Just seeing this. I’ve had the arm bar drive for almost 2 years and it is invaluable for me in my day to day. The great thing about the driver is that it can be used as a stubby and get some solid torque on screws. I use the scissors everyday and have found that the scissors are more important for me and these are quite adequate for opening small plastic parts bags.
😄 I used my Wave a few times for bit removal too. I've had the Armbar Drive for a week and really, really like it. The driver is lovely, I agree. Hard as it was for me to believe, the scissors were bested only by a pair of leatherman Raptors and a victorinox sd when cutting paracord. Micra, pioneer x, sog snippets, wave + couldn't cut as well. I don't like pocket clips so much, so I'm cool with the lack of, but you're right....it would've been a nice touch. Great concise review man!!
Grabber armbar slim became my edc knife never looked back I also use it with a set of neiko nut driver adapters can fit there set of metric and standard nut drivers add in some double sided whia bits and you have a Extremely large capability set in a small package
A shorter, non-locking blade with space for another bit would make this legal everywhere and more useful and a lock on the driver would reassure people.
I find loose key rings especially that small make these tools cumbersome. I like a fixed tab with a hole, a clip or integrated carabineer works best. The whole idea for something this small is that it's with you always and quick to whip out. I have a Dime which takes mean few seconds to aim the ring onto a 'biner, while my Leatherman style is easier to engage.
So I am just coming across these and they are on sale. Seeing the difference, I will buy the smaller one. I want to make a note that a few years back the only option for a bit screw driver was their drive multitool (forget the name) and was $80 bucks. So getting this feature at this price is amazing
Gerber now has 5 Armbar variations, with different selection of functional features setting them apart: 1) Armbar Drive (handyman use) 3) Armbar Slim Drive (handyman use) 2) Armbar Trade (handyman use) comes with pocket clip 4) Armbar Scout (camping/outdoors use) comes with pocket clip 5) Armbar Cork (city life use)
Have you actually tried using the screw driver? When you push and turn, that twisting action is enough to collapse it. EDC'd this for 6 months before getting fed up with it. Great feature and size just bad implimentation.
I tightened a few things up with it. probably best not going to be the best tool for a large project. I like the form factor, but I agree a lock on the driver would've really been nice.
Mystery metal? Well... it leaves a mark on satin wall paint like my silver bracelet does... and silver is conductive... maybe for technology tendencies??? I did metal drawing on primed surfaces... I thought it was cool... pure silver leaves a good solid line as does lead... not that I used lead lol Copper that was good... soft copper. Apparently they used these wires like pencils in the olden days. Anyway one chap stated that there is a whistle on the armbar drive... so I tried it and it kinda works... Like blowing over a bottle... just cover the holes up.
I have both and like them equally. Bought the slim by accident and realised only after it arrived! The Armbar lives in the pouch of my MTB, while the Slim on my desk.
Wish the slim drive kept the scissors and skipped the knife fr fr. I have a quality blade i keep on me as well as a leatherman wave+. If it was just the armbar and the scissors it would reduce reduncancy. As it sits I might as well keep my wave+ and centerdrive in my edc but id like to drop to the armbar drive + leatherman sidekick and then id have more weight available for extra bits and i could carry a little lightweight secondary plier set
I confirm that the lack of locking of the bit holder is a problem because, obviously, during screwing, it is not always aligned with the screw head. The scissors are pathetic. Gerber now makes incredibly bad multi-tools.
@@gearsNtools "light tasks" .... This series of multi-tools from Gerber are very bad, very low-end. Bibury or Splitman do much better. And nothing to do with the Free T models. No need to be complacent.
I gotta agree. Just looking at them scissors you can tell there junk. Never been a fan of gerber either. It’s always been between a Vic and leatherman for me
I have used the bit driver on mine pretty extensively, and I've never felt that the slight offset made it difficult to use. It's not even really noticeable.
If you compare this Armbar to a SAK that includes a pair of scissors then I think the Armbar sizes up very nice. While some would bemoan the lack of a locking mechanism on the Armbars driver, I say just bend the tool 90 and stop bitching. I find the SAK lack of a locking blade much more egregious and as to the ability of the hammer function, I think it is much more effective as a hammer fist self-defense tool. The design is nice and I added a clip but I have seen two different pocket clips for this by now. I also can add a second bit inside the device which makes it more functional. In a nutshell, I can see in an Urban Environment this device is more useful than a SAK.
