Manufactured in limited numbers by the Animal Trap Company of America, located in Lititz, Pennsylvania, from 1925 to around 1976. These traps were originally designed and manufactured by hand by the Sewell Newhouse firm of Oneida County, New York, with this large "No. 15" bear trap weighing in at about 19 pounds 12 ounces including the anchoring chain. Compared to firearms, traps such as these, along with their smaller variations, are an often overlooked, but no less important tool in surviving and taming the American frontier. Newhouse began making traps in the early 1800s, at first by using metal scraps from his father's blacksmith shop. In 1849, Newhouse joined a religious community started by John Humphrey Noyes and continued making traps by hand. The business gradually grew until becoming a primary manufacturing operation for the community. Their primary sellers were always smaller traps, such as those for beaver, with reported sales in 1864 being 7,250 beaver traps compared to only 30 bear traps, making these large game traps incredibly scarce. This is the No. 15 variation, which is almost identical to the earlier, Newhouse produced, No. 5 and No.15 traps. It has the Oneida Newhouse Animal Trap Co. markings on the pan in raised lettering and the offset jaws with exposed teeth.

Fine, showing an attractively aged brown patina overall with some scattered light pitting and oxidation. The markings on the pan are clear. The trap appears functional. This would be a unique piece to enhance your display of Old West frontier firearms!