Adding Chew Guards to #2 Victors

[~ADC~]

In the same spirit as modifying #3 jumps to save them from the scrap
heap, I was thinking of the #2 Victor square jawed coils. These traps
were once popular with fox trappers but now that coyotes inhabit much
more of the country people are finding that the #2 SJ is no longer a viable
option. These traps sell very cheaply and most claim they are no good
for coon unless they are on drowners, and we all know drowners aren’t
for everyone or every situation. So they are destined to be mink traps
where there are no coon or scrapped altogether. So I was thinking of a
way to make them into good traps without putting more money into them
than they are worth. I think I’ve come up with a winner of a coon trap.
The problem is the excess room under the jaws where coons can easily
chew on the bottom of their foot, eventually making it very easy to pull
out of the trap. The solution is to limit that area, cheaply.

Here’s how I decided to do it. First I built this jig. The thin piece is a 1¾“
long piece of 1½“ wide x ¼“ flat stock. The thicker pieces are ½” square
stock 2” long….



I clamped the jigs long side in the trap jaws, and then clamp it in the vice.
This provides the perfect place for lying your ¼” rod across to be sure it
straight. Then simply weld the ends of the rod and you’re done…



The look from the side. (No chew outs now!)…



The set trap…



Now I realize my welds aren’t real pretty but I’m out of practice. A couple
tips though you can only put the chew stopping bars across so low or they
interfere with the pan when setting the trap. This method will work on
B&L and Herters #2 SJ as well I do believe. Also I think it is very
important to have really strong springs and extra swivels in the chain.


The best part is it costs less than $.10 per trap and you can set them
anywhere for coon and mink with no worries. Sure you can add $5
worth of mods and use them for coyotes but for less than a dime they'll
make good coon traps.

~ADC~

[Deleted]

adc, you give alot of really good information. i sure do thank you. i'm gonna make a jig for my #2 veezs and base plate them too., they're warped from old age and heavy springs.i just got into adc here in northern kentucky. would like to talk to you sometime about the do's and don'ts of the trade and trappin too. thanks again. mike chilton...greyscat

[Deleted]

Do you use a wire welder? Also do you think an old Lincoln stick welder would work? Thanks, Tom

[~ADC~]

I use a wire welder, never used a stick welder before.

~ADC~