Petzl William Screw-Lock Carabiner

The Petzl William is a large pear-shaped screw lock carabiner with a wide gate and a roomy basket. It holds several connections, takes a fat rope hitch and gives you space to work with gloves on, which is why it shows up in anchors, rescue kits and rigging setups.

Why a big pear carabiner

Pear-shaped carabiners give a wide, round end where rope and several connections can sit side by side without binding. The William is one of the larger ones, which makes it handy wherever several things meet: an anchor point, a lowering setup, the master point of a rescue system or a pulley with a sling.

With gloves on and cold hands, the extra room makes clipping faster and reduces the chance of trapping a sling across the gate.

Beyond the tree, the William is handy for building a lowering anchor at the base, holding a block and sling together, or clipping a few slings at a central point for a rescue. Its size makes it easy to see in a pile of gear, which helps on a busy job site.

If you work mostly with gloves, a large carabiner like this is simply easier to handle than a small D.

Screw lock carabiner basics

A screw lock carabiner locks only when you turn the sleeve closed. It is simple, has few parts and is easy to inspect, but it relies on you. Make a habit of screwing it shut, then squeezing the gate to confirm it is locked.

Screw gates suit connections you set and leave. For connections you open many times a day, an auto-locking gate is the safer choice. Compare with the Petzl Am'D Screw-Lock if you want a smaller D shape.

A simple rule many crews use: screw it closed, give it a quarter turn back so it does not bind, then squeeze to check. Do it the same way every time.

If your company policy calls for auto-locking connectors in life-support positions, keep the William for anchors, rigging and rescue setups where a screw gate is allowed.

Loading it right

Pear carabiners have a wide basket, so pay attention to how multiple connections sit. The more the load spreads away from the spine, the lower the strength. Keep loads near the spine and avoid three-way loading unless the manufacturer allows it.

Keep the gate away from limbs and other hardware, and watch that the sleeve does not unscrew as rope runs past it.

Inspection

Check thread condition, gate spring and the inside of the basket for rope grooves. Rinse out sap and grit, dry it, and retire any carabiner that has been dropped hard or shows cracks or deep wear. Life-support gear has to meet the applicable standard and the manufacturer's instructions, get inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers.

Pay special attention to the inside of the basket where rope runs over it. Large carabiners used for lowering or as a master point often see more rope movement than a typical climbing connector, so grooves can develop faster. A groove with a sharp edge can damage rope, so retire it before that point.