Gerber Gear 31-003567 Armbar Drive Multitool with Screwdriver Pocket Knife 2.50 In Blade, Orange

The Gerber Armbar Drive is one of those things that I really want to like. It's a fantastic tool with some fantastic ideas, but there are a few flaws that prevent me from fully supporting and recommending it. I'm comparing it to the Leatherman T4 and the Super Tinker Swiss Army Knife as a point of comparison because they all have a knife, screwdrivers, and scissors, which I believe is a fair comparison. (A picture of all three side-by-side is included. ) This is the other side. )br>br>Let's take a look at the overall design before we get into the details. The Armbar is the ideal size for a pocket tool/knife, and it's exactly what the Leatherman T4 should have been. It fits in the pocket nicely, unlike the T4, and it isn't as large and blocky as the T4. The Armbar is about the same size as the Super Tinker and a lot smaller than the T4 in terms of size. Gerber nailed the form factor, and it fits perfectly in your pocket and in your hand, with excellent build quality. Overall, the fit and finish are excellent, and the tools have virtually no play. The lack of a pocket clip is the most noticeable flaw in the overall design. (I'll talk about tool flaws later. ) ) A low-profile clip, in my opinion, would greatly aid in the sale of this item. I'm not a fan of digging through the bottom of my pocket for a tool like this. The knife blade is substantial, not an afterthought. br>br> If you find the T4 blade to be too small, the Armbar blade may be the answer. It has a nice shape with a slight curve at the tip. It opens easily with one hand and locks securely with a liner lock (which can be disengaged with one hand as well). The blade is sharp out of the box, and the shape suggests that it will be simple to resharpen as well, though I haven't had to do so yet. The scissors perform admirably. They work well with paper and thread but not with much else. The spring does not open the scissors wide enough to close them, so they must be opened 180 degrees to do so. I think the T4's scissors are better, and the Super Tinker outperforms them both. The odd little awl/reamer is next on the list. It's very short and doesn't have a hole, so its utility is limited, but I'm guessing it's all they could fit under the bit driver in the tiny space available. On the subject of strange, the Armbar has a strange (yet somehow wonderful) tool at the end. Officially, I believe it is a hammer, prybar, or cap-breaker. lifter. When it's closed, it's a good hammer and beater. It has a substantial feel to it and does not appear to be flimsy. It's an excellent design. It's an excellent bottle opener when opened, and the built-in fulcrum makes it an excellent pry tool. This is something I've never seen before, and Gerber should be proud of themselves for coming up with it. br>br>And now for the tool that prompted me to purchase the Armbar: the driver of bits I can't express how disappointed I was in the T4 because it lacked the Wave's bit driver, so when Gerber said they had a real bit driver in this form factor that fit regular bits, I was ecstatic. Yes, it was an instant buy for me, and I'm all for it, but once I got my hands on it, I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong: it's a lovely bit holder. This should have been a home run because the magnet holds the bit firmly in place and accepts any standard bit. except for the strange fact that the bit holder does not lock into place. It's perplexing to say the least. It is impossible to apply any pressure to it without risking your fingers. There isn't even a detent to speak of. It just opens and closes at random. nilly. I can't believe they put this thing through its paces and thought it was a good idea. It works on screws that don't require any pressure, but I wouldn't trust it with screws that require a significant amount of torque. br>br>In the end, you're more likely to buy a pocket tool with a full bit driver for the bit driver than for the other tools. (Including it is a waste of space if you don't need it. ) ) As a result, I find it difficult to recommend the Armbar in its current state. It's a pity, because it's a great little tool. It's the perfect size, the knife is excellent, and it comes with a full bit driver and scissors. That could be the perfect recipe for a multitool that fits in your pocket. If the bit driver had a lock, I would buy it right away. I'm not sure I'd buy it again at $40, but I found the orange version for $32, and I'm happy with my decision. If a second generation with a clip, better scissors, and a locking bit driver was available, I would gladly pay more. br>br>UPDATE AFTER EIGHT MONTHS: I gave it a three-star rating when I first saw it. After 8 months of use, I'm going to give it a 4-star rating. stars. I'm still dissatisfied with the non-response. The non-locking bit driver is still subpar, the scissors are still subpar, and the non-locking bit driver is still subpar. I still find locking awl to be an odd choice that I never use. However, I must admit that this device is enticing me for two reasons. First and foremost, the knife blade is a monster; it's thick and sturdy, and I've put it through its paces and it's still going strong. Second, the Armbar is the ideal body type. They got the size and weight just right. The Leatherman T4 is simply a more functional tool in general. Even so, when I leave the house, I still prefer the Armbar to the T4. The T4 has a lot of bulky, sharp corners that have scraped my hand a few times, whereas the Armbar practically disappears in my pocket and stays out of the way until I need it. It's not a perfect tool, but if you can find one for $30 or less, it's a good deal, and it'll come in handy because you won't be leaving it at home.

