Gerber Lockdown Pry - A Useful Tool
The usual good Gerber quality. All the blades are locking and use a 'side lock' mounted inside the frame between the blades. The lock is very effective, but it does require a good amount of force to unlock the blades from their open position. The pry bar function is excellent for small wooden items and nails, and has the added advantage of being a bottle opener. I really purchased this as a pocketable scalpel blade holder. The supplied No. 11 blade is the type found in craft knives, and initially I wondered if standard scalpel blades would fit. They do fit and are secure enough for fine work. This fitting allows access to a very large range of easily obtainable and economical blades, so for anyone doing craft on the move, it is a wonderful tool to have. The scissors are still a little stiff on my model but, as an owner of a few Gerber knives, I know this will free up with a little more use. The belt clip is secure and there is no danger of it falling off a belt in normal EDC use. I have carried this securely on various belts ever since I bought it. The main knife blade is of the usual good Gerber quality and holds an edge reasonably well. All the blades can be opened single-handed, but not closed single-handed. So why only 4 stars? The file is not that useful, as it does not seem to have much 'bite'. The file has one single cut side and one double cut side, and neither seem to be particularly effective. It has two safe edges rather than one cutting edge, which would allow it to be used as a saw. That said, I tend not to use files that are non-replaceable on multi-tools and keep them for pure emergency use to avoid wearing them out. There is a sharp chisel on the end of the file, which does at least give the blade a second purpose. The stiffness of the lock is also a potential problem with cold, tired or older fingers. If I could give it 4 1/2 stars, I would. Apart from those two small concerns, it is an excellent tool and one I would not be without.
