British Steel in North America?

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Before anyone goes off the handle; Please Note that this Post and any ensuing Thread is about Collectors Traps. Gin Traps are long since Illegal in uk and - to the best of my knowledge - Toothed traps are in North America too

 

 

 

NightRunner; I've Collected traps all my life and, untill more recent years, my focus has always been on 'Gin Traps'. Now, within the last decade and with the advent of the internet, I've obtained a few specmens of british made Gin's which have ended up in North America. Frankly, these traps stand out like a punch in the mouth!

 

I was discussing the phenominon of these traps only the other day with my friend and fellow Collector, OTC of this forum. He too has marvelled at the finish, or 'Patina' we find on Gin's we fetch in from your side. They are - quite frankly - gorgeous! Quite unlike anything we find here.

 

It's the surface of them. See; A typical Gin, having likely been subject to around a century of existance and almost as much use, in many cases, tends to have a fair degree of what we call " Pitting ". In fact I believe it was your lads who coined the brilliantly descriptive term of " Orange Peel ".

 

And yet, almost without fail, if we find a british made Gin in North America (obviously, we know them by the Makers names etc.) they'll most often arrive demonstrating the most superb finish. Hard to describe in words. It's a sort of smoothness, underlain by an almost fired steel effect. 'Polished' ? Perhaps that best describes it? And yet we never hear of your own Trap Collectors polishing their traps. These traps, in fact, show no sign what so ever of having been in any way treated. And yet they come with this distinctive and rather desirable look and feel about them.

 

I may also add that I posess various examples of US made 'Steel Traps' whose date of manufacture is as certain as it's old. Every bit as old as the Gin's we examine. They too tend to lack much of the orange peel effect, or even the dusty, red surface rust that will eventually lead to that effect.

 

I've discussed this, down the years, with various Trap Collectors and we've never yet come up with a definative answer to the riddle. Personally, I always end up plumping for " Enviromental Factors ". OTC recently mooted distance from the sea. But you have two vast coasts ..... I'm buggered if I know!

 

Any ideas, please?

[OldTrapCollector 377]

To further add to Ditch's post, I have also considered the following factors as possible reasons for the apparent condition of the US found traps, in addition to the exposure to maritime air.

 

My reason was not as such 'nearness to the sea' but that the Gulf Stream air that crosses the North Atlantic collecting suspended salt and water particles on its track is what is responsible for 90% of UK weather (I know - I am a professional meteorologist by trade)

 

Trap wax and die was used almost religiously on US traps which has obviously preserved some specimens but some of the traps we talk of have never been dipped and still retain their finish.

 

Acidity of the soil could also be a factor contributing to the rusting effect of the traps - any geologists out there that could shed any light on this?

 

Whatever the reason, it is obvious that many old and collectable British Traps do turn up regularly from the US and in a remarkably good condition in comparison to those that have stayed and been used here.

 

I would welcome your comments on the subject

 

OTC

[jacob 28]

the only answer i can think of is that in 1740 england invented crucible steel, which was common in trap making, it was a much more refined steel and of much better quality than anything else around at the time ,because of its purity ,and in the american climate could possibly oxidise quicker, forming the patina sealing the steel and protecting it from corrosion,why it would do that there and not here i can only think that somehow they must have a higher level of sulfur,thats my guess ,but its only a guess ,i could be wrong i probably am.

[jacob 28]

you wouldnt have any HB trade or camp knives nestling in your collections, you would like to sell have you?

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Ye certainly seem to know ye metals, Jacob! And I like the sound of the sulphar, for some reason, too.

 

Funny thing; I've just come in bringing a Juby Trap which I'd slung under one of my hedges a week or so back. I just put it there for convieniance because I had my hands full. But the moment I picked it up I was shocked at the state of it! Dripping with rust and actually showing a sort of soft, wet image of what would become 'Orange Peel'. And that's in Eire. Never seen that effect in uk before. I wonder if that could be a clue to it indeed being something to do with climate and air condition variations?

 

 

Knives? Sorry mate. None myself.

[jacob 28]

SULFUR could be the colour variant?

[NightRunner 0]

I would say many trappers here in the US die and wax there traps, If anything wax. It speeds them up and seals them. After a catch some change out there trap while others just keep setting it. I feel it might come down to your soil versese are's. Some say it's less acidy, I don't know but most traps set here in the last 100 years have been waxed. Today some paint there snares, speed dip there water traps, there is another latex product out also. But a large percentage stil wax footholds and dip body grippers due handling them with wax it's a nightmare.

 

Hope this helps