Lilyana Conner

| Mar 26, 2021

I like almost everything about this tool, but it's difficult to believe Gerber designed it so badly for the driver. It opens easily, and it's great not to have to rely on one of those half-finished products. The arm bar for the driver is kept very weakly fully extended by a simple spring instead of locking in place with a frame lock or some other kind of lock, similar to what Leatherman uses (although they work okay). I understand that installing a locking mechanism where the driver bar is located is difficult, but they are usually installed on the top. Designers are rated, and this appears to be a huge oversight. br>br>I'm not sure I want to put too much forward pressure on the driver because it appears to fold like origami. The other tools are all nice, though having to unfold the scissors is a pain, but they are sturdy enough to get the job done. br>br>I don't regret buying this, but I wish Gerber had given more thought to their design. Nonetheless, I cannot recommend it without reservation. Gerber is rumored to be working on a sequel. There is no design that will solve the problem. I sincerely hope so, because Gerber is one of my favorite designers.

Eliza Murray

| Jun 05, 2021

This is an excellent multi-tool, and I appreciate the fact that I can use it to replace bits without it becoming too bulky. The awl, scissors, and knife are all excellent. The driver does not lock, and it will collapse if you try to use it for anything that requires a lot of force to push down on. That being said, I've used it for hex, philips, and flat head bits, and it's worked perfectly. The pry/hammer portion at the bottom of the handle is also one of my favorites. This is something I do all the time with the multi tools, and I'm glad someone thought of it.

Orlando Lloyd

| Aug 28, 2021

I really like how big this is. It takes up very little space in my pocket. For my day-to-day needs, the tools are extremely helpful. br>br>On any given day, all I need is a tool to open a box or tighten or loosen a screw. This set includes a pair of scissors that I have yet to use. Because the knife does all of the cutting for me, the scissors may come in handy if I need to be a little more neat, such as when cutting out a pattern. It also comes with a small "hammer" for light hammering, which I have yet to test. That hammer can be used as a pry tool or a bottle cap opener by flipping it out. On a Multitool, this is a very unusual feature. br>br>I keep this in my pocket all the time and don't even realize it's there until I need it. Some users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of a pocket clip. I'm not bothered by it at all. I wanted to keep it hidden so that people wouldn't think I was carrying a knife. br>br>If you found my review to be useful, please let me know by clicking the "Helpful" button at the bottom of the page. Thank you very much! I'm pleased to be of assistance in your purchasing decisions.

Willa Terry

| Aug 05, 2021

My C33T is a great knife, but the blade is too soft and doesn't hold an edge well. The Gerber Armbar Driver is a great tool because the blade, bottle opener, and bit driver (which comes with two Phillips by default) can all be opened with just one hand. At the very least, for people who are right-handed. It is smaller than other comparable pocket knives with similar features in terms of size. It doesn't bother me that it lacks a pocket clip because it's small and comfortable to carry in my pocket. The cross section is square in shape. To make it slimmer, I wouldn't mind if the scissor or awl were removed. Make the remaining tool better (the scissor should be more like Swiss army knives, and the awl can be a little longer) if they got rid of one. However, this isn't a major issue. Another reviewer remarked on the peculiar bottle opener, which when closed can be used as a hammer. This is a nice surprise that appears to be useful for tapping things in (small nails, starting a wood screw, removing pins, and so on). I'm not sure how well the knife edge will hold up in this situation. I've only had it for a few days, but it's already become my go-to daily bag.

Wrenley Ferguson

| Jan 12, 2021