I believe you are correct.

Didn't woodstream buy up Northwoods and the original montgomery, so they could close them down and continue to sell Victor's?

When the MB550 was first produced it was tested extensively on the actual trapline as all Caven's products are. Has the Duke 550 ever seen dirt or a coyotes paw? Trust me coyotes will find any weakness and exploit it till it fails.. Or are we supposed to test them for Duke? Not me!
Iv'e ran MB 550 os 4 coils for close to 10 seasons without any distortion or need to readjust unless they get ran over. 2 pullouts out of a bunch of coyotes, I have no reason to buy a copy that may or may not hold up to the actual hard pounding trapline.. I'll stick with what's working!

MB750 has the miles trigger like the sterling. Never have understood why the 650 doesn't. 26 each for 650c and LOTS easier to get your hands on than the mj600. I am certain I will catch the same number of cats and coyotes no matter which one I use, sterling or mb.

Buy whatever you want it wont effect me. Seems like if the MB550 was an original enough design it would have been patented.

The MB750 and MB 650 both sure look like they are copying the sterling trap

For what its worth the first time I was shown a "miles trigger" on a longspring, the old trapper called it a gun notch. I am not certain Miles is the originator of that either.

those 650's work just fine

What the heck is that supposed to mean? You post a vague comment, saying you welcome debate, then when I ask for clarification, you come back with this? How am I equating Caven's and Duke's. In what manner?

In their contribution to the field of trapping? If that was what you meant, I would guess Duke would win. I've never asked Duke for a contribution for a trapping association and walked away with less than a dozen traps, but have walked away from Caven's with 2 1 oz bottles of lure. If you mention to Duke's that you're doing something for children, you leave with multiple dozens of traps.

Or were you asking about quality of traps? I have never used a 450 or 650, but I have 3 dozen 550s, and I hate them. I have one dozen old stock, and 2 dozen new stock, and after a catch you better have channel locks in your pocket, because you WILL need to rework the dog/pan to get it to set again. I use every Bridger and Duke in the truck before I'll pick up a 550. Now, if you're comparing Bridger (a Caven owned brand) to Duke... Bridger wins hands down in my opinion... they're a lot closer to ready out of the box, than the Duke's are. But if you don't mind tinkering with traps (I hate it!) it doesn't take much to make a Duke #2 SJ equal a Bridger #2. Bridgers (again, a Caven owned brand) are my favorite trap that is currently in production.

Or were you asking about the copying aspect? As pointed out by many on here, a lot of the MB 650 is a direct copy of the MJ600. The 550's name was copied from Heimbrock and Helfrich. I've not seen anyone ask where the idea for the 550's jaw design came from, either.

MB550s are wildly popular. People don't change what works. I doubt Caven's will lose much if ANY business over this new trap, but they will surely lose a LOT of business over their decision not to sell one of the most popular brands of traps anymore. Yesterday, if I needed a dozen Duke traps, I would have ordered from Caven's... along with my shock springs, swivels, chain, and whatever else caught my fancy from the catalog.... now I'll be forced to order from FNT or Sterling.

If this reply did not address your question, Catch22, please be more specific, man.....

Yes, the MB650 is a direct knock off of the Sterling. They changed the pan system so it wouldnt be a complete copy. I agree with the guys that mention this, it was OK for him to copy Sterling or Helfrich but Duke cant copy "his" design? He did the same thing as Duke, copied a better trap then changed a small part of it and sold it for half the price. And just like Duke will do, the little part that was changed will make it inferior to the "original"

rino7 the sterling has a smaller pan than the 650 making the "kill" area about the same size. Old sterlings the pan is way above the trap jaws. The trigger notch does wear out till you just kinda guess where to pull the pan down to.

650 the notch wears out and has to be filed once in awhile. have had to weld a couple to build them back up and refile them. had to weld one pan and refile for the same reason.


I still don't believe anyone will catch more fur with one over the other.

When you set a 650 though and it wont set while putting a line out or doing a remake is irritating. I throw that trap in the bed behind the cab and grab another out of the box. I set and fire them all before season but inevitably have to change a couple before I'm done. When that notch on the sterling gets wore you can still use the trap as is. Same thing with the MB 750. Not much pan tension but the trap is fast enough it doesn't matter. Wont miss any fox then. Might miss a FEW beaver with the wore down 750.


Carlis patented his trigger and lots of people threw a fit when it got copied and he complained. It was even admitted to in court it was copied. Still folks said he ought to quit fussing.

Now the MB550 is copied. The only thing original on the trap is the MB before the 550.

Is the MB line of traps made in the U.S.A., or just assembled here the way chevy ford dodge and toyota are?

MTP has always treated me good. Good fast service. I don't believe a little competition from Bill Duke is going to hurt them too bad.

I could not have said it better myself. Big part of it being the last part that I made bold.

I have spent quite a bit of money with Cavens and have not been disappointed and I would not hesitate to spend more with them. When I am looking to place an order I am looking to see who has what I am looking for in stock. The majority of my orders are >$500. That helps with the shipping cost. I have placed some order for less than that but I needed that stuff right now. I believe that not selling Duke products will hurt their sales but I also understand his point. It will not hurt the sales of duke products as they will just be purchase elsewhere. He would be better off just not offering their new trap.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Colton

If only Coonduke would have waited till April first this thread could have done better then the Blue bucket post. LOL

I guess not !!?

I can’t believe that you guys are still talking about this. After 251 posts, would think you would have all bases covered by now?

and yet here you are.

Nailed It pcr2 LOL

Not sure how a guy can complain when he once copied another trap when they made the mb-650. Im just looking forward to those closeout sale prices when they liquidate their Duke supplies

I’m not commenting on the trap. Good or bad. I don’t give a F!!!

Then why comment at all.
WE are still waiting for your blow by blow description of your Mississippi hog hunt.

I like this post!! I have over 200 MB-550s . Their great traps. Please tell me the name of ANY one that Longlines with duke traps??