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3/4"
3/4" QR Spring Loaded,
Version A
3/4" QR Spring Loaded,
Version B
3/4" QR Spring Loaded,
Version C
#3 Ver. A
#4 Ver. A
#4 Ver. B
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| 3/4" | 3/4" QR Spring Loaded, Version A |
3/4" QR Spring Loaded, Version B |
3/4" QR Spring Loaded, Version C |
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| #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B |
[ Top | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Gibbs QR (3/4) from John E. Weinel, Inc. around 1989.
The Gibbs QR (3/4) is 105 mm. tall, 84 mm. wide, 76 mm. thick, and weighs 407 g. The shell is made from 4 mm. aluminum sheet. The cam is cast aluminum. The QR pin is 12.6 mm. in diameter. A tear-drop metal piece riveted to the shell holds a cable keeper for the QR pin. A webbing cam keeper held under the teardrop connects to a screw in the top of the cam.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS®" with a double underline. The QR pin is stamped "AVIBANK PUSH," and "BLS8B1.3Sl5."
For some reason, there was sufficient demand from the "bigger is better" crowd to justify a Gibbs Ascender for 3/4-inch rope. This is the basic model.
[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front | Rear |
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Gibbs QR (3/4), Stainless Steel from John E. Weinel, Inc. in 1989.
I acquired my Gibbs (3/4) QR Spring Loaded, Version A from John E. Weinel, Inc., but I do not have a record of when I acquired it.
Version A is 105 mm. tall, 87 mm. wide, 76 mm. thick, and weighs 400 g. The shell is made from 4 mm. aluminum sheet. The cam is cast aluminum. The QR pin is 12.4 mm. in diameter. The cam is spring-loaded with a coil spring that is attached to the cam with a phillips-head screw. The other end has a split ring that can be placed over a tab pressed out of the shell. A chain on the split ring provides for a better grip. A tear-drop metal piece riveted to the shell holds a cable keeper for the QR pin and a second chain to the split ring.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS®" with a double underline. The QR pin is stamped "AVIBANK PUSH," and "BLS8B1.3Sl5."
The first spring-loaded 3/4-inch Gibbs ascenders used a coil spring.
[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Gibbs (3/4) QR Spring Loaded, Version B as new old stock from Speleoshoppe in 2012.
Version B is 116 mm. tall, 86 mm. wide, 75 mm. thick, and weighs 398 g. The shell is made from 4.15 mm. aluminum sheet. The rope channel is 24 mm. wide.
The cam is cast aluminum. The cam radius increases from 24 to 39 mm. over an angle of 86°, giving a 17° cam angle.
The Gibbs QR (3/4), Stainless Steel is 105 mm. tall, 81 mm. wide, 76 mm. thick, and weighs 500 g. The cam is spring-loaded with a coil spring that is attached to the cam with a phillips-head screw. The other end has a split ring that can be placed over a tab pressed out of the shell. A chain on the split ring is attaches to a rivet on the shell, and a second chain on the ring provides for a better grip.
The QR pin axle is 12.6 mm. in diameter. A tear-drop metal piece riveted to the top of the shell holds a cable keeper for the QR pin.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS®" with a double underline. The QR pin is stamped "AVIBANK PUSH," and "BLS8B1.3SL5."
The rivets for the keepers extend well into the rope channel. The rope can rub against these, possibly causing rope damage, and more likely, causing rivet damage as well.
[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Gibbs (3/4) QR Spring Loaded, Version B from Bob & Bob at the 1989 Old Timers Reunion.
Version B is 105 mm. tall, 87 mm. wide, 76 mm. thick, and weighs 383 g. The shell is made from 4 mm. aluminum sheet. The cam is cast aluminum. The QR pin is 12.4 mm. in diameter. The cam is spring-loaded with a wire spring that is attached to the cam with a phillips-head screw. The other end wraps around the QR pin and then slips under a machine screw and a rivet in the shell, above the QR pin. A tear-drop metal piece riveted to the shell holds a cable keeper for the QR pin.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS®" with a double underline. The QR pin is stamped "AVIBANK PUSH," and "BLS8B1.3Sl5."
