The jump trap, also sometimes referred to as ‘underspring trap’ is a foothold trap with a single flat spring located directly under the jaws of the trap. The jump works pretty much the same as the long spring trap, except that there is usually only one spring, and it’s not located outside of the jaws like the long springs. This makes the jump trap much easier to bed in dirt sets.
The jump trap is no longer manufactured, but used ones are still common and can be found most anywhere. Jump traps are still used in many applications, but they have lost much of their former popularity when the coil spring trap was developed. The coil spring trap offers all of the advantages of the jump trap and none of the drawbacks. It is quicker, often more powerful, parts are replaceable, and pan tension is adjustable.
The smaller jump traps, like the #1, are still used for muskrat, marten and weasel trapping. The larger jumps, #3 and 4, are used for beaver and otter trapping. They aren’t used much for upland trapping anymore.
The #14 jump trap is a #4 with factory mounted teeth on the jaws. Made by Oneida Victor, this is a fairly collectible trap, and is still used by beaver trappers for underwater sets.