Strictly Trapping


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Trading Post
(Please support F&T Trading Post, our sponsor for the Trapping Only Forum)



TrappersPost
Please support Trappers post, a sponsor of the Strictly Trapping Forum



Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 12 1 2 3 11 12
Duke 550 vs MB 550? #6803549
03/15/20 09:07 PM
03/15/20 09:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
T
T-REV Offline OP
trapper
T-REV  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
Hey guys Im possibly in the market to get a small bunch of 550 traps. Ive never owned any before so Im curious if you guys have any pros and cons with the MB 550 vs Duke 550. Other than the Duke is made in China and is a direct copy of the American MB except the pan shape difference and the MB sports crunch proof swivels and choice of regular or offset jaws. Please do not beat me up over considering a Chinese made copy of an American made trap. I am a trapper with a modest budget and just looking for the best trap for my money.

Last edited by T-REV; 03/15/20 09:07 PM.
Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803574
03/15/20 09:19 PM
03/15/20 09:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
If It's about the price I would buy the Duke 550. They even offer free shipping If that's an issue.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803597
03/15/20 09:28 PM
03/15/20 09:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
strike2x Offline
trapper
strike2x  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
I too am a trapped with a modest budget so I opted for the MB 550s just less of them. I will buy more here and there but I started with 2 dozen and now have 4 dozen. To some people that isn't a lot of traps but for me it is plenty. I believe having fewer traps has made me a better trapped because I only set prime locations. I had 8 dozen Duke #2s and rarely could I have them All set at once because I didn't have enough time to run that many. One day I hope to have enough time to run a longer line.


Wish I had more time to trap....
Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803598
03/15/20 09:29 PM
03/15/20 09:29 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
sometimes PA sometimes ME
E
ebsurveyor Offline
trapper
ebsurveyor  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
sometimes PA sometimes ME
Originally Posted by T-REV
Hey guys Im possibly in the market to get a small bunch of 550 traps. Ive never owned any before so Im curious if you guys have any pros and cons with the MB 550 vs Duke 550. Other than the Duke is made in China and is a direct copy of the American MB except the pan shape difference and the MB sports crunch proof swivels and choice of regular or offset jaws. Please do not beat me up over considering a Chinese made copy of an American made trap. I am a trapper with a modest budget and just looking for the best trap for my money.



**Disclaimer: We try our very best to source all Minnesota Brand trap parts within the USA. At times in the past we have had issues sourcing sufficient quantities of particular parts from our USA suppliers. It is very important to us to provide a USA made product but also be able to provide trappers with traps. Therefore, our Minnesota Brand Traps are fully assembled by our American crew in Pennock, Minnesota with either all USA made parts or a combination of USA and minimal foreign parts when necessary to provide product to the marketplace.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: strike2x] #6803606
03/15/20 09:32 PM
03/15/20 09:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
T
T-REV Offline OP
trapper
T-REV  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
Originally Posted by strike2x
I too am a trapped with a modest budget so I opted for the MB 550s just less of them. I will buy more here and there but I started with 2 dozen and now have 4 dozen. To some people that isn't a lot of traps but for me it is plenty. I believe having fewer traps has made me a better trapped because I only set prime locations. I had 8 dozen Duke #2s and rarely could I have them All set at once because I didn't have enough time to run that many. One day I hope to have enough time to run a longer line.

Same with me. I work a full time job and supporting a wife and 3 kids at home so Its hard for me to have time to set a bunch of traps and have time to check a bunch of traps before or after work.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: ebsurveyor] #6803621
03/15/20 09:37 PM
03/15/20 09:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
T
T-REV Offline OP
trapper
T-REV  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
Originally Posted by ebsurveyor
Originally Posted by T-REV
Hey guys Im possibly in the market to get a small bunch of 550 traps. Ive never owned any before so Im curious if you guys have any pros and cons with the MB 550 vs Duke 550. Other than the Duke is made in China and is a direct copy of the American MB except the pan shape difference and the MB sports crunch proof swivels and choice of regular or offset jaws. Please do not beat me up over considering a Chinese made copy of an American made trap. I am a trapper with a modest budget and just looking for the best trap for my money.



