Old trap ( gin trap )

[vfr400boy 3,111]

Did some rotavating for an old chap and I would not take any payment off him , he sed if I won’t take cash I must take this old trap , any one know it’s age and model? 

[bell 3,493]

Im sure someone will be along to tell you the age...., I borrowed a couple as a kid from a farmer in the late 70’s....I was  bit different to all my mates living in a major city lol....found the local tannery which was crawling with rats and trapped bloody loads with the old gins using slices of pear as bait ! ( can’t remember now where I got the pair from !).....happy days ...

[vfr400boy 3,111]

He told me the story of how he pinched it from old swift the keeper when he was a lad ha 

[Rabbit Hunter 6,608]

I have a couple of old traps the same as that one, and likewise they're covered in rust. Does anyone know the best way to get it off?

[vfr400boy 3,111]

That was going to be my next question how’s best to clean it up 

[Arry 18,481]

I know my father used set them when he was young, He would be about 90 if he was still around. I think there were two sizes  for rabbits and a smaller one for rats. I found some on a farm tip when I was a young I cleaned them up with a wire brush polished the little brass triggers painted them matt black and sold them to an dealer. I kept a couple of the small rat ones and set them down the bottom of the garden as a neighbour kept budgies and the rat used to run the fence  line, about 2 o'clock in the morning I got hoofed out of bed and a slap around the back of my head " you've got a gin set haven't you, get down there and sort it" . Yea I got a rat but it wasn't dead and it was screaming its head off and at 2 o'clock in the morning it didn't half sound loud. Funny how just seeing that picture brought all that flooding back like it was yesterday.

Cheers Arry

[womble 1 nut 491]

4 hours ago, Rabbit Hunter said:

I have a couple of old traps the same as that one, and likewise they're covered in rust. Does anyone know the best way to get it off?

soak them in white vinegar RH , have a look on youtube good few vids on there showing how well it works ?

[vfr400boy 3,111]

Seen a few vids on YouTube, what would you put on the trap after the vinegar bath to stop it rusting again? It’s only for show but don’t want to paint it or out just have it natural as such  

[Rabbit Hunter 6,608]

1 hour ago, womble 1 nut said:

soak them in white vinegar RH , have a look on youtube good few vids on there showing how well it works ?

Thanks for that advice Womble. I just plan to get them looking nice, spray them black and hang them up as ornaments or whatever.

[Rabbit Hunter 6,608]

[Phil Lloyd 10,736]

Give the Gin a light brushing, (don't go mad), then soak it with a nice juicy spray of WD40...it will look great...

As an aside,..my Father, Grandfather and myself, used Gins for rabbit trapping....hell of a trap...

 

[smithie 2,424]

if its for show i would try get the trigger brazzed with the trap in open and ready to go possition and rub a wax on the trap. maybe the wax you put on your boots to keep them waterproof

you will be able to put them on a wall and they will be safe

[stonewall 1,913]

.

Edited June 7, 2018 by stonewall

[stonewall 1,913]

[stonewall 1,913]

Edited June 7, 2018 by stonewall