Videos are protected by Copyright. Traps need patents - big difference.

yes, the higher steel costs do get passed off to the consumer, and thats what raises the retail price, and causes people to go elsewhere. higher steel prices kills sales of American made traps, and other products as well.

If they work for fur trapping. I don't think the animal cares who or where it was made or cost.
Like I said. Fur trapping and ADC trapping two different businesses.
I say set what works for you. But mostly, enjoy the moments you have in the outdoors. I came from a state where trapping is almost banned entirely to a state were I feel lucky to set traps and have built a decent ADC business.
Sarge

Nice traps

One's illegal the others only immoral.

So, did bridger copy Victor? Or sleepy creek? Or bmi? At what point is it allowed to make the same style trap and be "moral"?

The Montgomeries manufactured by Victor/Oneida?

Or the Montgomeries manufactured by Montgomery?

If the latter, I agree they are better than the Duke #2 square jaws.

If the former, IMO, the Dukes are the superior trap.

If people didn't copy and improve on designs and products, we'd be stuck with a lot of inferior junk.

I have had my hands on the new Duke 330. The jaw spread will be 10 X 10. I like the safeties better. I have Belisle that get bent jaws on head and turtle catches, and I have to straighten them back out. Same happens with my Duke 330's.
I don't think there’s a difference in metal between the Duke and Belisle’s.. I have had several Belisle springs break at the coil, never had a Duke do that. Bill Duke has always made a good affordable trap and trappers kept asking him to make a better trap. We asked for one made to set right out of the box. Well, he has, and folks are still complaining. I am glad someone is willing to invest in trappers. I am really hoping he ends up making a body gripper lineup with 220, 160, 120 and 110.
Bill’s a great feller and provides great products for trappers no matter what your financial situation. What’s there to grip about.
VS

I have used Duke traps almost exclusively over the years, coil springs and body grips for fur trapping and have no complaints. I do have some other traps but Duke products are what I set 99% of the time. I think Duke makes it affordable for most hobby trappers to get in the game. Eric

Duke definitely didn't improve the mb-550, and I highly doubt they'll improve the Belisle 330?

Creating the same style is one thing, making something similar with improvements is good for everyone. Blatantly copying someone's design right down to the name and having them made overseas is just gross.

You do realize that the Duke 550 is based off of a design that MB discarded?

duke makes cheaper versions of the nicer traps to fit everyones budget and the reason people like dukes are the price, i have tried some duke footholds and was not impressed but i will say there conibears arnt that bad. i will say though how they copied belisles desighn is not okay.

Love how bit long ago I was seeing people constantly posting stuff they wish MB would do but never did at a price point they never would do , now that Duke is doing that folks are upset

Yep

If you want to buy Mb traps go ahead If you want Dukes go ahead Or buy nothing and beech about it on Tman

Same for me. I own a lot of Dukes and are happy with them.

I'm guessing that might have had some influence on Duke coming out with their 550
Hard to ride the morel high horse without getting bucked off once in awhile

More power to duke

At one time, you could buy all the parts for the Brawn from MTP with padded jaws, for under 26 bucks, and put them together yourself,,,,(I wrecked that ability), Heck of a profit margin....