The old cogger I got this from said it was a snapping turtle trap. When it is set the jaws are wide open. I didn\'t want to play with it. You take a small duckling chick and run the hook thru his back skin and then chain the trap down to the water leavel so the duckling can splash around and drawthe big snapper up for a meal. When he pulls on the duck, the hook releases and, well you get the picture. But, maybeit wasused to catch small alligators. I would think a big 800 lb. gator would pull himself off.

On Aug-04-15 at 08:34:01 PDT, seller added the following information:

I am mistaken on the \"silver paint\" that I answered another E-Bayer with the question of paint. I looked later and can see that it is not paint but a metal plating, either nickel or light galvanizing. The plating is about 60% with very mild rust surface coming thru.