There is a knack to using the scissors. You have to apply slight outward pressure (to the left) with your thumb as you press the lever down. That sort of forces the blades together, and you can get very fine clean cuts. They aren't as nice as the scissors on a Victorinox SAK, but I think they are more durable. I have owned a number of Victorinox SAKs over the last 35 years, and the scissors are always the first thing to break, and they always break in the same place. To me, the Armbar Drive is the ultimate tool combination for my everyday use. Scissors, knife blade, bit driver. Perfect. I keep the Armbar in my pocket, and a Railer bit holder on my car keys that holds 5 double-sided bits. You can also store another double-sided bit under the scissors, so that's a total of 14 different drivers.
Knife should open from the same direction as the other tools "Spydie Flick" style - a flat back to a knives handle is vital on a working blade and like Victorinox also KNOW a blade closer to the palm is best - on the outside it wants to rotate and gets amplified by a broomhandle design. Further (like all gerber cut out designs) one of the cutouts should have been an oxygen wrench.
Just seeing this. I’ve had the arm bar drive for almost 2 years and it is invaluable for me in my day to day. The great thing about the driver is that it can be used as a stubby and get some solid torque on screws. I use the scissors everyday and have found that the scissors are more important for me and these are quite adequate for opening small plastic parts bags.
I put a small ziptie on my knife cutout to make a "thumbstud" for way easier one hand opening. Lol just a suggestion.
😄 I used my Wave a few times for bit removal too. I've had the Armbar Drive for a week and really, really like it. The driver is lovely, I agree. Hard as it was for me to believe, the scissors were bested only by a pair of leatherman Raptors and a victorinox sd when cutting paracord. Micra, pioneer x, sog snippets, wave + couldn't cut as well. I don't like pocket clips so much, so I'm cool with the lack of, but you're right....it would've been a nice touch.
Great concise review man!!
Steel is 3cr for blade.
Grabber armbar slim became my edc knife never looked back I also use it with a set of neiko nut driver adapters can fit there set of metric and standard nut drivers add in some double sided whia bits and you have a Extremely large capability set in a small package
A shorter, non-locking blade with space for another bit would make this legal everywhere and more useful and a lock on the driver would reassure people.
I find loose key rings especially that small make these tools cumbersome. I like a fixed tab with a hole, a clip or integrated carabineer works best. The whole idea for something this small is that it's with you always and quick to whip out. I have a Dime which takes mean few seconds to aim the ring onto a 'biner, while my Leatherman style is easier to engage.
So I am just coming across these and they are on sale. Seeing the difference, I will buy the smaller one. I want to make a note that a few years back the only option for a bit screw driver was their drive multitool (forget the name) and was $80 bucks. So getting this feature at this price is amazing
Gerber Armbar: amzn.to/3suRY5B
Gerber Armbar Slim: amzn.to/3JfCYiA
Gerber now has 5 Armbar variations, with different selection of functional features setting them apart:
1) Armbar Drive (handyman use)
3) Armbar Slim Drive (handyman use)
2) Armbar Trade (handyman use) comes with pocket clip
4) Armbar Scout (camping/outdoors use) comes with pocket clip
5) Armbar Cork (city life use)
I actually don't want a pocket clip, so this works great! People get skittish when they see you have a knife where I live.
Another swing and a miss. No locking driver and no pocket clip means this is not a usable EDC.
Have you actually tried using the screw driver? When you push and turn, that twisting action is enough to collapse it. EDC'd this for 6 months before getting fed up with it. Great feature and size just bad implimentation.
I tightened a few things up with it. probably best not going to be the best tool for a large project. I like the form factor, but I agree a lock on the driver would've really been nice.
@@gearsNtools a locking mechanism for the driver, and a pocket clip would have really elevated this tool.
Mystery metal?
Well... it leaves a mark on satin wall paint like my silver bracelet does... and silver is conductive... maybe for technology tendencies???
I did metal drawing on primed surfaces... I thought it was cool... pure silver leaves a good solid line as does lead... not that I used lead lol Copper that was good... soft copper.
Apparently they used these wires like pencils in the olden days.
Anyway one chap stated that there is a whistle on the armbar drive... so I tried it and it kinda works... Like blowing over a bottle... just cover the holes up.
these tools are great for an emergency. in day to day use they stink. always have a decent tool close by.....
