Approved 'fenn' type Spring Traps

[john b 38]

As this seems to come up a lot it seemed like another good excuse to play with the camera

 

The only 'fenn' type traps which are approved by the Order are FENN, SPRINGER and SOLWAY

(edited so say read further down, 'Mr President that may not be strictly accurate .....'

 

 

Genuine FENN traps which have the FENN name on the plate and on mine they have the fenn name on the tongue too. Also the till or catch is formed from the plate itself and not a bit of add on brass. I'm not sure if they are still made like that though.

 

 

 

SPRINGER traps which are also marked clearly on the plate.

 

Most recently the SOLWAY traps, which currently are not marked on the plate but future batches will be. I am sure will get a pic of those when they come in.

 

 

 

As OTC said in a previous topic all these have square corners on the plates and are of a high build quality. For comparison here are two unapproved copies - one marked and the other plain. Notice the rounded corners and the differece in the chains. The marked one also had a phone number on but I have removed that as I am not looking to vilify any particular supplier.

 

 

And here are four side by side - from the left FENN, SPRINGER, SOLWAY, Copy.

 

Here from the front, order reversed

Edited March 16, 2008 by john b

[mole trapper 1,693]

Nice one John. Here while we are on the subject, who was talking about the new one just brought out, saying how good a build they were etc, was it even on here, maybe it was the PCP, in that case it was probably Ditchy, Oh god my memory is going. Anyway, it is that time of year again and will be looking to pick up 50 or so, who markets them ?, was it Solway, are they worth taking a gamble on, are they cheaper than their rivals, excluding of course the cheap and nasty rubbish.

Also while we are here, dug up the Flat pack sample half barrel the other day to see if it had gone rusty yet, the good news is not yet, there maybe hope yet.

[proper job 1]

Nice one John. Here while we are on the subject, who was talking about the new one just brought out, saying how good a build they were etc, was it even on here, maybe it was the PCP, in that case it was probably Ditchy, Oh god my memory is going. Anyway, it is that time of year again and will be looking to pick up 50 or so, who markets them ?, was it Solway, are they worth taking a gamble on, are they cheaper than their rivals, excluding of course the cheap and nasty rubbish.

Also while we are here, dug up the Flat pack sample half barrel the other day to see if it had gone rusty yet, the good news is not yet, there maybe hope yet.

MT, i have just bought and tried a batch of the Solways, only one little thing wrong as far I'm concerned, the trigger being too long for my liking, although soon remedied with a bit of light filing. Good strong spring, cheaper than it's rivals, and I would reccomend them, I dealt with Solway direct and am very happy.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

MT; 'Mr Solway' himself made himself known to us on my " New Traps 'Approved' " Thread. Both PJ and OTC have got samples of the trap and they certainly sound like the way foreward.

 

PJ; Do ye not prefer a bit of lee way in the dog? I do. Allows for night latching or what ever with far less risk of ballsing it and wrecking that dog.

 

JB; Notable, that chinky Mk 6, look: The two jaws haven't even closed in line! F*cking rubbish!

[moley 115]

MT; 'Mr Solway' himself made himself known to us on my " New Traps 'Approved' " Thread. Both PJ and OTC have got samples of the trap and they certainly sound like the way foreward.

 

PJ; Do ye not prefer a bit of lee way in the dog? I do. Allows for night latching or what ever with far less risk of ballsing it and wrecking that dog.

 

JB; Notable, that chinky Mk 6, look: The two jaws haven't even closed in line! F*cking rubbish!

 

i got a sample mk6 trap off solway with regards to buying a good lot and tho the price was good there are bits about the trap i don,t like , mostly its the same as a fenn , strong spring, brass dog and catch , but if you take a sideways look at the solways , you can see that the round bar and the flat bar do not come anything like close to closing up properly , there a gap of about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, i think this part of the trap is the most important as it is this bit that kills the rabbit , if its caught by body and neck then a quick kill might be on the cards,but i catch alot by just the neck ,i only caught one rabbit when i set the trap , adult male caught around the neck and still very much alive, but then if the killing part of the trap doesn,t close right up then it won,t kill it will it ? took the trap up and won,t be using it again , i won,t be ordering any more of solway and will stick with the fenns,

[ianrob 2]

MT; 'Mr Solway' himself made himself known to us on my " New Traps 'Approved' " Thread. Both PJ and OTC have got samples of the trap and they certainly sound like the way foreward.

 

PJ; Do ye not prefer a bit of lee way in the dog? I do. Allows for night latching or what ever with far less risk of ballsing it and wrecking that dog.

 

JB; Notable, that chinky Mk 6, look: The two jaws haven't even closed in line! F*cking rubbish!

