Block Roll, Ver. A	Block Roll, Ver. B	Block Roll, Ver. C	Block Roll, Ver. D	Miniblock Futura

Overview

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Block Roll,Version A
(#1765)

Front	Rear

Side	Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my Kong Block Roll, Version A from Geoffrey Storey in 2012.

Version A is 282 mm. tall, 79 mm. wide, 34 mm. thick, and weighs 512 g.

There are no markings on this Block Roll itself, but the attachment screw head has "C," "S," "A2," and "70."

Comments

The lack of markings, the phosphorescent plastic gate, and the date code on the ascender (96015) that came with this one all indicate that it is an earlier model than the following version. While the phosphorescent gate is in good shape, my experience with other phosphorescent plastic parts on Kong devices is that the plastic degrades with time.

Notice that this is a mirror image of the later models in my collection.

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Block Roll,Version B
(#720)

Front	Rear

Side	Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this Kong Block Roll from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 1999.

The Kong Block Roll is 278 mm. tall, 79 mm. wide, and 35 mm. thick. Mine weighs 526 g.

The Kong Block Roll is a pulley attachment that fits onto the Kong-Bonaiti Modular Ascender. The Block Roll consists of a single pulley riveted between a stamped aluminum frame and a stamped side plate.

The front plate is printed with the Kong Logo, "Italy," "BLOCK-ROLL," a book-with-an-"i" icon, a free pulley rigging illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 30" and the rope load vectors labeled "15 kN 15" and "MAX Ø 16 mm.," a hauling pulley illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 10" and the rope load vectors labeled "5 kN 5," "MIN Ø 8 mm.," and "MAX Ø 12 mm.," the UIAA logo, "9900149," and "CE0426."

Comments

The Block Roll is rated for 15 kN (3300 lbs) when used as a pulley, and can handle ropes up to 16 mm. in that mode. With the Modular Ascender attached to form a hauling pulley, the rope size is limited to the range from 8 to 12 mm., and the strength rating is reduced to 5 kN (1100 lbs). Depending on how it is used, this may be too low to meet certain standards for rescue devices. I consider the Block Roll to be primarily a sport device, and for hauling packs and other equipment in caving and climbing situations, it will work well.

Although the Block Roll is part of a modular system, remember that there is a small screw that can easily be lost, so it may not be wise to expect to routinely attach and detach the block roll in the field where dropping the screw may cause problems.

There was a thread on one of the climbing web sites saying that they didn't know what I was talking about when I said the Block Roll was modular. Those writers did not have this version.

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Block Roll, Version C
(#3780)

Front	Rear	Left Side	Right Side

Front: Open for Rigging	Rear: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this Kong Block Roll from J. Raaf in 2022.

This version is 279 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, 36 mm. thick, and weighs 512. The primary change from the earlier versions is that the ascender is now riveted to the pulley plate.

The front plate is printed with the Kong Logo, "Italy," "BLOCK-ROLL," a book-with-an-"i" icon, a free pulley rigging illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 30" and the rope load vectors labeled "15 kN 15" and "MAX Ø 16 mm.," a hauling pulley illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 10" and the rope load vectors labeled "5 kN 5," "MIN Ø 8 mm.," and "MAX Ø 12 mm.," the UIAA logo, "CE0426," "EN 567," "EN 12278," and "00431 04."

Comments

Riveting the parts together eliminates the modular nature of the system, but it also eliminates the likelihood of dropping small parts.

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Block Roll, Version D
(#1670)

Front	Rear

Side	Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this Kong Block Roll from Amazon.com in 2010.

This version is 276 mm. tall, 60 mm. wide, 42 mm. thick, and weighs 444 g.

The front plate is printed with the Kong Logo, "Italy," "BLOCK-ROLL," a book-with-an-"i" icon, a free pulley rigging illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 30" and the rope load vectors labeled "15 kN 15" and "MAX Ø 16 mm.," a hauling pulley illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 10" and the rope load vectors labeled "5 kN 5," "MIN Ø 8 mm.," and "MAX Ø 12 mm.," the UIAA logo, "CE0426," "EN 567," "EN 12278," and "081668 08 0145."

Comments

The primary changes from the earlier versions are that (1) the cam safety has changed to a bent metal tab (eliminating the post) and (2) the pulley plates are color anodized.

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Miniblock Futura
(#1715, 2660)

Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed
Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my Kong Miniblock Futura from On Rope 1 in 2010. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.

My Miniblock Futura is 132 mm. tall, 48 mm. wide, 32 mm. thick, and weighs 165 g.

The body is milled from an aluminum alloy extrusion. The sheave is turned aluminum alloy, 13.6 mm. long, 34.4 mm. in diameter at the edges, and 28.1 mm. at the center.

The cam is an oxide-finished skeletonized steel casting. The cam radius, measured from the pivot, increases from 19 to 31 mm. over an angle of 42°, giving a 32° cam angle. The cam has number of small conical teeth, all of which have their axes approximately parallel to the lower surface of the cam. The tooth pattern is (4)(5.2H2)^2(4.2). The H stands for small oval holes. A spring-loaded pin on the cam doubles as a safety and a cam hold-open pin.

The front plate is printed with the Kong Logo, "Italy," "MINIBLOCK," and "FUTURA." The rear body is printed with the UIAA logo, "CE0426," "EN 567:97," "EN 12278:07," a free pulley rigging illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 24" and the rope load vectors labeled "12 kN 12" and "MAX Ø 16 mm.," a hauling pulley illustration with the total load vector labeled "kN 8" and the rope load vectors labeled "4 kN 4," a coil of rope, "•/O," "8÷12 mm.," and "102596 10 0180."

Comments

This is tiny hauling pulley that sacrifices some ease of use to greatly reduce weight and bulk compared to many of the alternatives. This is a practical device if you do not expect to do any heavy hauling, but if you are hoisting major loads for long periods, choose something larger

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