I think that the Gerber Prybrid might be an okay “just in case I need it” type of EDC tool where a single blade will last a very long time before needing to be reversed or changed. This Gerber is up there on the “terrible blade change process,” right next to the newest Dewalt folding retractable utility knife that I recently reviewed. So, if I end up using this knife enough to formally review it, I’ll have to get much more familiar with the blade change process. Oh, and one more thing – I did read some online complaints about the Gerber Prybrid knife not being compatible with all brands’ utility knife blades. However, that the spring-tension locking tab is so strong is also a good thing, as it reduces the chance of blade pull-out. The design here is not fast or easy, at least in my early experiences so far. The problem here isn’t so much about the knife, but my expectations. When a tool is designed around replaceable utility knife blades, I expect it to allow for fast, easy, and safe blade changes. This is supposed to have a tool-free blade change process, and I found it to be way too awkward. I do like its overall design and construction, but the blade change process is literally painful. Looking at online reviews, there’s a lot of positivity for the Gerber Prybrid knife and pry bar. If you don’t open the locking tab with enough pressure, it squeezes the blade and fights any efforts to carefully bring it to the proper locked position.

To insert a new blade, you have to push the locking tab open and hold it open while guiding the blade. Putting a fresh blade back in? That’s a very similar challenge. Right now, I feel that I need 3 hands to safely change blades on this – one to hold the knife, one to release the locking pressure, and one to safely remove the blade. In theory, or with practice, I should be able to hold the knife carefully, push the locking tab open to relieve pressure on the blade, and then gently and carefully remove the blade. With practice or a bit of break-in, maybe I’ll be able to finesse it a bit more.

So, there’s this itty bitty little tab that you have to push, and with enough strength to counter the spring tension, all while carefully pulling the razor-sharp utility knife-style blade. This tab needs to clamp the blade with enough pressure so as to help prevent the blade from intentionally pulling out from the knife, and so it’s pretty strong. There’s a small protrusion that holds the blade into position from sliding in and out. There are 3 blade positions – closed, extended for use, and extended for removal.ĭo you see the large T-shaped tab that covers the blade? That is what’s applying locking pressure to the blade. To change out the blade, you extend the knife all the way out. It reinforced what I thought I had to do, but it just didn’t work. I found a quick video online, and it made blade changes look relatively easy. Maybe I’ll get a feel for things with time, but I did not have an easy time changing the utility knife blade at all.ĭid I get a dud? Are my fingers weaker than I thought?ĭid I do something wrong? I haven’t a clue, because Gerber doesn’t provide any instructions with the knife, just a standard sheet of precautionary statements that they seem to include with each and every multi-tool, knife, or similar product. I really don’t know what happened here.īut there is something I do know – I greatly dislike tools that make it difficult to change out accessories. I washed up and applied bandaids to the cuts. I didn’t notice, I just realized my fingers were wet and I saw the blood.

Somehow while changing the blade, sorry – while trying to change the blade, something on the tool cut two of my fingers. For a utility knife to be jobsite-friendly, you’ve got to be able to change blades fast, right?

Gerber multi tool replacement