 

i got a sample mk6 trap off solway with regards to buying a good lot and tho the price was good there are bits about the trap i don,t like , mostly its the same as a fenn , strong spring, brass dog and catch , but if you take a sideways look at the solways , you can see that the round bar and the flat bar do not come anything like close to closing up properly , there a gap of about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, i think this part of the trap is the most important as it is this bit that kills the rabbit , if its caught by body and neck then a quick kill might be on the cards,but i catch alot by just the neck ,i only caught one rabbit when i set the trap , adult male caught around the neck and still very much alive, but then if the killing part of the trap doesn,t close right up then it won,t kill it will it ? took the trap up and won,t be using it again , i won,t be ordering any more of solway and will stick with the fenns,

do their Mk4s have the same fault? as I was thinking of getting a few. I only have Fenns at the moment Mk4s and 6s.

[mole trapper 1,693]

i got a sample mk6 trap off solway with regards to buying a good lot and tho the price was good there are bits about the trap i don,t like , mostly its the same as a fenn , strong spring, brass dog and catch , but if you take a sideways look at the solways , you can see that the round bar and the flat bar do not come anything like close to closing up properly , there a gap of about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, i think this part of the trap is the most important as it is this bit that kills the rabbit , if its caught by body and neck then a quick kill might be on the cards,but i catch alot by just the neck ,i only caught one rabbit when i set the trap , adult male caught around the neck and still very much alive, but then if the killing part of the trap doesn,t close right up then it won,t kill it will it ? took the trap up and won,t be using it again , i won,t be ordering any more of solway and will stick with the fenns,

Thats what i want, feedback from someone who walks the walk.

Thanks Moley, thats narrowed my field down to the two i was origionaly looking at.

[proper job 1]

MT; 'Mr Solway' himself made himself known to us on my " New Traps 'Approved' " Thread. Both PJ and OTC have got samples of the trap and they certainly sound like the way foreward.

 

PJ; Do ye not prefer a bit of lee way in the dog? I do. Allows for night latching or what ever with far less risk of ballsing it and wrecking that dog.

 

JB; Notable, that chinky Mk 6, look: The two jaws haven't even closed in line! F*cking rubbish!

 

Sorry, should of said the dog is too long for my liking, but just file down untill pan sits up a bit more.

[john b 38]

Moley

I wonder if that was an early production problem - the one I had a few weeks ago looks fine, although not been used in anger

 

[Axholme Ferreter 0]

I am not looking to be controversial, I have no vested interest in promoting any type of trap, I am only commenting because I have read various legislation including the Spring Traps Approval Order whilst writing some training materials for rabbit and mole control and so just make a point out of interest to anyone.

 

Excellent post. Very informative and I agree with everything (almost) that has been said. BUT......

 

Looking at the Spring Traps Approval order it approves the Fenn Mk 6 and Spinger Mk 6 and with the latest variation order the new Solway trap which are all listed in Column 1 of the order. It also however approves any trap of an 'equavalent in all relevant aspects' and I quote...

 

'Approval of spring traps

2.—(1) For the purposes of section 8(3) of the Pests Act 1954, the following spring traps are approved, namely—

(a) any spring trap of a type and make specified in any entry in column (1) of the Schedule; and

( any spring trap which is equivalent in all relevant respects to a spring trap of a type and make specified in any entry in column (1) of the Schedule.

 

(2) The approvals given by paragraph (1) of this article relating to any spring trap specified in any entry in column (1) of the Schedule, and to any spring trap equivalent in all relevant respects to a spring trap so specified are subject to the conditions as to the animals for which and the circumstances in which the spring trap may be used specified in the corresponding entry in column (2) of the Schedule.

 

(3) For the purposes of this Order, a spring trap is equivalent in all relevant respects to a spring trap of a type and make specified in the Schedule if it corresponds to the spring trap so specified in construction, in materials, in impact force or momentum, and in all other respects which are relevant to its effect or manner of operation as a trap.'

 

As to whether the cheap imports are 'equvalent in all relevant aspects' would ultimately be for the courts to decide based on the individual facts of any case pesented to it. It could be that IF a cheap copy were of a similar design, size, and very importantly power as a trap listed in column 1 then it could be quite legal to use. Just because it is not mentioned by name in the order does not mean it can not be used legitimately.

 

Just to repeat I am not mischief making, just putting forward a point of view based on the legislation as written.

 

All the best AF

[john b 38]

AF

 

No problem with that at all - a good input to the thread. Based on those notes it reads as though it would be true that other non-branded traps can be used. However the downside seems to be that the responsibility would be with the user to be sure that they were equivalent in all relevant respects to a spring trap of a type and make specified. I'm not sure that all of the copies are so if challenged you'd probably need to be able to prove that the trap was equivalent.

