Antique Hand-Forged Iron Bear Trap with Chain — Gold-Rush Provenance

A hand forged iron bear trap with a wrought jaw and a single chain and hook, rusted from all its years but still working. By local rumor it came out to California during the Gold Rush and was found near the Holcomb Valley mines, the site of Southern California's largest gold rush, named for William F. "Grizzly Bill" Holcomb, who struck gold there in 1860 and hunted the valley's grizzlies to feed the miners. That is the story as it came to us and we have never been able to prove it, but it is a good one. This piece measures about 28" x 15" and weighs nearly 20 lbs.