CMC
Protech Manual-Lock w/Keeper

The CMC Manual Lock acts somewhat like a standard triple action locking carabiner, but can be manually set to the unlocked position. The user must manually trigger the sleeve, which then engages two-stage locking under spring pressure.

Unlike a Rock Exotica ORCA-Lock, the CMC Manual Lock does not automatically reengage the locking action when the gate is fully opened.

CMC Proseries carabiner is oversized both in dimensions and strength rating. Designed for US Fire and Rescue services, it carries an NFPA "T" rating designating the item for Technical Use (or Escape Use, a lower rating) loads as described in the standards. This is a lower rating than the NFPA G (General Use) designation as found on the CMC Proseries Manual Lock, but still overbuilt for recreational use. (Technical Use replaced the Light Use/Personal Use designations)

A note on the strength ratings: The minor axis and gate open strengths are pulled from CMC's website. The carabiner markings only include the major axis strength rating.

The keeper pin is held in place with a set screw placed behind the pin (along with some thread locker). This anti-crossload mechanism was the subject of a patent by Rock Exotica. Interestingly, the Protech carabiners with a keeper pin are manufactured from larger diameter bar stock than the non-keeper pin version, and rated 3kN greater along the major axis and 1kN lower along the minor axis. Removing the keeper pin saves 4g of weight (97g without the pin).

Overall build quality is decent, on par with other Rock Exotica carabiners (who likely produces these for CMC). A few examples are blemished in places under the anodization and included excessive lubrication in the gate keylock. These are definitely working carabiners, not climbing jewelry. The carabiner is well packaged and includes a hex key for removal of the keeper pin. Unfortunately, the threading for the set screw raised a burr which on at least one example was sharp enough to pierce skin. At least the included hex key works well enough to burnish off the burr...