No. 1 Oneida Jump Trap

If you ever wonder what was the main reason that kick started the exploration west of the Mississippi River was primarily economic motivation, specifically the fur trade. Since, first the colonists arrived in North America in the early 17th century, the fur trade was a pretty lucrative business. The fur trade fostered an economic system where Indigenous peoples traded furs for European goods like guns, tools, and textiles. Which fueled later exploration and increased settlement in North America. However, the high demand for furs led to overhunting of fur-bearing animals, particularly beaver, impacting ecosystems and causing population declines. So, naturally hunters and trappers began to push further west in order to meet up with demand.

This No. 1 Oneida Jump Trap, was most likely not used for hunting beavers, but its size meant it could potentially be used to hunt beaver. The trap was manufactured by Oneida Victor Incorporated, a company established in 1852 known for crafting high-quality traps, including beaver traps. This is a jump trap, also known as an "underspring trap," characterized by a single flat spring positioned beneath the trap's jaws. Jump traps like this one are designed for hunting and trapping purposes, with smaller versions (like the #1) historically used for animals such as muskrat, marten, and weasel. Compared to long spring traps, jump traps are generally easier to set in dirt due to their single, centrally located spring.