Later spring-loaded 3/4-inch Gibbs ascenders used a wire spring.
[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Gibbs #3, Version A from William Deaton on eBay in 2009.
Version A is 104 mm. tall, 90 mm. wide, 72 mm. thick, and weighs 311 g. The shell is made from 3.1 mm. aluminum sheet, and does not have dimples.
The cam is punched from 2024-T6 aluminum plate. The cam radius increases from 20 to 42 mm. over an angle of 91°, giving a 26° cam angle. The QR pin is 12.4 mm. in diameter. The cam is spring-loaded with a wire spring that sits in a plastic housing. A tear-drop metal piece riveted to the spring housing holds a cable keeper for the QR pin.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS" with a double underline. The Cam is printed with "5/8 CAM NC," C/F, "HT34946A," "2024-T6," and "CF" and "199" inside a circle. The QR pin is stamped "AVIBANK," "PUSH," and "BLS8B12SL5A6."
This is a nicely-made Gibbs, but a bit too large for practical caving or climbing use.It is larger than #3, Version B (listed with the 5/8" Gibbs), but a bit smaller than the others on this page. I listed it here because the cam is essentially identical to the #4, Version A cam.
[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my first Gibbs #4, Version A from John E. Weinel, Inc. in 1999, and a second from Jonathan M. White on eBay in 2021.
The Gibbs #4, Version A is 105 mm. tall, 91 mm. wide, 64 mm. thick, and weighs 438 g. The shell is made from 3.1 mm. aluminum sheet, and does not have dimples. The cam is punched from aluminum alloy and the teeth are covered with goo. The QR pin is 9.5 mm. in diameter. The QR pin is 12.4 mm. in diameter. The cam is spring-loaded with a wire spring that sits in a plastic housing. A strip of webbing riveted to the spring housing and a split ring form a keeper for the QR pin.
Each side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS" with a double underline. The QR pin is stamped "AVK PUSH" and "BLS6B13S."
The #4 Gibbs has dimples in the shell that provide more holding power. The cam is punched, and partially covered with goo, much like the #2SS is. I suspect the goo is similar, even though the #2SS goo is gray and the #4 goo is black. All of the goo comments I made for the #2SS apply to the #4 as well, but at least there is more logic for the #4, since it is obviously too big for any rational person to use as an ascender: it must be designed for hauling systems.
Gibbs should decide whether they are making ascenders, fall arrestors or rope grabs. The attempt to meet all three needs with one device only compromises all functions. I also believe that something that is too big ends up being left behind. I leave these ascenders behind.
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[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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| Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Gibbs #4, Version B from On Rope 1 in 2009.
This Gibbs #4, Version B is 103 mm. tall, 91 mm. wide, 63 mm. thick, and weighs 309 g. The shell is made from 4.9 mm. aluminum sheet and has two dimples opposite the cam face. The rope channel is 20 mm. wide. The cam appears to be cast. The cam radius increases from 17 to 40 mm. over an angle of 101°, giving a 27° cam angle. The QR pin is 9.4 mm. in diameter. The cam is spring-loaded with a wire spring that sits in a plastic housing. A piece of webbing riveted to the spring housing acts as a keeper for the QR pin.
The left side of the shell is stamped with "UP," an up-pointing arrow, and "GIBBS" with a double underline, "NOT FOR SELF BELAY," and "USE ONLY ON NON METAL ROPE FROM 5/8 TO 3/4." The right side is stamped with "GIBBS" with a double underline. There are no marks on the QR pin.
This Gibbs is larger than necessary, requires impractically large ropes, and is too heavy for normal caving or climbing use, but it is probably the best of the Behemoths on this page.
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[ Top | 3/4" | 3/4" Spring Ver. A | 3/4" Spring Ver. B | 3/4" Spring Ver. C | #3 Ver. A | #4 Ver. A | #4 Ver. B ]
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