My first whatzit

[captain Jack]

This is the first thing other than straight trash I have found. Probably because I am just starting to get a hang of the researching end of the hobby. Anyhow, my wife and I found what we believe to be a trench near the james river here in Richmond, Va. Although we didn't get to detect the whole thing, we did find two of these at the base of the "trench" about halfway through. They are definitely iron, and were about 5-6 inches down. They were right next to one another so we were thinking it was something that may have been changed in pairs. Something on horses? We really have no idea. Dispite the rust I am fairly certain after a little cleaning that they do not say anything on them or have any markings to tell me anything. Any help is much appreciated. -Jeff

 

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[mr.theman]

That is a steel animal trap Squeeze the long u shaped piece on the side to allow the jaws to be opened and set the trip. When an animal steps in the center ...Whamo.

 

[captain Jack]

darn, guess it's junk then. might be cool to try to clean up. A nice mantle piece maybe. Thanks for the help! still better then trash!

 

[River Rat]

You beat me to it, MM.

RR

 

[kenb]

I think theman is correct, clean it up. In my book that IS NOT in the junk category, great find with possible history. Soak it in some oil and clean it, it's a cool find!

kenb

 

[mr.theman]

You beat me to it, MM.

RR

I was just happy to actually know what a whatzit was for a change

 

[Michelle]

you found it in a "trench"... you say in "Richmond"

 

[captain Jack]

looked like a trench to me. it was sort of a ditch, maybe..between 50 and 100 yds long. about 3ft high on the back side and 5ft high on the front facing the river. I know union ships came up the river but most if not all were shot down by cannons coming around a bend a little further east of where I was. But I would think some defenses would have been set up down the river. It wasn't carved by water I don't think, no water in there now, grass was on the bottom so not too much water would have been there any time recently. And it ended before it reached the river, water would have had to dump out somewhere, right? I don't know for sure it was a trench, maybe just wishful thinking. But at least a huge ditch.

Soak in oil how long? I am new to this. Day or so?

 

[Montana Jim]

Here is a trap I found... it is iron and anywhere from 30 to 130 years old. Prolly a muskrat trap judging on where I found it. It's a different type of trap from yours, but it was cool finding all four parts in the same hole in the rocks. I'm pretty sure it's way to fragile to clean! Found it in river rock.

Just sharing the pics in case it helps anyone ID stuff laying around the junk box.

 

[captain Jack]

nice find! maybe I can date mine. I think I can clean it a little, than maybe a nice conversation piece. I can see how well it worked, my cat wants to lay all over it! not the brightest bulb...

 

[Ant]

Hi Captain Jack, what you have is a Double Long Spring Victor leg hold trap. It might be a No. 3.

 

[still looking]

Beavers and muskrats make trenches or waterways from a main pond to allow them to swim closer to the trees and then float them to the pond. These traps may have ben set long ago and just left there.

 

[BIG61AL]

It's just a very cruel instrument designed to kill small animals by starvation or force them to chew off their own limbs to bleed to death. A very low point in man's accomplishments. Every one of them should be destroyed.

 

[captain Jack]

Hi Captain Jack, what you have is a Double Long Spring Victor leg hold trap. It might be a No. 3.

wow, thanks Ant. I can see this site is going to be of endless help in my searches. Thanks to everyone!

 

[dkw]

It's just a very cruel instrument designed to kill small animals by starvation or force them to chew off their own limbs to bleed to death. A very low point in man's accomplishments. Every one of them should be destroyed.

The traps are designed to hold animals until the trapper can return to collect them. Most laws require that the traps are checked at least once per day and sometimes twice. If an animal has time to starve or chew it's own leg off, it would be the trappers fault not the traps. Put the blame where it is due.

 

[Marty-Graw]

very nice find and it is not junk.... not worth much but definately not junk...... if it was me i would take sand paper and clean it up, spray paint it black and hang it up on the wall or on the barn.... things like that look pretty good hung up where people can see them

Marty

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

It's just a very cruel instrument designed to kill small animals by starvation or force them to chew off their own limbs to bleed to death. A very low point in man's accomplishments. Every one of them should be destroyed.

I woke next to gal and chewed my own arm off keep from wakin' 'er up. Man, I would love to have been caught in that trap instead....

 

[blurr]

It's just a very cruel instrument designed to kill small animals by starvation or force them to chew off their own limbs to bleed to death. A very low point in man's accomplishments. Every one of them should be destroyed.

It is a gopher trap. Designed to kill small rhodents. Animals. Not humans, rats. I have a mayonnaise jar filled with gopher feet I need to cash in. $1.00 per pair. Good summer hobby. All vermin should be killed as cruelly as possible.

John

 

[kenb]

captain jack, soak it for a week and hit it with a wire brush, you decide if it needs more soaking by out come. You may need to do it a couple times to remove excess rust. When it looks good or loosens up, clean off oil, paint and display! Good luck.

kenb

 

[silverswede]

You're right on Blur, Captains traps look like No.1 Victors and being found 3 to 4 inches under ground sure looks like a couple of gopher traps got lost. I've trapped a bunch of them too for the bounty, but in the late 40's it was 10 cents and of course you need both fronts to bring to the Township clerk for pay. Fix em' up and hang em' on the wall, Captain they'll bring back fine memories to some ex-farm boys. Now you have a thatzit.