Author Topic: Hand forged beaver trap (Read 8684 times)

Justin Urbantas · « **on:** March 09, 2017, 05:14:24 AM »

Here's something I'm quite proud of. A hand forged beaver trap based on an original from 1815. I hand made all 28 individual pieces of the trap. Authentic in all details, down to the links of the forge welded chain. Should go well with a new Hawken.

cowboysteve · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2017, 08:03:50 AM »

Good job! It would go well with any fur trade era firearm. Are you going to make others?

rich pierce · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2017, 08:06:33 AM »

Really exceptional work.

Justin Urbantas · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2017, 08:07:23 AM »

I have at least 6 more to make for other folks so far, and probably more after that.

jcmcclure · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2017, 08:07:58 AM »

That is an exceptional piece of work....fine work sir!

David Rase · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2017, 08:13:20 AM »

Great work Justin! I cannot find any reason not to like your trap. Fantastic piece of craftsmenship!
David

Shovelbuck · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2017, 04:48:22 PM »

Fantastic!!!!!!

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2017, 05:28:35 PM »

Very well done and a Lot of work you should be proud of it.

Tim C.

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2017, 05:47:04 PM »

Justin as other's have said. Very nice work indeed. Mike

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2017, 06:04:57 PM »

Your beautifully made trap, reminds me of an event my gun club did at their Rendezvous years ago. One of our members family had been fur buyers in our community in the early part of the twentieth century. While helping him clean out an old barn, we came across an increadable pile of old steel traps. We decided to do a trap setting event at our next Rendezvous. We simply dumped the trap onto a grass spot, and gave the trappers five minutes to set as many traps as the could. There were a couple of really old traps ( one of which I now own) that were unmarked and most likely hand made. One we called widowmaker because it was pretty much beaver size, but had double springs on both ends. This trap became the holy grail of this event. Much statis was connected with being able to set the most traps, and being able to set say the widowmaker was one of them.

Hungry Horse

P.W.Berkuta · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2017, 09:30:16 PM »

VERY IMPRESSIVE

You are a very talented person

tlallijr · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2017, 02:14:45 AM »

That is really nice !!

Mauser06 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2017, 05:46:41 AM »

Wow!!! That is very cool!! And looks like great work!

Be pretty cool to nab a beaver in it! That's gunna look great with a Hawken and a couple pelts!

How much time do you think was invested?? I've never forged but I'd imagine it took a while.

Justin Urbantas · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2017, 07:02:05 AM »

Thanks for the comments guys. It was a learning experience for sure. I suspect about 20 hours in this one. The next ones will be much easier. I had to learn from scratch what to do, and which order to do it. The trickiest bit was getting the spring shapes correct and the temper right so they don't snap.

Elnathan · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2017, 12:34:01 AM »

Quote from: Justin Urbantas on March 10, 2017, 07:02:05 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. It was a learning experience for sure. I suspect about 20 hours in this one. The next ones will be much easier. I had to learn from scratch what to do, and which order to do it. The trickiest bit was getting the spring shapes correct and the temper right so they don't snap.

Thought about doing a tutorial? I don't particularly need a trap, but I'd be very interested in the process.

Arcturus · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2017, 02:02:46 AM »

As others have said I will repeat: Impressive! Very nice work and really cool!

David R. Pennington · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2017, 06:03:31 AM »

Very nice work. This is the kind of project I like to see. Fun aint it? This is art. I find it hard to get motivated to make decorative pieces, but something that actually works is real art!

BOB HILL · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2017, 07:50:49 AM »

Very nice job there.Hope you will continue to do such work.
Bob

Robby · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2017, 09:39:34 PM »

Wow!!!! Very nice!!!
Robby

Mikeh · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2017, 04:39:12 PM »

Pm sent.

David R. Pennington · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2017, 03:12:08 PM »

Something else you can't really appreciate until you try to do it is forge welding light chain links without burning something up. Again, good work.
What material did you use?

n stephenson · « **Reply #21 on:** March 13, 2017, 05:05:23 PM »

Good Job!!! Nicely made . You continue to impress , Keep it up and, keep showing us. Thanks Nate

Justin Urbantas · « **Reply #22 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:02:05 PM »

Thanks for the replies guys. I enjoy projects like this. Yeah, forge welding the chain is tricky. Especially that last link when you have to hold on to the rest of the chain and keep it out of the way. For this trap I used 1 1/8"x 3/16" bar, 1"x 3/16" bar, 1/2" x 1/8" bar, truck coil spring, 5/8" rod, piece of file, garage door spring, nails, 1/8" sheet, 1/4" rod, 1/8" rod and some rivets. It's nice to have a good scrap pile.

David R. Pennington · « **Reply #23 on:** March 16, 2017, 04:19:30 AM »

All mild steel I suppose, except the spring stock? Ever forge weld wrought iron? It will spoil you on welding, welds so nice compqred to steel, much more forgiving.

Justin Urbantas · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2017, 07:11:45 PM »

All mild steel except the spring steel and file. I haven't welded wrought iron yet, but I am looking forward to it. I got a nice big piece to make some axes from one of these days, and maybe a barrel...

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Author Topic: Hand forged beaver trap (Read 8684 times)

cowboysteve

n stephenson