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Gravity Hook: Fishbones Grappling Hook Review

by Apocalypse Josh| 0 Comments| January 8, 2016

Categories: Assorted Ramblings
Tags: Apocalypse Josh

Gravity hook just sounds cool, like something one of the War Boys would kill someone with. If not that, perhaps

something Reinhardt, Lighthammer or Chupa would have carried around. Turns out the reality of it is about as cool.

Mad Duo

Buy your blasters, blaster parts, and ammunition at dealer cost.

$9.95/mo., no additional fees; sumthin’ to think about if you spend more than a couple

hundred bucks on this stuff!

I covered the original release of the prototype Gravity Hook back in March when the
prototype was sent my way. Not long ago the final production version of the Gravity
Hook grapnel arrived with some improvements. Here’s a look at those.

Gravity Hook Prototype on the right, Production on the left

Grunts: grapnel.

The Gravity Hook is a combination grappling hook, and gravity claw (here’s their
promotional video). By removing the middle cross-bar the more-than-serviceable
grappling hook can be quickly converted into a claw machine-like grabbing claw. The
clever design allows you to swap between these two features in just moments.

The whole assembly weighs around 360g in its stainless steel configuration. A
complete assembly includes three links, three “hammers”, cross hook, and
hardware, in bolts and self-locking nuts.

Gravity Hook Prototype on the left, Production on the right

The Upgrades
One production improvement is the notches cut into the throat of the hammer.
These allow the cross hook to seat much more securely than in the prototype, where
it was held in place solely via the notch cut into the top of the cross hooks.

When fitted, the cross hooks set in the jaws of the hammers, making the Gravity
Hook as a quite effective grapple. The jaws are held in place and stopped from
opening the by the twin o-rings which seat in a set of notches cut into the link
pieces, and hold the jaws surprisingly tight. FishBones have suggested an
aftermarket modification: drilling a hole in the middle of the hammer arms to fit a
locking pin, for extra security. So far, I haven’t felt the need to do that.

Gravity Hook Prototype on the left, Production on the right

This design makes any pressure on the tines of the hook only pull it further closed.
The production version has nicely rounded notches cut into the links, whereas the
prototype is rather a bit rougher which makes it harder to remove the o-rings.

Gravity Hook Prototype on the top, Production on the bottom

Just what can the Gravity Hook do?

Besides picking some wanker up by his skull you mean?

Well, another backer of the Gravity Hooks asked, if they used it as an inflatable-boat
anchor, how they would dislodge it should it hook onto something on the bottom?
Another backer suggested it could be set up with a failable style link like this, where
if you pull hard enough the top link breaks and lets you pull the anchor from the
bottom. A second way would be to use 2 ropes; one attached to the shackle, and the
other looped through the claw to act as an emergency release in case the hook
snags.

Here’s me testing the grappling hook

Here’s me testing the claw feature on a variety of dropped gear.

You might ask, “what makes it high performance?” Well, check out its features:

It can be used either as a 2 or 4 pronged grappling hook.

In the claw mode it “bites” objects that might slip out of a grapnel.
Compact enough to be stowed on a backpack strap, by clamping the jaws over the
strap and feeding the tail end through a loop
Can be dismantled into its base components for more compact storage.
It’s available in stainless steel, titanium or even nonmetallic Derlin.

There are also two options for the cross hooks. You can get the classic solid hook as
well as a version with cut-aways. The cutaways both lighten the cross hook and
make it a gear tie, not unlike the FishBones and Piranha gear ties these
guys produced.

Gravity Hook standard crossbar on the top, Batarang gear tie cross hook on the bottom

You have a very cool tool in the Gravity Hook, but what are its limits? Well, the
Gravity Hook was specifically designed for retrieving. However, it has not been
tested or certified to bear human weight. The makers strongly state that you should
never use it in a situation where it’s failure or dislodging might cause bodily harm or
property damage. In a pinch though, it can certainly take a fairly hefty load.

Using the Gravity Hook as a bogged truck rescue tool

How do you get the Gravity Hook to release something whilst under tension?

Here’s their testing underwater!

As well as being a really useful dropped-gear and treasure retrieving claw, and a
sturdy and rugged grapple, the Gravity hook is also a really impressive piece of
engineering. I really appreciate its design and functionality. I’ve got a small
CountyComm grapple, which is billed as a trip-wire clearer. But for bigger jobs, when
you want to snag, yank and retrieve gear or haul something, you would do well with
a FishBones Gravity hook: learn more (or buy one) right here.

Better yet, the guys at FishBones have just launched a NEW project, the Gravity
Hook XS, a pocket-sized version, in just two-pronged format, on Kickstarter. You
should totally go check it out and add some grabby, grapply goodness to your
loadout.

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