Two pictures of MB550’s.
The lugs and the formed jaws.

All my 550 offsets have the formed jaws. I just got a few from Cabela’s and they sent the ones with the lugs. (free shipping, good price and Cabela’s bucks)

I thought the lugs were a previous production that was no longer made.

What gives?

ps ... the ones from Cabela’s were very rough and had severe grind marks on them. On the top of the jaw, like they were trying to get rid of bad casting marks. Really weird.

I even looked to make sure they hadn’t sent some of those new Duke traps by mistake.

Interesting. I got a couple dz from Cabelas last year. I’ll have to go look and see what I have. I’ve bought MB 550’s for about five years now. New and used; from different sources. Have to see what i’ve got. I don’t have any of the first MB 550’s that came out. Had a few at one time but sold them.

Could call MTP and ask them what/why the difference.

Cabala’s and Bass Pro still have quantities of the old traps per MBT.

Dang, like my first thread and I answered my own question.

Lugs or no lugs, that’s a nice looking enlarged pan. I don’t think there’s a better pair in the trapping world then Tims 550s with Mikes 550 expanded pans. Can you imagine how much money could be made if they paired up and made an option to get a stock pan like Mike Kelly’s pan on the 550? It could be the 550 cat special. Add it to the MB cat trapper production line with the MB #2 cast jaw double long spring with an enlarged pan. Just a thought..........

Not a bad idea,cat trapper.I could see that one selling.

I really like that pan on my 550’s.

Stop giving Tim ideas to help get my money. He's doing a fine job already.

Or how about a bridger 3 dogless with cast jaws

If he made a 6inch inside spread, cast jaw, double longspring with a big pan!!!!!!! I'd have to remortgage the house and the wife would have to go back to work!

I'm sure Tim and Rob are paying attention. Be patient Trappers!

Yes

This^^^

Here is my idea of what they should make.

An MB600 with jaw spread right in the middle between the 550 and 650.
It should have offset cast jaws.
2 coil springs unless 4 are necessary to function properly, but if so the springs less stout than on the 650.
It should have real levers like on the 550 NOT wire levers like on the 650.
Since it will have a larger jaw spread, it should have a proportionally larger sized pan.
The nuts on the bottom of the trap should be tack welded so they will never come loose
Chain and swivel should remain the same.

Here it is.I wouldn't weld the nuts.You may have to disassemble and repair the trap later.They use all lock nuts anyway.I've never had a problem.

The jaw spread is 6 1/8" and it is wider than the 650,hinge to hinge.It is actually a fraction lighter than the 550.

WOW!! Taximan. Would you be willing to make some of those to sell??

The Taxi mod got my head spinning , Had Stalker do a few with the Bridger dogless system. They worked flawless. But they are an expensive and difficult modification. Now it's in Tims and Robs hands.... be patient..

In my mind it should have Thick cast jaws, 6 inch jaw spread, 4 coils, 3/16th offsets, dogless, And be legal in all states and Provinces.. I've been runnin 550s for close to 10 seasons now, never had a nut come loose or anything else that needed maintained . I go thru all my traps after season ends, with 550s a steel brush and a bath is all that's needed!

If you could just take a 550 and “inflate it” into the same trap with a six inch jaw spread.

That right there would be perfection.

Used to be called the "3N" and "4N" victor
If MTP would put cast jaws on the #4 bridger you'd have it

Taximan - that is a beautiful prototype!

Are you satisfied with the standard 550 size pan? It looks a bit small, but maybe works fine.

I have not ever had problems with the nuts, just an extra touch that is unnecessary.

Do you believe the geometry is strong enough to take a beating like the 550?

Where did you put the spring power? Less than the 650? Did you use 4 springs from a 550?

The levers look plenty high. How is the lockup with a 1” dowel?

Again, beautiful work! You made something that doesn’t exist!