For years, the firearms market was omitted from innovation in the multi-tool market. Leatherman and other companies pushed out huge varieties of consolidated pacakages which could be pressed into service for firearms owners, they were not ideal, lacking many of the tools shooters needed or field work on their weapons.

This has quickly changed over the last five years. Leatherman, mentioned above, released their MUT tools and smaller companies such as REAL-AVID have worked to fill the void (which I reviewed previously) for the AR-15 and AK series weapons. However, no one has really focused on the handgun side of things… until now.

Advance Dynamic Systems out of California has been toiling to create a dedicated Glock tool. With millions of the handguns in the field, it makes sense that it was tackled first over the M&P, Rugers, and other platforms.

The Advance Dynamic Systems GTX Multi-Tool:

The GTX arrived in full retail packaging, which I must say is attractive. The plastic front showcases the tool and its tasteful design. Opening it up, there are two items inside, the GTX tool and the corresponding nylon pouch. The pouch itself is formed with an insert for the tool and will not collapse, but I am dissapointed to see its compatible with belt-loops only. No provision for attachment to MOLLE is present.

The tool itself when stowed is a compact package. Going with the packaging, the minimalist theme is present with few frills or other accouterments. The handle is on one side G10 panels and the other where the file and knife are stored, either steel or anodized aluminum with laser-engraved logos.

Those looking for tool counts should look elsewhere. Unfolding the tool yields a standard set of pliers with built-in wire-cutters which are nicely spung with good force. The G10 panel handle side holds two tools, a punch tool and a flat-head screw-driver along with a molded in Glock magazine disassembly tool. The metallic side holds another two, a filing tool and a half-serrated knife.

Using the Tool:

As mentioned previously, gear-do’s focusing on tool count should will look elsewhere, but for its explicit intended purpose, the GTX shines. It truly has everything one needs for field work on the Glock handgun. Using it and paired with an Emdom-MM KitMat to keep track of parts, I was able to complete a full detailed strip of the handgun down it is constituent parts and re-assemble it without issue.

All the other tools (knife, file, & flat-head) seem out of place for the dedicated-purpose tool. Don’t get me wrong, they are useful, but are a little extra that leaves the GTX in a state of quasi-multi-tool where it has multi, but not everything one would hope for. With extra space on the handles for more tools, it seems these were thrown in rather than dedicated for the purpose like the other components.

The pliers were surprisingly good at assisting with mounting and dismounting springs. Where some companies keep pliers clearances large, the GTX’s two sides meet without issue and can handle tiny components without issue. The punch tool certainly can punch anything, but it did fold in on me once as I smacked it at an oblique angle (it does not formally lock into place, just held deployed under tension).

Where the GTX shines is in magazine disassembly. The little “dingus” (actually a patent pending design) on the end acts as a bottle-opening, but can strip a Glock magazine in seconds versus the common pain of using large pliers to squeeze the sides of the magazine to allow the base plate tabs to clear. No other field solution that I have tried (including Lone Wolf’s tool) works as intuitively and keeps parts from flying.

Included tools per Advance Dynamic Systems:

• • Patent Pending magazine base remover
• • Glock™ takedown punch
• • Pliers with integrated wire cutters
• • Filing tool
• • Serrated blade
• • Flat-head screw driver
• • G10 grips
• • Cold beverage opener

The Good:

• Sturdy tool that does the job you ask of it.
• Fit, finish, and other items were good to go.
• Magazine disassembly tool is utterly fantastic.

The Notable:

• Absolute minimalist. Does not include anything not needed for the handgun platform (as I count pliers, knife, and file absolutely mandatory for any system).
• Punch works with both pin sizes, but would like to see a larger one as well. I marred my pins when disassembling with the small pin deflecting.
• There is empty space on the handles for more tools. Curious why AD did not choose to use this space.

The Bad:

• The punch and flat-head tools do not lock into place when unfolded. While they stay put when used correctly, I would like to see locking tabs, especially for the punch.

Final Thoughts:

Pricing is set at $54.95 retail (direct through AD), which for the serious shooter is pennies compared to their ammo or even firearms budget. A GTX at a handgun course with a small set of spare parts will nearly guarantee one does not have to “borrow” an instructor’s weapon and that one can complete the course under their own power and equipment.

Assuming one is a purpose-build person who likes carrying the minimum amount of gear, the GTX is an excellent option. To detail strip the handgun, I only needed three tools: pliers, punch, magazine tool. In that group, the Glock magazine base plate removal tool shines in its efficacy and simplicity, the others are commodity parts which are highly convenient to have in the single package.

Where does that leave the GTX?

I’d say this: A great tool for the dedicated Glock handgun shooter. The magazine disassembly tool by itself is nearly worth the asking price in terms of reducing time and frustration. The other tools are commodity and found in nearly all competitors, but the GTX makes up for the lack of tools by executing the ones it has well.