Do you Have a Favourite?

[Rolfe 2]

Just wondered what types and makes of cage traps my fellow pesters out there use? My favourite cage trap for mink or squirrel is without doubt the Fenn.......single and double entry types. The ones i am using at present have seen well over ten seasons use and are still as good as new. They are extremely hard wearing and are virtually indestructable. I have just taken my 750th Grey of this year.......not all in cages obviously, these are spread between shooting (drey poking) Tunnel traps, Kanias and cage traps........the tunnel traps have accounted for 65% i suppose. The cage in the picture is a Fenn single entry.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

My favourite User is the one from Essex, Rolfe. Ye know the one? I just love everything about the trap. Strong, sturdy build. Big enough to fit plenty in. Superb door action which ensures what ever is behind it bloody well stays there. Can't fault them myself.

 

But then, S. Young & sons (Misterton) prodced their own three sizes of double entry trap and I love those too. I have them here but wouldn't be about to set them in a hurry as they're museum pieces. But the triggering mechanism on them is unique to them and quite superb.

 

Finally; Fuller. I have one of his cat cages here. It's a brute of a thing! Makes me drool just to look at it One of his single entry rat cages would be the cage trap I'd most like to have now. Just to sit and look at

[Rolfe 2]

Interesting Ditch.........i will put a picture up soon of what i believe was an old Youngs cage trap.......i'll have to dig it out of the shed first.......can't really remember exactly what it is...........been years since i saw it last. Thanks for the reply though mate.

 

Rolfe.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Be nice to see it, Rolfe. I'd show ye mine too, only, likewise, they're somewhat buried in my Store Room. I'm still trying to get more shelves up in there, but it's murder clambouring over everything to get at the walls! And it needs tow blokes to do it properly. So that means two of us thrashing about, kicking traps out of the way. Is it any wonder I just don't 'get round to it'?

 

Must say; I'm a bit disapointed with the lack of response here. No one else like Cages then?

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

I have a few but not sure of the makes.....they all seem to do the job though....my favourite springer though is the juby,thanks to ditch !

[Matt 160]

I'm with Rolfe on this one.

 

I have a few of the Fenn Cages, and they are fantastic quality. As stated in another thread, although Fenn no longer make em, I know that Pat down at Bridport Nets has a few Canadian versions which look just as good.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Purely from a collector's point of view I like the Young's Misterton box cages and also the old Kindharts. Both well engineered with quality materials and intricate setting/tripping mechanisms.

 

OTC

[Rolfe 2]

Well........sods law i can't find what i was looking for...........but came across this "Sparrow Trap" is it one of Youngs also?...........looks like it...........but i am open to other suggestions if it of some other make.........!

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

That'd be based on Youngs " Eclipse " Sparrow Trap design, Rolfe. But, looking at the materials and construction? I'd venture to suggest it's more likely a GILPA produced copy? I'm too rushed to mess about right now and my memory of finer detail is fading fast these days. OTC may have something checkable to hand?

 

If I can manage it, later on, I'll pull out my certified Youngs one to show us, for direct comparison.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

OTC may have something checkable to hand?

 

Not too sure on that one Rolfe but I can say that it is not Young's design and not GILPA either. Young's made a 2 foot trap and a yard long trap, both with steel frames covered with chicken wire - most are named with a small badge. The Gilpa one had rounded entrance holes and the entry into the second compartment was by a floor fitted entrance - not one that elevated like that one in the pic.

 

It must have been a later copy IMO

 

OTC

[Rolfe 2]

OTC may have something checkable to hand?

 

Not too sure on that one Rolfe but I can say that it is not Young's design and not GILPA either. Young's made a 2 foot trap and a yard long trap, both with steel frames covered with chicken wire - most are named with a small badge. The Gilpa one had rounded entrance holes and the entry into the second compartment was by a floor fitted entrance - not one that elevated like that one in the pic.

 

It must have been a later copy IMO

 

OTC

Interesting OTC ...........on another note..........can you remember what that mole-spade went for at auction? I meant to put a commission bid on it..........but as usual.........forgot about it until it was too late.

 

Rolfe.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Ok. Let's start trying to gain some interest in this Here's some shots to whet the appetite:

 

 

Youngs 2' " Eclipse Sparrow Trap "

 

 

 

Tin Label On That One

 

 

The 'Labels' they used are usefull for not only identification, but dating the period of production too. But that's all a bit specialised and beyond the intended scope of this Thread.

 

 

 

Youngs Double Entry Cage ('Cat' Size)

 

 

 

Firing Mechanism

 

 

 

 

Trigger Detail ~ As Fine As It Gets!

 

 

 

Label On That One

 

 

 

Sorry if they're not the best shots ye've ever seen. By the time I'd knocked aside some priceless stuff in an effort to reach them, the initial flare of enthusiasm was already waning! I also forgot my customary Zippo, so I slung a 'Hole in the Wall Card' up as scaler.

 

The Double Entry, by the way, has a Treadle with a Bait Hook above it. F*ck with either and those doors are going to slam shut. Retaining bar following them down. Ye caught and Staying caught! Great old traps.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

I really like those old labels Ditch ~ here's a few of my own

 

Wyatt's Patent Rat and Sparrow Traps

 

Young & Son Misterton Somerset

 

OTC

[OldTrapCollector 377]

And here's an old cage trap you don't see every day ~

 

Young's New Forest squirrel trap

 

 

OTC

[Rolfe 2]

Wow.........that trigger mechanism is something else..............thats a novel set-up.........given me some ideas that Ditch.

Thanks for the pics mate.........very interesting as always.

So..........what cage have i got then...........is it a copy of some other type?

 

 

Rolfe.