Who's that Calvin

My older Vics are so close to 4 3/4" that you would say they are. That's why years ago I called 550s 1 1/2 size traps and had all kinds of people angry, the consensus was that 550s look as big as #2s so they must be as big as #2s. They do gain a bit of "kill area" by being elongated. The 550, 650 is outside dimension I believe; but, it's been several years since I measured one.

I would like to see a 600 size designed like a 550 (not 650).

Naive lol, you didn't prove my statement wrong. Just callin a spade a spade. Duke is like the old Electra guitar Co. They flat out copied the Les Paul and got sued for it, then changed the bible headstock to a wave headstock to get from under the law suit, and they did. They were at least good knock off's made in Japan. I am all for the free market and freedom. Duke consistently copies others work and gets'em made across the pond using crap steel. Hopefully they copied the MB better than they did the #2 Bridger square jaw (dirt gap and d-ring) lol.

22...the Bridger square jaw is a Northwoods COPY.

Want more bridger/ MB copies? I won't but there are plenty.

I agree Beav. However when you blatantly copy others designs, consistently, and produce them overseas to purposely undercut the people you copied it from, well, that's dirty pool to me. But that's just me. Our trapping community is pretty small, if this sort of thing don't bother ya, then rock on!

Yep, both made across the pond. And who is the American trap builder who only uses Duke 1 1/2's?

Did you ever have a D ring fail? Did you ever have a Duke trap where the lack of a debris gap lost you a critter?
I have actually used these traps and never have I had any issues with the issues you commented on. Bill even sent me the new D ring clevis's I'm still catching coyotes in those traps and the replacement parts are still in the bag.

Are all traps brands made with American steel? Most everything to day Is made out of foreign steel.

X2

I tested the D-ring as have others, they were junk. There were a couple guys that had pics on here showing the bad D-ring, one guy lost a trap due to it. Why on earth would he send out free replacements if there wasn't an issue lol. As far as steel goes, it's all about the amount of carbon in the steel.

Cast jaws and dogless please, I'd buy the first 10 dozen.. I'll wait on the Duke 550s until the coyotes test them for a season or two..

Duke, like any( say car manufacturer) have good models and bad. Some of us remember the old Duke #220s...Junk (they changed them per request). and others use the homerun Duke 1.5 on an epic scale just because they hold critters better than any other 1.5 on the market. A lot of other models in between...in about every manufacturer. Kind of like saying all Fords, Chevy's or Dodges are junk. Just shows narrow mindedness.

Many of us know the trap builder I talk about. If you don't know him, there's probably reason.

if someone gets one of these in their hands, would you be kind enough to post a pic with a tape measure on it


thanks

Hey Mr. Beav, any chance that Duke will make copies of the Sterling MJ 500?

Nott that I know of. But next time I talk to Mr. Bill I'll ask him.

I wonder if the guys at mtp know about this.

of course not they don't look at facebook or websites

I emailed Bill at Duke this morning and this is his reply.

"Thank you for your message this morning.

Yes, we are developing this new trap.

While I haven’t seen the post you are referring to, there are some pictures circulating.

I assure you, you will like this trap.



We expect availability by June 1.

Pricing will vary from dealers, but we anticipate retail prices from $169-179 and possibly lower at conventions."

I am sure they do and are prepared to make money selling them just like they do the other Duke models.

This Is what I know. If a dealer buys the MB traps direct from MTP there Is very little wiggle room where they can make any money when they re sell. So Duke has come up with cheaper version Of The 550 where a dealer can make some money and that should come back to benefit the end consumer. The dealers have already been notified by Duke Traps and I'm sure orders have been placed. so everyone In the trap selling business Is aware of the new traps and the price structure. So at a $170.00 per dozen price to the trapper that's about a $30.00 savings per doz from the MB 550s sold by MTP.



The UPS truck hasn't stopped at the house yet. LOL