Collection Home
Bolted Gibbs
#3B
#3SB
#4B
#4SB, Version A
#4SB, Version B
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| #3B | #3SB | #4B | #4SB, Version A | #4SB, Version B |
[ Top | #3SB | #4B | #4SB, ver. A | #4SB, ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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I acquired my Gibbs #3B from On Rope 1 in 2009.
This Gibbs #3B is 104 mm. tall, 78 mm. wide, 56 mm. thick, and weighs 230 g. It is basically the same as the Gibbs #3, Version B with the quick-release pin replaced by a 3/8-16 x 2" UNC Grade 8 bolt and a nylon-insert lock nut.
The left side of the shell is stamped with an arrow, "UP," "GIBBS" with a double underline, and "USE ONLY ON NON METAL ROPE FROM 7/16 TO 1/2." The right side is stamped with an arrow, "UP," "GIBBS" with a double underline, and "NOT FOR SELF BELAY."
If the #3B is not for self belay, then it is not a rope grab or fall arrest; therefore, it must be an ascender. To put it on the rope, you will need to carry two wrenches so that you can remove the nut from the bolt. Not only is this inconvenient, but both the nut and bolt are easily lost. The QR pin on the #3 is far superior.
Another possibility is that the bolted Gibbs are flipline adjusters. This is supported by the card for the #3SB, but there is enough other information on that card to support the idea that the bolted Gibbs are also intended to be used as arborist ascenders.
The bolt idea is clearly an afterthought (since the plastic spring guide doesn't accommodate the blot head well), a bad one at that. It certainly deserves a lemon award:
My model #3B came packed with the card for a model #3 rescue ascender. Oops!
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[ Top | #3B | #4B | #4SB, ver. A | #4SB, ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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I acquired my Gibbs #3SB from On Rope 1 in 2009.
This Gibbs #3B is 104 mm. tall, 76 mm. wide, 51 mm. thick, and weighs 319 g. It is basically a stainless-steel Gibbs #3S with the quick-release pin replaced by a 3/8-16 x 2" UNC Grade 8 bolt and a nylon-insert lock nut.
The left side of the shell is stamped with an arrow, "UP," "GIBBS" with a double underline, and "USE ONLY ON NON METAL ROPE FROM 7/16 TO 1/2." The right side is stamped with an arrow, "UP," "GIBBS" with a double underline, and "NOT FOR SELF BELAY."
With all the impracticalities of the 3SB and the added weight that stainless steel gives, the #3SB also gets a Lemon Award:
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[ Top | #3B | #3SB | #4SB, ver. A | #4SB, ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired my Gibbs #4B from On Rope 1 in 2009.
This Gibbs #4B is 103 mm. tall, 92 mm. wide, 56 mm. thick, and weighs 303 g. It is basically the same as Gibbs #4, Version B with the quick-release pin replaced by a 3/8-16 x 2" UNC Grade 8 bolt and a nylon-insert lock nut.
One side of the shell is stamped with an arrow, "UP," "GIBBS" with a double underline, "NOT FOR SELF BELAY," and "USE ONLY ON NON METAL ROPE FROM 5/8 TO 3/4." The other side is stamped with "GIBBS" with a double underline,
This Gibbs is larger than necessary, requires impractically large ropes, and has the bolt as well: the #4B obviously gets a lemon award:
My model #4B came packed with the card for a model #4 rescue ascender. Another oops!
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[ Top | #3B | #3SB | #4B | #4SB, ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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I acquired my Gibbs, #4SB, Version A on eBay from Noco Gear in 2019.
This Gibbs is 104 mm. tall, 89 mm. wide, 57 mm. thick, and weighs 422 g.
It is basically a stainless-steel Gibbs #4 with the quick-release pin replaced by a 3/8-16 x 2" UNC Grade 8 bolt and a nylon-insert lock nut. The rope channel is 20 mm. wide.
This version has a cast alimunum cam with nine roundedd cam teeth. The cam radius increases from 17 to 40 mm. over an angle of 101°, giving a 27° cam angle.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS" with a double underline.
This Gibbs is too large, too heavy and with the bolt, too hard to use, and it has a soft cam: this #4SB deserves the most sour lemon award on this page:
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There must be others. If you have other bolted Gibbs ascenders with cast cams that you are willing to part with, please email me. |
[ Top | #3B | #3SB | #4B | #4SB, ver. A | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this Gibbs #4SB from On Rope 1 in 2009.
This Gibbs #4SB is 104 mm. tall, 92 mm. wide, 56 mm. thick, and weighs 414 g. It is basically a stainless-steel Gibbs #4 with the quick-release pin replaced by a 3/8-16 x 2" UNC Grade 8 bolt and a nylon-insert lock nut.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS" with a double underline.
This Gibbs is too large, too heavy and with the bolt, too hard to use: the #4SB deserves a sour lemon award:
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[ Top | #3B | #3SB | #4B | #4SB, ver. A | #4SB, ver. B ]
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