Gerber Stainless Steel
Blunt Nose Multitool
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There are several companies out there that
make multitools. When I was assigned to my first duty station, I
was to be issued one and was allowed to choose from three main
brands. I chose the Gerber because it can be easily and quickly
opened with one hand, using the sliding rail-buttons along the sides of
the handle.
It must be noted that I used this tool
over the past three years extensively and under strenuous
circumstances, both in and out of the military. While Gerber has
updated the design of their current line of multitools over the past
few years, I have handled them and their high level of quality has
remained.
Cost:
Average
While nothing from Gerber is technically
inexpensive, for a stainless steel multitool of this caliber, the price
was pretty average.
Construction:
Good
For any prepared individual, a weather-proof
multitool is essential. Honestly, I wear this little item on my
belt every day and use it frequenly. The blade has not dulled too
terribly, and I havn't found the need to sharpen it yet, though it is
approaching. The pliers head still slides freely in the tracks of
the handle once unlocked. The utility locks on either side still
work well, although the resounding "click" is long gone.
One event caused this item from being overall
great, and that was when I was trying to unscrew a tiny slotted screw
on a family member's prescription glasses. The smallest of the
slotted screwdrivers in my multitool snapped, leaving a curved
stress-fracture at the tip. Upon closer inspection, I come to
find out the Stainless Steel in this multitool is cast. While
there is nothing wrong with cast steel tools, they just don't have the
durability of forged steel. However, forged steel is much more
expensive.
As for the small break, it could be that the
broken tool was not properly annealed after it was heat treated,
leaving it more brittle then it should be. If this were the case,
it would be defined simply as a lapse in quality control, which all
large manufacturers encounter considering the scale of their
operations. To be honest, I rarely, if ever need to use the
smallest slotted screwdriver. Everywhere else has held up to far
more brutal usage.
Features:
Good
This
multitool is constructed almost entirely out of stainless steel (except
the locking buttons, which are plastic). It has the
following: Blunt Nose Pliers, Straight Edge Knife, Bottle
Opener/medium slotted screwdriver combo, Large slotted screwdriver,
small slotted screwdriver (broken), fingernail file, Serrated blade
knife, wire bender, phillips head screwdriver, and a can opener.
Not to mention, along the sides of the handles, it has 3in/8mm
rule. Also, it came with a leather carrying case with a metal
snap button and belt loop. It has everything I need, and nothing
I don't. Well, to be honest, I really could use one of those tiny
spring-driven scissors.
Function:
Great
Every
time I've needed to access the pliers quickly, I have been able
to. Every tool still swings free and locks sure. Although,
one downside to the sliding of the pliers head in and out, is that I
must be cautious not to pinch my fingers in the rails, which I have
done. Although, after the first few days of using it I got the
hang of it.
Overall:
Good
The Gerber Stainless Steel Blunt Nose Multitool is an overall Good
implement. Considering that everytime I needed to use it, it came
through for me(yes, even when the small slotted broke it still worked
well enough to extract the screw). Although I have personally
handled other makes and models of multitool which I would prefer over
this, I honestly do not doubt its capabilities in any time of need.
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