**Disclaimer: We try our very best to source all Minnesota Brand trap parts within the USA. At times in the past we have had issues sourcing sufficient quantities of particular parts from our USA suppliers. It is very important to us to provide a USA made product but also be able to provide trappers with traps. Therefore, our Minnesota Brand Traps are fully assembled by our American crew in Pennock, Minnesota with either all USA made parts or a combination of USA and minimal foreign parts when necessary to provide product to the marketplace.

So even the MBs sometimes are made with foreign parts? Did not know that.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803649
03/15/20 09:52 PM
03/15/20 09:52 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
I went with MB550 mainly because I wanted an out of the box set and go trap...after giving them a cleaning. I read about and still read about how a lot of traps are just as good (AFTER YOU TWEAK THEM). I don’t have time to “tweak” a trap in order to have it catch critters. I read about dogs being bent and I even made a post asking about 550’s. I personally have yet to have a bent dog and that’s even a catch with a 90lb incidental...the owner told me how much the incidental weighed when I called him to come get it out of the trap. He got it, I reset and caught a coyote 2 days later.
I have only had issues with two traps, apparently they don’t hold up well the BIG tractors and harrows!! And yes, the landowner paid for them to be replaced.
My next dozen, here shortly, will also be MB550’s. You get what you pay for...

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803669
03/15/20 10:05 PM
03/15/20 10:05 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,971
Oklahoma
M
Matt28 Offline
trapper
Matt28  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,971
Oklahoma
I have been talking to some people about the Duke 550s. If you aren't going to get real serious with setting traps the Dukes will do you great. The only problem I have heard of so far is the levers aren't as strong as the mb are, the Dukes will bend some and the pans are a little week but if the coyotes cant get their mouth on the pan to chew then it shouldn't be a problem. The price that I have been told on the dukes are crazy cheap I will be getting a dozen of the 650s and may get a dozen of the 550s. But I will always have my mb and will still buy more Mbs.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: Wanna Be] #6803674
03/15/20 10:09 PM
03/15/20 10:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
T
T-REV Offline OP
trapper
T-REV  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
Originally Posted by Wanna Be
I went with MB550 mainly because I wanted an out of the box set and go trap...after giving them a cleaning. I read about and still read about how a lot of traps are just as good (AFTER YOU TWEAK THEM). I don’t have time to “tweak” a trap in order to have it catch critters. I read about dogs being bent and I even made a post asking about 550’s. I personally have yet to have a bent dog and that’s even a catch with a 90lb incidental...the owner told me how much the incidental weighed when I called him to come get it out of the trap. He got it, I reset and caught a coyote 2 days later.
I have only had issues with two traps, apparently they don’t hold up well the BIG tractors and harrows!! And yes, the landowner paid for them to be replaced.
My next dozen, here shortly, will also be MB550’s. You get what you pay for...

I did read somewhere that the MB comes set with a 2.5Lb pan tension. The Duke had up to a 5Lb tension out of the box. I do like the fact also the MB comes with a choice on jaws. Offset or regular. I prefer regular myself. I do like the square pan the Duke sports but thats not enough to justify buying them. I believe I will probably do like strike2x suggested and buy the MBs just a couple here and there.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803680
03/15/20 10:14 PM
03/15/20 10:14 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
I have 2.5 dozen offset, but a I think my next dozen will be regular. Why? Just want to try them out, possible I’ve missed a possum or two with the offsets. Critters = $$$

Last edited by Wanna Be; 03/15/20 10:15 PM.
Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803818
03/16/20 12:21 AM
03/16/20 12:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,925
Aliceville, Kansas 43
Yukon John Offline
trapper
Yukon John  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,925
Aliceville, Kansas 43
I wish I could say that, given the choice, I would choose American made over price, but for me it's just not realistic. I hope to get better at this in the future, but who knows. I believe in American made products, and American jobs, sometimes though it's just not conducive to my situation. Best of luck with your decision!


Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803865
03/16/20 02:06 AM
03/16/20 02:06 AM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 447
Iowa
C
CoonNfoxtrapper Offline
trapper
CoonNfoxtrapper  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 447
Iowa
I bought 7 dozen Duke 550s I like them. I think they're as well built as a mb. Tractors smash them just the same as a mb and thieves dont seem to mind either. I dont regret my purchase one bit.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803883
03/16/20 05:52 AM
03/16/20 05:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,862
Huntingdon Co. Pa.
F
forestman3 Offline
trapper
forestman3  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,862
Huntingdon Co. Pa.
I got 2 dozen duke this past summer and will be buying more as long as the price stays the same.Only thing I did to them was put a nail swivel where the chain is hooked on to the trap.I would do this even if it was an MB,I just think it makes them nicer to bed.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6803995
03/16/20 08:48 AM
03/16/20 08:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
Flint Hill fur Offline
trapper
Flint Hill fur  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,083
Ks
Haven't bought any Duke 550s yet but did pre order a doz Duke 650s I'm excited to see next month

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6804249
03/16/20 12:04 PM
03/16/20 12:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,400
nebraska
S
scheide Offline
trapper
scheide  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,400
nebraska
I ran two dozen of the duke 550's this season. Other than checking pan tension and checking the pan height, I did nothing to them. Never lost an animal in them. All good pad catches. Never had a distorted spring lever, bent dogs or bent pan issues. I am now patiently waiting for the 650 to get here!

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6804567
03/16/20 05:03 PM
03/16/20 05:03 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 551
Iron Range, Minnesota
R
Ringbill5196 Offline
trapper
Ringbill5196  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 551
Iron Range, Minnesota
Tim Caven has done mountains of things for the trapping community nation wide. Funded projects. Donated prizes. Donated to legal defense battles. He won my devotion.

I have thought Duke traps were just fine. But a nearly exact copy was over the top. That trap was an attack on an American made product without regard to copyright law. Yes it is too expensive for a little Minnesota company to fight it in China and any ruling would not be binding there anyhow. However I personally will never buy another Duke trap because of it. I encourage others not to as well. Defend an American value.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: Ringbill5196] #6804654
03/16/20 06:15 PM
03/16/20 06:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
T
T-REV Offline OP
trapper
T-REV  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 679
West GA
Originally Posted by Ringbill5196
Tim Caven has done mountains of things for the trapping community nation wide. Funded projects. Donated prizes. Donated to legal defense battles. He won my devotion.

I have thought Duke traps were just fine. But a nearly exact copy was over the top. That trap was an attack on an American made product without regard to copyright law. Yes it is too expensive for a little Minnesota company to fight it in China and any ruling would not be binding there anyhow. However I personally will never buy another Duke trap because of it. I encourage others not to as well. Defend an American value.

I can understand that. I do agree it was dirty that duke produced a near exact copy of the MB and slapped their name on it to be produced in China at near half price of the MB. Very few things anymore are actually made in the good ol USA. Im sure as I ride home im sitting in a pair of jeans made in Bangladesh. A sweater made in Vietnam and work boots made in Mexico. That’s the nature of the game I guess.

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: Ringbill5196] #6804771
03/16/20 07:29 PM
03/16/20 07:29 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
~ADC~  Offline
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
I don't think anyone has done more for the trapping community than Duke Traps have. MTP is not all American made either as you can see in their disclaimer above. MTP also owns Bridger Traps which is all made overseas, no one mentions that. Either way if you're buying Duke traps you are supporting an American company as well as US trap supply places, distributors, truck drivers, and all the kids programs and other things Duke support. You should not feel bad for supporting them IMO.

I use Duke Traps, Belisle Traps, EZ-traps DPs and MTP traps along with a few other brands. I'm not apologizing for buying any of them. It's my money and I'll spend it where I want.

If you think about it MTP and Duke are very similar. Both have foreign made products made for them both have an American made division, (pecans in Duke's case). Both support trapping and trappers. Both sell traps that are controversial in their origins, both seem to be dependable shippers, and I'm sure a lot of other similarities,,, just buy whatever you want.

Last edited by ~ADC~; 03/16/20 07:40 PM.
Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6804777
03/16/20 07:33 PM
03/16/20 07:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Were does most of are fur go? Why not support the people who buy are fur???

Re: Duke 550 vs MB 550? [Re: T-REV] #6804983
03/16/20 09:55 PM
03/16/20 09:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 112
Republic of CO
Cootswatter Offline
trapper
Cootswatter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 112
Republic of CO
I tried 24 Dukes this year and the 20 that didn't break are already sold. Sorry. NO BS. Unless Nebraska Coyotes are super strong.
That's what I get buy AMERICAN when you can. Why NOT support China? crazy


"I've come to chew bubble gum and to kick ars, and I'm all out of bubble gum." - Rowdy Roddy Piper - They Live
Page 1 of 12 1 2 3 11 12
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  Drifter, Wolfdog91 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1