I have both and like them equally. Bought the slim by accident and realised only after it arrived! The Armbar lives in the pouch of my MTB, while the Slim on my desk.
Both are hardly little tools :)
Wish the slim drive kept the scissors and skipped the knife fr fr. I have a quality blade i keep on me as well as a leatherman wave+. If it was just the armbar and the scissors it would reduce reduncancy. As it sits I might as well keep my wave+ and centerdrive in my edc but id like to drop to the armbar drive + leatherman sidekick and then id have more weight available for extra bits and i could carry a little lightweight secondary plier set
Hey Gerber! put a lock on the bit tool and better blade then maybe I will consider it.
I confirm that the lack of locking of the bit holder is a problem because, obviously, during screwing, it is not always aligned with the screw head. The scissors are pathetic. Gerber now makes incredibly bad multi-tools.
I didn't find the drive to be problematic for light tasks. never really been a fan of scissors, hard to make them useful at this size.
@@gearsNtools "light tasks" .... This series of multi-tools from Gerber are very bad, very low-end. Bibury or Splitman do much better. And nothing to do with the Free T models. No need to be complacent.
Big fan of your channel diezelle57.
I gotta agree. Just looking at them scissors you can tell there junk. Never been a fan of gerber either. It’s always been between a Vic and leatherman for me
I have used the bit driver on mine pretty extensively, and I've never felt that the slight offset made it difficult to use. It's not even really noticeable.
I heard rumors that Leatherman is moving their manufacturing process overseas (China). Do you know anything about it?
I haven’t heard that, and with the current supply chain environment that would be an od move. I’ll look into it and if true will make a video on it!
Great comparison. My Drive should be here today.
Why is Orange more expensive than others.
they should have 90degree and full lock on the driver.
If you compare this Armbar to a SAK that includes a pair of scissors then I think the Armbar sizes up very nice.
While some would bemoan the lack of a locking mechanism on the Armbars driver, I say just bend the tool 90 and stop bitching. I find the SAK lack of a locking blade much more egregious and as to the ability of the hammer function, I think it is much more effective as a hammer fist self-defense tool.
The design is nice and I added a clip but I have seen two different pocket clips for this by now.
I also can add a second bit inside the device which makes it more functional.
In a nutshell, I can see in an Urban Environment this device is more useful than a SAK.
There is a knack to using the scissors. You have to apply slight outward pressure (to the left) with your thumb as you press the lever down. That sort of forces the blades together, and you can get very fine clean cuts.
They aren't as nice as the scissors on a Victorinox SAK, but I think they are more durable.
I have owned a number of Victorinox SAKs over the last 35 years, and the scissors are always the first thing to break, and they always break in the same place.
To me, the Armbar Drive is the ultimate tool combination for my everyday use. Scissors, knife blade, bit driver. Perfect.
I keep the Armbar in my pocket, and a Railer bit holder on my car keys that holds 5 double-sided bits. You can also store another double-sided bit under the scissors, so that's a total of 14 different drivers.
The steel gerber uses is 7cr. Pretty crappy steel if you ask me lol
where did you find the steel spec? would be interested to look into this. thanks for sharing!
I have found statements on line that the blade is 5Cr15MoV.
It's the lack of clip and none locking driver because i bet it will collapse now and again.
Great review!! 👍
Nice review
Thank you :). new camera setup, got some big things coming up for the channel!
No pocket clip!! That’s a killer for me. Need a clip gerber.
Agreed I use pocket clips on my MT’s all the time! Wish more tools came with one
Knife should open from the same direction as the other tools "Spydie Flick" style - a flat back to a knives handle is vital on a working blade and like Victorinox also KNOW a blade closer to the palm is best - on the outside it wants to rotate and gets amplified by a broomhandle design.
Further (like all gerber cut out designs) one of the cutouts should have been an oxygen wrench.
So annoying, no ruler ! Deal breaker for me
do you really need a ruler on something this small?
Nice little tip put a small ziptie on the knife cutout to make a "thumbstud" for way easier one hand opening. You can get zipties in an color btw lol
That's actually a pretty good idea! I've done that with some of my SpiderCo knives in the past. might do that here.
@@gearsNtools it works wonders on this tool for sure!