No made in America stamp on MB 550

Think he meant figuratively. The literature says Made in the USA

are they cast jaws? or was i just hoping.

Just to put a human element into this. During one of Minn trappers conventions a Canadian wanted 10 dozen of their design that can be used in Canada. Tim went back and together the two worked till 3 am and came back the next day with the order. Now if that is not service, MADE IN AMERICA OVERNIGHT what is.

I am a Duke fan and a MB fan. The Duke 1.5 coils and 1 coils never have been a problem for the thousands of coons or rats harvested. When I got hit by a thief and they took 30 some traps in a night, I was glad I had Dukes and not MBs out there. Sucked it up, went on...Just how many liners are out there running a few hundred mb 450s for rats or coon? Before DPs I'd venture to say over half the fur in the US was caught with Dukes. Plain and simple economics drives even trapping.

I can't believe that a Caven Is about to lose his job over a new trap hitting the market, There are all kinds of trap companies introducing a different type of trap and I haven't seen MTP closing the doors. In fact as new traps come out they are selling them so I don't see any reason to panic.
I'm going to buy some new Duke 550s and see how they work.

Yes they will have cast jaws and a stainless steel dog.

He didn't say Caven was the one worried about HIS job.

If it's made by Duke it's a copy, sometimes a good copy but most times it is inferior to the original. Cheaper does not always save you money in the long run. To bad Duke can't come up with something others would want to copy but if all you make are cheaper copys of others work why bother.

i'm gonna buy some real 550's cause i already know how they work.

I get It. But do you really think they are going to stop building MB550s.

That little I'm worried about losing my job post was well played. Especially the new baby part of It. LOL
I hope he stays employed and His new baby will be Ok.

Thank you to our friends and customers that have had our back. One of my main issues with the Duke 550 and one that I haven't seen addressed in this thread is the fact that Minnesota Trapline Products has been one of the largest dealers of Duke traps since day 1. Literally millions of dollars worth of Duke traps have crossed our packing tables over the years. In my opinion we represented the Duke Brand well for decades and got a knife in the back for our trouble. Forgetting everything else, this in itself to me is inexcusable, immoral, and a slap in the face.

No, Minnesota Trapline Products won't be stocking the Duke 550 as some have suggested. In fact being we mean so little to the Duke Company we will closing out all Duke traps and products over the spring and summer. Thanks again to our friends and customers who are supporting us in this. Tim Caven

Dang straight!!

I know you don't care for me Beav but please leave my employees out of this. We have 3 men that do nothing but build 550's every work day year round so of course they would be concerned.

X2...

I need to order some 550's and more 450's now, and if MTP ever builds a 350, #1 size trap I can use for muskrats and coon, I'd buy that also.

I may be the only one, but I've always assumed Beav worked for Duke traps. Maybe that is what I get for assuming.

I've not always agreed with you Beav, but always respected your knowledge and what you bring to T-man. But that was disrespectful. I don't think Mr. Paul or Mr. Caven deserved that. Reckon you'd rather have a American feller with a family lose his job while a dozen chinamen celebrate getting a job. Good grief.

I own an assortment of trap brands, Duke, MB, Northwood, No B.S., Montgomery, victor, But over 50% of my coyote traps are standard duke #2's with OS jaw. I have caught many coyote and cat in them never with a bad catch or a loss. I always inspect all my traps thouroughly before they go in the ground and on all the dukes I will admit I have changed the pan tension screws. But for 9$ a piece I'll keep changing screws. I see nothing wrong with them. I do understand they aren't american made, which is unfourtunate. But if i can buy 2 or 3 of them for the price of one 550 or 650, that makes plenty of sense to me long as they arent losing me animals. Don't get me wrong, the MB traps and simillar American made brands are definatley sturdier and a better made trap. But if you can't afford spending 20+$ on a single trap they are a great value. Where I trap I have to set some areas where there is a possibility of theivery, and losing 9$ is a loss I can afford. I do love my 650's and especially my no B.S traps for their ability to come out of frozen ground and the strong lock up, but like I said out of many animals, and some very big and aggressive male coyotes and tom bobcats,I have never lost an animal or even had a bad catch in a duke trap. As for this new model, if they are still half the price of a 550 then that sounds like a great deal, however if they are the same price, I will stick with MB's simply for the fact they are U.S. made. As for all of you that hate duke traps, I would be curious to know if you have actually lost animals because of them or specifically what is wrong with them other than just disliking them for the sake of disliking them. Also, I really only speak for the coyote size coilspring traps as I havent used any others besides #1 coils for marten which work great for me.

What trap is the MB-650 designed after?

I don’t think the Beav means any disrespect to anyone , he’s just an old crotchety leatherneck that likes to stand up for his preference of trap. I for one have used the dukes and don’t care to spend that much time getting a trap ready to catch a coyote, I will keep buying the mb’s !