 

Can you put up a link to where you're looking please ? The copy I have on this link doesn't seem to have those notes, only these:

 

Under section 8 of the Pests Act 1954, it is an offence to use or knowingly permit the use of any spring trap other than a trap that has been approved by Order. The Spring Traps Approval Order 1995 currently approves thirteen types of spring trap for use in England and Wales. This Order approves a further seven types of spring trap for use in England only.

 

Article 2 has the effect of dividing the Schedule to the 1995 Order into two Parts. Part 1 is entitled "England and Wales" and lists the thirteen traps currently approved. Part 2 is entitled "England" and lists the seven new traps which are approved for use in England only.

[john b 38]

No hang on, found it here

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

i got a sample mk6 trap off solway took the trap up and won,t be using it again

 

 

Bit harsh, Moles? ONE example of a brand new trap? Blimey, mate, do ye run XP? Only look at the 'teething troubles' they had with that. Yet 95% of us now have it and use it. You should see some of the weird shit Frank Sawyer got through, before the world settled down to its love affair with his Final " Imbra " trap.

 

As 'Mr Solway' said, and JB's reitterated; They're fine tuning the production as we speak. Fenn? Ye wouldn't want to know how many little quirks and variations He tried out over the years! If I handed you a Fenn Mk I Vermin to test, and you were anywhere near as fussy as the man who Did test them? You too would throw it back as riddled with faults. But that man himself went on to happily use later Fenns, as we all do. Wouldn't throw the baby out for the sake of a drop of dirty water, mate.

 

 

Thats what i want, feedback from someone who walks the walk.

Thanks Moley, thats narrowed my field down to the two i was origionaly looking at.

 

 

You're another one satisfied with a damn short walk then eh, MT? ONE specimen of a trap and that's all she wrote?

 

And I suppose not one among us has Ever discovered a dodgy Fenn amongst the millions produced?

 

 

Sorry, should of said the dog.

 

 

Not at all, PJ! That's an American term I picked up over the years, mate. Dog and Pan. We'd call the 'Dog' the 'Tounge' and the 'Pan' the 'Plate' - at least I do. Short for Treadle Plate. Doesn't matter a f*ck, of course. We all have a pretty good idea what we're refering to

 

 

As to whether the cheap imports are 'equvalent in all relevant aspects' would ultimately be for the courts to decide

 

 

In a world truly ruled by old men behind raised benches? Maybe so. But do ye not think those of us who Use such things, day to day, year in and out, might have a shrewder angle of judgement than a Beak? Law may say we Can use them. Law probably also says we're perfectly free to shut our eyes and run towards a cliffs edge, just to see if we dare. But would we?

 

 

Be interesting, once the dust settles, to see how many finish their days having never again, even sneakily, handling a Solway. I bet, if we had the internet and fora back in 1958, there'd be no end of guys spouting stuff like; " F*ck the Ban: Born to use Gin Traps! ". And " Fenn's? Who the f*ck's Allan?! "

 

 

Away ye go, lads

[Axholme Ferreter 0]

I agree John b. If the copies were challenged most if not all would perhaps be found to be wanting in some respect. The point is however that other traps not listed COULD in theory be used if they compared to approved traps . As I said the ultimate test would be in a court but I for one don't want to volunteer to test the theory just yet!!

At the moment I will continue using genuine Fenn mk6 traps which definitely comply with the legislation and just as importantly kill quickly rather than injuring. However if someone manufactured a decent quality 'equivalent' which was of a similar power and reliable I would consider using them.

 

All the best

 

AF

[Matt 160]

Has the wording of the SI changed then? I only ask because at one stage, Fenn was printing a statement on all their adverts saying something like 'anything which does not bear the name Fenn is not approved'. I think it was when the springer first came out (Ditchy will know, for sure) before they got their own 'approval'.

 

I've just seen a whole pile of the far eastern copies at the Wescountry Game Fair, and I have to say they were the biggest pile of crap I've seen for a long time.

 

As for the Solway, I'm impressed with the feedback so far, but those pictures look worrying. The build quality doesn't look that good, but I suppose it was the first batch, so there are bound to be a few teething troubles. The real test will be in 5 or 10 years time; I wonder if the Solways will still be working as well as my beloved Imbras when they are 30 or 40 or even 50 years old!

 

The Fenn traps with the raised plate rather than brass was originally known as the 'special' I think, again, Ditch will know for sure, as he has forgotten more about Fenn traps than I'll ever know...........

 

Good post though JB.