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New Gerber Center-Drive Tackles Serious Tasks on the Job

October 19, 2016

Yesterday, Gerber announced it is introducing the Center-Drive, an all new, Made in the USA multitool. Geared toward the working man, the Center-Drive makes some much-desired alterations to the multitool format to help users accomplish full-size tasks with a single tool.

The Center-Drive gets its name from an innovative long bit driver that aligns with the middle of the multitool. To fit the handle, most multitools tend to be short and off-center or offer only a few fold-out driver heads. “No multitool has ever offered a full-size driver on the center axis,” Gerber says. “The result is all the ergonomics and torque you’d expect from the real thing.”

Gerber Center Drive Axis Driver

Gerber also made room for a longer blade within the frame of the Center-Drive. Longer aftermarket blades can be added onto popular multitools like the Leatherman Skeletool, but at about 3″, the Center-Drive stocks a 30% longer blade than competition like the OHT. Ergonomics have also been improved: a thumb ramp has been integrated into the off-side to help the user gain more leverage on the job site.

The main blade, driver, and spring-assisted pliers are all one-hand accessible. A cat’s paw pry bar, file, saw blade, and awl round out the outboard tool compliment. The forward-sliding pliers function just as they do on Gerber’s military-issue MP600 series.

Gerber Center Drive One Hand Access Pliers

Although Gerber’s reputation among knife people is sometimes called into question, it has a much better track record in the multitool realm. “Gerber has a history of paying attention to what people want,” says Grant LaMontagne, founder of the Multitool.org community. Feedback from members resulted in Gerber’s incorporation of 3D Phillips drivers into their tools. The Shard one piece multitool was originally a giveaway at shows, but went into full-scale production after fans on Multitool.org and elsewhere campaigned for it.

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LaMontagne says they’ve brought this same consideration to bear on the Center-Drive. “They’ve analyzed shortcomings with other multitools and gone the distance with this one,” he tells us. With an MSRP of $89.99, LaMontagne says the Center-Drive should be a winner. “I haven’t been this excited for a multitool in a long time.”

The Center-Drive will be available at leading dealers on November 1st.

Multitool featured in image: Gerber Center-Drive Multitool

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