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Rope Grabs
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Rope Grabs are industrial devices used to protect workers in high places. Their function is to ensure that the worker doesn't perform the big splat when falling from high places; however, they are often used with safety belts that can cause a slower and far less spectacular death by suffocation. This can't be blamed on the rope grab, its the fault of the uninformed user.

My interest in rope grabs is that they are similar to ascenders, and suggest alternate ideas for ascender design. I often discuss these in this context instead of the context of their intended use.

This page includes rope grabs that do not fit into my Type 1 Lever Cam or Rocker-Arm Rope Grab categories. A few of these resemble Type 1 Lever Cam Ascenders except the cam presses a shoe against the rope. The Safe-Tec Duck-R resembles the Type 2 Lever Cam Ascenders, and the Single Rope Technique A5s use eccentric cams like their hand ascenders. Some of the others are far more unusual, even bordering on strange.

Gallery

Image ID Device ↓ Description Acquired Weight ↓ Height ↓ Width ↓ Thickness ↓ Std. volume ↓
Atlas Kwik-Stop Model 6275, Version A 3702 Atlas Kwik-Stop Model 6275, Version A Aluminum, lever-activated sliding block, jack chain keeper, snap hook, for 5/8-3/4 inch (16-19 mm) nylon rope. Renee Jaloszynski, 2022 1255 176 155 51 1381
Atlas Kwik-Stop Model 6275, Version B 660 Atlas Kwik-Stop Model 6275, Version B Al, lever-activated sliding block, for 5/8-3/4 inch (16-19 mm.) nylon rope. Bob Elron 1227 176 157 51 1409
Atlas Kwik-Stop Model 6275, Version C 3701 Atlas Kwik-Stop Model 6275, Version C Aluminum, lever-activated sliding block, cable keeper, for 5/8-3/4 inch (16-19 mm) nylon rope. Darlene Pryne Re-Tooled, 2022 928 176 154 51 1379
Barrow/Hepburn Everest Camlock, Version A 765 Barrow/Hepburn Everest Camlock, Version A Al tube, plastic guides, ball locks, dual lever eBay, Leeds, UK, 2002 757 157 137 83 1785
Barrow/Hepburn Everest Camlock, Version B 2856 Barrow/Hepburn Everest Camlock, Version B Aluminum tube, plastic guides, ball locks, single lever Jerry L Barthelemy, 2021 560 137 74 50 509
DBI/SALA Lad-Saf LS-58 670 DBI/SALA Lad-Saf LS-58 Steel, wedging roller, for 5/8 inch (16 mm.) synthetic rope. John Murray, 1993 1127 190 109 51 1056
DBI/SALA LS-1441, Version A 817 DBI/SALA LS-1441, Version A Milled & stamped steel, rear gate, lever & wedge roller action Len Nicolai, 2005 720 165 104 47 803
DBI/SALA LS-1441, Version B 1710 DBI/SALA LS-1441, Version B Milled & stamped steel, rear gate, lever & wedge roller action LittleLots, 2011 714 156 101 48 755
DBI/SALA Model 5000335 2859 DBI/SALA Model 5000335 Steel & plastic, levered roller, for 5/8 inch (16 mm) synthetic rope. Scotty Horn, 2021 770 133 119 53 842
Gemtor VF649 1814 Gemtor VF649 SS, type 1 lever cam with slot-guided roller, flat opposing plate, for 5/8" or 3/4" rope Brian Kallfelz, 2013 712 109 109 45 534
Gemtor VW651 1652 Gemtor VW651 SS, type 1 lever cam with slot-guided roller, flat opposing plate, for 5/16" cable East End Pawn Shop, 2009 1034 119 104 33 412
Miller 1200 883 Miller 1200 Bronze 8 /w side arm, manila lanyard /w clip Cal Manky, 2007 715 250 156 49 1912
Mio Mechanical 710
2631
Mio Mechanical Steel, type 1 lever activated compression shoe, for 1/2 in synthetic rope.
  • On Rope 1, 1997
  • Bob Thrun Collection, 2017
641 109 136 65 964
Petzl ASAP, Version A 880
2630
Petzl ASAP, Version A Al shell, toothed inertia wheel on spring-loaded lever, plastic guard.
  • Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2007
  • Bob Thrun Collection, 2017
  • Felix Lambert, 21
339 136 89 38 461
Petzl ASAP, Version B 1823 Petzl ASAP, Version B Al shell, toothed inertia wheel on spring-loaded lever Inner Mountain Outfitters, 2014 297 110 89 37 359
Petzl ASAP Lock 1835 Petzl ASAP Lock Al shell, toothed inertia wheel /w lock on spring-loaded lever Expé-Spelemat, 2014 404 126 96 47 567
Rose Mfg. Hi-Binder 3858 Rose Mfg. Hi-Binder Al shell, Sliding pressure plate, 2 lever cams, hand bar, for 3/4" rope Bassett Metal Studios, 2023 1517 382 153 51 2989
Rose Mfg. Safe-Hi 692 Rose Mfg. Safe-Hi Steel, compression device, for 3/4 in nylon or manila rope. Theresa Williams/Maury Benamy, 1995 963 300 150 58 2610
Safe-Tec Duck-R, Version A 1808
2638
Safe-Tec Duck-R, Version A Forged Al shell, spring-loaded type–II lever cam, single rope
  • Altius Technical Services, 2013
  • Bob Thrun Collection, 2017
249 97 72 41 291
Safe-Tec Duck-R, Version B 3834
3836
Safe-Tec Duck-R, Version B Forged SS shell, Al spring-loaded type II lever cam, single rope
  • David Garcia, 2023
  • Thomas Gaubert, 2023
250 97 72 41 284
Safe-Tec Duck-R, Version C 3835 Safe-Tec Duck-R, Version C Forged SS shell, Al spring-loaded type II lever cam, single rope Thomas Gaubert, 2023 258 97 73 42 292
Safe-Tec  EN Forcer H 3824 Safe-Tec EN Forcer H Forged SS shell, spring-loaded SS type–II lever cam, single rope Joshua Woodis, 2022 390 86 76 41 268
Safe-Tec  EN Forcer L 3828 Safe-Tec EN Forcer L Forged SS shell, spring-loaded Al type–II lever cam, single rope Elaine Gomez, 2023 304 86 76 42 273
Single Rope Technique A5 811 L 736 Single Rope Technique A5 811 L Al, eccentric cam, cam-mounted safety Single Rope Technique Equipment, 2000 234 83 76 26 165
Single Rope Technique A5 811 L 2635 Single Rope Technique A5 811 R Aluminum, eccentric cam, cam-mounted safety Bob Thrun Collection, 2017 229 83 76 26 162
SSE Stop & Go 2863 SSE Stop & Go Steel, swinging front plate,, cast pot metal cam & anvil, removable descent handle Martin D. Guiles, 2021 542 95 121 34 390
Teufelberger GRIP Rescue 834 Teufelberger Grip Rescue Steel, swinging front plate, cast pot metal cam & anvil, removable descent handle Dirk-Jan Swier, 2005 576 96 129 39 477
Yoke N601 1736 Yoke N601 Painted Al shell, 4 internal spring-loaded button-controlled Al rope eyes, pivoting Al attachment eye. KwikSPACE Safety, 2012 357 146 95 35 491

ype 1 Lever Cam Rocker-Arm Rope Grab Weight Chart

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