Marine Mountain Training Trap?

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pinetree

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Jun 24, 2005
Messages
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I watch the Marine Mountain Training program on Discovery Military - pretty interesting stuff, good kids. All had to craft a bowl and other tools, I really think this was to combat boredom and to keep the mind focused.
Anyway, to my question, they made an interesting snare that I have not seen. It isn't in my Army Survival Manual or the SAS Survival Guide. It was like a figure four but upside down and tied to a tree. The power for the snare was provided by a counter-weight. Anybody know what this trap is and how to set it up?

tjg
 
Three pin trigger (figure 4) can be used in any direction. dead fall ,snare, Malaysian whip. just have to think about which way the force is going.
 
They called it the Ace of Spades in the show, i've never heard called that. I've always heard as a three pin trigger as well.
 
I am not sure that I know the exact spring up trigger that you are talking about, but I'd just like to say that a counterweight or a weighted lever can be used as a substitute for a spring-up branch on virtually any design of spring-up trap.

I like the simple trigger for a spring up that is similar to that used by the San Bushmen and some Pacific Islanders. The diagram at the bottom of this picture gives an idea of how it works:
SnareIdeas.jpg


Instead of using a hoop pressed into the ground, you could pass the toggle stick under a downward-pointing fork on a forked peg hammered into the ground, or under a nail driven into the side of a tree. The San Bushmen would aparrently sometimes pull up a root from the ground to form the hoop (both ends of the root would stay buried).

The mechanism doesn't need a huge spring up force or a heavy weight....just enough to pull the noose tight. I like to leave the animal sitting captured on the ground so that it can be comfortable till I get to it. Of course if you need to lift the animal above predators, you will need a greater lifting force.

The counter weight or weighted lever offer the advantage of always holding their potential power, whereas a springy branch can lose its spring. The weighted lever can be tied to a short post driven into the ground where there are no trees nearby, and because it doesn't have a rope dragging over a branch to create friction and slow it down, I prefer it over the counterweight option. A smooth plastic ring or a pulley could be used with the counterweight trap to help reduce friction.

As you may know, I love discussing traps and learning about them. Best wishes... Coote.
 
pinetree said:
I watch the Marine Mountain Training program on Discovery Military - pretty interesting stuff, good kids. All had to craft a bowl and other tools, I really think this was to combat boredom and to keep the mind focused.
Anyway, to my question, they made an interesting snare that I have not seen. It isn't in my Army Survival Manual or the SAS Survival Guide. It was like a figure four but upside down and tied to a tree. The power for the snare was provided by a counter-weight. Anybody know what this trap is and how to set it up?

tjg
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you're talking about something like this?
portablesnare1.jpg

Instead of a spring pole, they're using a counter weight? Gregory Davenport calls it an Ace Mangle trap IIRC.

Doc
 
Ah. Thanks. I checked out the source of the pic and tried to post it the way I usually do. Forgive me for being a busybody old chap.
 
coote said:
Ah. Thanks. I checked out the source of the pic and tried to post it the way I usually do. Forgive me for being a busybody old chap.
Click to expand...

OK :D

Besides, coote, do you think I would have something on traps that I wouldn't share with you? :confused: That would be unthinkable. :D

Doc
 
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