steel springs and with wire catch loops through a hole central to the 'hoops' underneath have more power and ability to strike so they may have worked in a reasonably humane way.

Looking for some big lumps of ash or elm now to have a go at turning a barrel trap.

A very generous molecatcher I have recently been put in touch with sent me a home made barrel trap to have a look at. It was made from an ash tree branch using a knife to carve it out!! Must have taken ages. Note the very powerful double spring. This trap packs more of a punch than any modern type with catching loops.

 

All the best

 

AF

[Steve Albano 21]

Here are a couple of shots of an American made full barrel wood trap I have in my collection. It is commonly called a "Deshler Gopher Trap", however judging from the diameter of the barrel, this trap could not possibly have been effective on gophers, and I believe it was intended for use on moles.

 

The trap is factory made, with wood turned on a lathe. Inside diameter of wood tube is 1 1/2 inches, outside diameter is 2 inches, and length of tube is 6 inches. It is a unidirectional trap.

 

Patented in 1901

[Tyke 0]

A great post, could I be given permission to use the posters photos, please. I'll give credit to any oneallowing me to use them.

 

A new Mole Directory is due to go live soon, Moles UK Directory and the photos would look great on the pages and the password locked members only page. I understand if you don't want me to use them and fully respect that decision.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

A great post, could I be given permission to use the posters photos, please. I'll give credit to any oneallowing me to use them.

 

Here's permission for ye to use mine, Tyke.

[Tyke 0]

A great post, could I be given permission to use the posters photos, please. I'll give credit to any oneallowing me to use them.

 

Here's permission for ye to use mine, Tyke.

 

Cheers DS permission is appreciated, I have PM'd you. Could do with top men like yourself in the Mole Directory, but unlike B&Q I know you have no moles in the emerald isle, great sea trout, salmon and salt water fly fishing mind.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Let me know if you need any other pictures of odd mole traps Tyke - I can probably help you out there

 

OTC

[Steve Albano 21]

Yes sure, you are free to use the pictures I put up. And I have lots of other pictures of antique mole traps. I'll have to dig those out some day and post them. Here's a spear trap from the 1880's--sorry, not a very good picture.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Yes sure, you are free to use the pictures I put up. And I have lots of other pictures of antique mole traps. I'll have to dig those out some day and post them. Here's a spear trap from the 1880's--sorry, not a very good picture.

 

Shame about the brittle cast iron leg on that Olmsted trap Steve, but then I suppose if I was made in 1886 I could expect similar flaws in my physical appearance couldn't I?

 

OTC

[Tyke 0]

Really appreciate your permissions guys, I'll contact you shortly re: photos, would be good to have a page on the history of mole traps. All of you will be credited. I'll PM you all shortly. Once again Many thanks.

[Steve Albano 21]

Shame about the brittle cast iron leg on that Olmsted trap Steve, but then I suppose if I was made in 1886 I could expect similar flaws in my physical appearance couldn't I?

 

 

Wow, OTC, I am duly impressed with your knowledge of Olmsted mole traps. I have another that is intact, and in unused condition. That cast iron is a bit brittle.

 

Were there ever any spear type mole traps made in Europe, or are they an American invention?

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Steve; I'm just blowing back through here for something to do, mate. But I see OTC hasn't got back to ye? He may be a tad indisposed and distracted just now. He'd certainly not be ignoring or neglecting ye question

 

Just to save ye from response starvation then; Yeppers. 'Spike' or 'Guillotene' type mole traps were indeed popular, for a time, in england. Around the turn of the 1900's was possibly their hey day? Anyway; Between the period of moles skins being a fashionable item to make into clothing, for certain people, and the collapse of that market, where by anything that just killed a mole was good enough. That's when they flourished. Then the forebears of " PETA " started banning things and the rest is history.

 

I would say that the british traps, of this kind, were better made. Different time. Different place. Different metals and methods. But I probably have a couple of Types of " Anglo Impassable ", out in my store right now, that would stand well against much of ye later stuff

 

If ye find this Post before OTC gets back, PM me. I'm too busy to catch everything going on here. But a PM may drive me to dig out and photograph my own traps. I imagine I still have them boxed up somewhere.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Were there ever any spear type mole traps made in Europe, or are they an American invention?

 

I have a few different 'harpoon' spear type mole traps myself, some Dutch, English and US in origin (including a couple of Olmsted traps), but all variations on a common theme. The English 'Anglo Impassables' were patented back in 1888 by W Reed from Cornwall and I have seen about 8 variations of the same trap. Most were not marked but some have stamped ANGLO IMPASSABLE or CALLINGTON on them. The Dutch variants have MOLKAT stamped on theirs. The US Victor traps, Miles Reddick and others are pretty common steel strap variations still available for purchase today over on your side of the big pond, as I understand it?

 

OTC