This is the another of a batch of Flightmaster traps I acquired from a simulated game clay business. They had been bought direct from the manufacturer, including a couple of prototypes and some with modifications but all owned by the same business until the owner’s retirement when he put them into storage. The Classic here is a heavy duty industrial trap with a long semi-recocking lever operating system.Given the use I think the trap has had its condition is very good. The owner had a repair and service regime in place so the trap has been looked after well. One of his design alterations was lock adjuster block on the base which I have replaced as the thread was getting a bit thin. Another change to original was the lever that had been welded on, I reckon to save losing handles. The seat was a bit past it so I have made a new one, not cushioned but that’s easy enough to do if required.The drive rail shows virtually no wear so is probably a replacement, there are two sets of mounting holes so it can be moved to the bottom of the arm to throw a battue. There’s a new clay stop and stainless steel teal clip on the arm which are clean and straight. I was surprised at how well the trap cleaned up although most of the dirt was down to over zealous greasing, the are patches of surface rust but nothing to detract from the absolutely solid steel of the trap or base. The trap is pictured in the safe position so to use it for the first time the trapper will pull the long lever anticlockwise a few times until the arm locks at 6 o’clock. A clay is then placed on the arm and on the gun’s call the trapper pushes the lever fully forward to launch the target and the arm stays at semi-recocked at 9 o’clock via a big industrial sprag bearing ready for the trapper to do it all again. Elevation adjustment is by a large ‘T’ bolt and a captive pivot bolt, there is also spring tension adjustment by a knob at the back. The back leg can be removed by a single smaller ‘T’ bolt and the trap folds forward to minimise storage space, one of the reasons the previous owner had so many of these traps. All the Flightmasters are sound and heavy, this design is one of the most comfortable traps I’ve used. As this is a single thrower it does put out a lovely target from the double spring, most of the singles you’ll see are used to show long overhead birds to simulated game shooters. I could probably make this into a double if required but there’s a lot of fun to be had from this trap as it is. £220 (+£25 delivery)