An individually phased pawl drive mechanism includes a plurality of pawls each including a plurality of protrusions forming at least one slot between a corresponding pairing of the plurality of protrusions; a pawl carrier member sized and configured for receipt of the plurality of pawls; a drive ring carrier member including a plurality of radially displaced teeth; wherein rotation in one direction causes a first one of the plurality of radially displaced teeth to engage a first one of the plurality of pawls, the primary pawl; and wherein continued rotation is permitted if the drive force is sufficient to cause deflection of the pawl carrier member relative to the drive ring carrier member, thereby causing one or more subsequent ones of the plurality of secondary pawls each to be brought into engagement in succession with a corresponding one of the plurality of radially displaced teeth.