[coyote trapper1928]

Hi.

This is my first time posting on this forum. I have a few questions about Blake & Lamb 2 1/2 longspring traps. Has anyone here used these traps? 2. What is your opinion of these traps? I was thinking of getting a few of these traps for trapping coyote. I have a dozen of the 1 3/4 Duke traps. But I still like the old longspring traps.

Thanks.

coyote trapper1928

 

[RdFx]

2 1/2 B & L Longsprings

I have used them over the yrs and have sold most of mine. The ones i have left i use for mink in shallow water to get a high body grip. I wouldnt use them for yotes. I would use a dbl longspring trap as a victor , blake & lamb or nbr 3 coilspring in many diff brands.

 

[Jacktheknife]

Howdy, I have 6 coming in the mail, and yes I like longsprings too.
They look like a 1 1/2 s.l.s. but with [I hope } a bigger jaw spread, and a real strong spring. I am thinking Cats.

Knife

 

[Bogmaster]

There is a reason,no #21/2s are being made.There are better traps being made.THE 21/2 IS MORE OF A COLLECTORS iTEM THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
Northwoods is the last company to produse a # 2 1/2---they did not go over well with the trapping community.
Tom

 

[Asa Lenon]

Back about 1970 I made plans with a trapper friend to trap together with him for one Summer bounty trapping for coyote and bobcat. Part of the deal was he furnished the traps and have them all dyed and waxed. When the time come he showed up with six dozen #2 1/2 single long spring Herter traps which were B & L with the Herter name on them. I had a fit, said they wouldn't hold coyotes and cats but rather than delay the start of trapping I reluctantly agreed to give them a try. Guess what, we caught over 100 coyote and bobcat that Summer and those traps held every single one of them. At least three of those cats went nearly 50 lbs too. So, if the traps are still good and strong I would go ahead and use them. I will say though that all of our traps were equipped with drag hooks and extra chain which is a lot easier on traps and animal's feet than when an animal can jerk soundly when staked solid. Ace

 

[Jacktheknife]

I have ordered 6 of the #2 1/2 single long springs,
They have not arrived yet but, I wonder if the jaw spread is close to a #3 regular jaw with only one spring. I got an order for some old traps from ebay today. One of them was supposed to be a #2 L/S but instead was a #3 L/S with only one spring, and it was upside down. Hmmmm
The upside down spring was a weak one and at first I felt like I had been misrepresented and ripped off. But then I realized that the guy had done me a profound favor, in that for years I have been trying to find the best Cat trap, for me... and the way I personaly trap, [Not for everybody].
I like off set jaws for my #3 L/s o/s trap for Coyotes. and am passing up good deals on #3 L/s's with regular jaws all the time. I took the old trap apart and took a bar of solid steel just a bit thicker than the elbow of the spring. Put it in there and set the whole thing on my anvil, and beat it 5-6 times. The spring was an inch or two wider aftr that, so, after placing a link from an old tire chain on the bed piece, I put it back on the trap.
An instant strong spring.
Bottom center swiveled , a #3 single long spring!!!!

I like it! Its not as fast as a coil spring with 3-4-5 springs.
But the jaw size makes up or it. It is light, cheap, a fast enough, big jaw spread trap, which will catch north central Texas Bobcats, and costs $6-7 dollars.

 

[Asa Lenon]

The #2 1/2 is the same jaws and jaw spread as a #3 but with only one spring rather than two. Ace

 

[Jacktheknife]

Thanks Mr. Lenon!

Your confirmation of the jaw spread of the 2 1/2 was the first thing I read this morning, [even before coffee!] after a long night out in the knife shop. Last night I took the jaws off another old #3 longspring of mine, put a link on the bedpiece and then put one spring back on.
Then I set them both together on a table and contemplated them a while.
I LIKE THEM! The 2 1/2 traps will be coming in the mail, maybe today.
I woke up thinking about {#2 1/2 single longsprings vs #3 single longsprings, and being an old person kinda set in my ways [about longsprings especially ] I like them!
The jaws on the trap I got off ebay were kinda sprung, but the old #3 of mine, less one spring, is a good trap! ain't nothing gona get out of my old #3 single longspring! When I went to bed I thought I had invented a new trap, but it is a 2 1/2 single longspring!
Thanks Asa