Have you seen an Animal Trap Gun c1850 like this one?

Kmaddock · 10th July 2016, 09:34 PM

Making a mountain out of a molehill comes to mind liking at t he colt revolver mouse trap
Thanks for sharing
Ken

kronckew · 10th July 2016, 09:56 PM

kinda like swatting flies with a sledge hammer.

Jim McDougall · 11th July 2016, 03:02 AM

RAT TRAP:

A cemetery or graverobbers gun c. 1710.
Big surprise to the grave robbers with the body snatcher trade.
Eventually they caught on and sent disguised mourners to scope out graves with these 'surprises'.

dana_w · 11th July 2016, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

RAT TRAP:

A cemetery or graverobbers gun c. 1710.
Big surprise to the grave robbers with the body snatcher trade.
Eventually they caught on and sent disguised mourners to scope out graves with these 'surprises'.

Thanks Jim.
Can you give us any background on where the image came from?

Jim McDougall · 11th July 2016, 04:21 PM

I wish I could Dana! It was something I came across online some time ago, and was so esoteric I just saved it. As mentioned in other posts here, it seems a bit 'over kill' (no pun intended) and not especially effective.
This thing was so rustic, and in a word 'spooky' it just caught my attention

As you noted on that Navy Colt.......I sure wouldn't have it in some trap, needs to be in a 'buscadero' on my hip!!

dana_w · 11th July 2016, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I wish I could Dana! It was something I came across online some time ago, and was so esoteric I just saved it. As mentioned in other posts here, it seems a bit 'over kill' (no pun intended) and not especially effective.
This thing was so rustic, and in a word 'spooky' it just caught my attention

As you noted on that Navy Colt.......I sure wouldn't have it in some trap, needs to be in a 'buscadero' on my hip!!

I think I found it Jim.

"One of the only known surviving examples of cemetery guns is on display at The Museum of Mourning Art at the Arlington Cemetery of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Museum curators date the gun to 1710, making it one of the earliest models of cemetery guns. Part of its original rotating pedestal and three rings for tripwire attachment are visible in the photo."

http://www.guns.com/2013/01/29/got-g...-cemetery-gun/

http://www.guns.com/2013/08/06/cemet...fin-torpedoes/

And here is another example of the same style:

Jim McDougall · 11th July 2016, 08:48 PM

Thanks Dana!
Nicely done and much appreciated. Now I can note my notes

Interesting topic here with these unusual items, I recall years ago a favorite book was "Firearms Curiosa", I think by Winant.

11th July 2016, 03:02 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	RAT TRAP: A cemetery or graverobbers gun c. 1710. Big surprise to the grave robbers with the body snatcher trade. Eventually they caught on and sent disguised mourners to scope out graves with these 'surprises'. Attached Images

10th July 2016, 09:34 PM	#1
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Making a mountain out of a molehill comes to mind liking at t he colt revolver mouse trap Thanks for sharing Ken

10th July 2016, 09:56 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	kinda like swatting flies with a sledge hammer.

11th July 2016, 04:21 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	I wish I could Dana! It was something I came across online some time ago, and was so esoteric I just saved it. As mentioned in other posts here, it seems a bit 'over kill' (no pun intended) and not especially effective. This thing was so rustic, and in a word 'spooky' it just caught my attention As you noted on that Navy Colt.......I sure wouldn't have it in some trap, needs to be in a 'buscadero' on my hip!!

11th July 2016, 08:48 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Thanks Dana! Nicely done and much appreciated. Now I can note my notes Interesting topic here with these unusual items, I recall years ago a favorite book was "Firearms Curiosa", I think by Winant.