Gerber 22-01769 Shard Keychain Tool

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Gerber 22-01769 Shard Keychain Tool

Product Details

Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
ASIN: B002ZK45IQ
Item model number: 22-01769

By : Gerber
Price : $6.90
You Save : $0.10 (1%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Don't let its size fool you, the Gerber Shard keychain tool is the perfect companion when you want just the basics. With a shape of its own, the Shard has seven useful functions: small flat driver, medium flat driver, cross driver, pry bar, wire stripper, lanyard hole, and bottle opener. It is light enough to carry on your keychain, but tough and durable enough for everyday use. The Shard is made of stainless steel with a titanium coating, and it measures 2.75 inches. It's backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Gerber 22-01769 Shard Keychain ToolAt a Glance:

7 components: phillips driver, small flat driver, medium flat driver, lanyard ring, bottle opener, pry bar, wire stripper
Perfect size and easy to carry anywhere
Titanium nitride coating for corrosion resistance
Airline safe
Limited lifetime warranty

Perhaps the most simply designed tool on the planet, the Shard is the ideal key chain companion. You get "just the basics" with the 7 functions you need in this compact, airline-safe tool. Features: - 7 Functions: - Pry Bar - Small Flathead - Driver - Wire Stripper - Puller - Large Flathead Driver - Bottle Opener - Lanyard Hole - Cross Driver - Lightweight - Titanium nitride coating for corrosion resistance - Perfect size with the basics to carry anywhere - Airline Safe Specifications: - Overall Length: 2.75" - Weight: 0.6 oz - Stainless Steel - Titanium Coating - Components: 7
See all Product Description

Technical Details

Lightweight and airline safe
Titanium nitride coating for corrosion resistance
Perfect size with the basics to carry anywhere
Includes: small and medium flat driver; Philips head driver
Includes: wire stripper, pry bar, bottle opener, lanyard hole

Customer Reviews

I have had the Gerber Shard for a few months now and have traveled on an airplane several times. While I have not had the Shard confiscated yet, airport security does look at it very carefully. I had one TSA agent ask me flat out what it was and I told him it was a bottle opener. With that being said, I have tried what I think are all "7 uses" which I have listed below.
1. Bottle opener = works well and looks more respectable on my keychain over the Coors Light one I had on there
2 ; 3. Small and medium flat drivers = too wide for most screws that you might use
4. Philips screwdriver = works well with smaller head screws but not helpful on even medium sized screws
5. Wire stripper = not very effective as you have to be very careful so as not to rip the wire, much easier to use a normal wire stripper
6. Pry bar = very effective, I was able to open a can of paint with no problems
7. lanyard/keychain attachment hole (kind of a stretch calling this a use) = large lanyard hole which easily accommodates key chains or hooking to your pack
In terms of the 7 uses, I would say besides the bottle opener the pry bar is the only really other "useful tool. Overall though, if you're looking to replace your free Budweiser or Coors Light bottle opener on your keychain, then this is a great tool. You get a lot of "wow that's cool" factor.

I agree word for word with the recent review by amost6.
The bottle opener is OK, and this is a small and "cute" thing to hang on your keyring. But that's about it. Screwdrivers are practically useless; "wire stripper" is a joke. Philips screwdriver is sharp enough to poke you through your pocket, but not shaped well enough to be useful.
If you want a well-made, serious version of this tool, which may have been the inspiration for the Shard, check out the Atwood Prybaby. The Piranha Pocket Tool is a slightly larger version with more "wrenches". Warning - you'll pay for the quality on these tools - something like 7X-10X the cost of the Shard. There are other similar, well-made, expensive options available if you dig into some "EDC" (EveryDay Carry) sites.
If you're looking for something FAR more useful and only SOMEWHAT more expensive, get a Leatherman Micra. You can even remove the knife blade if you want to take it on a plane. Also, the Micra's version of a flattened Philips driver is somehow much more functional than the Shard's, even though it's shaped even less like a real Philips screwdriver.
If a tiny, non-bottle-opening keyring tool is more your thing, check out the Leatherman Style or classic swiss army knife.
If you want useful screwdrivers in a tool you can take on a plane, Swiss Tech has a few inexpensive options, including: small and simple (Swiss+Tech 75-58355 Screwz-All 4-in-1 Keyring Tool) and larger, with little pliers (Swiss Tech MMCSSS Micro-Max 19-in-1 KeyChain MultiTool).
Any of these would be much more useful than the Shard, without the risk of poking you through your pocket.