Bear Grylls Parang recall

[XiaolongJackson]

Did they just use one of those welded on rat tail tangs that you normally see on those $10 Chinese made fantasy swords?

[FortyTwoBlades]

Nope--it's a fairly broad stick tang. It just has large holes drilled in it that totally ruin the structural integrity.

[pellidon]

I actually used mine to cut some scrub trees and such when they first hit the market. I was shocked to see the recall notice at Wally World and have sent in for the replacement. I also had the Gator Machete that was recalled. Good thing on that one as the blade was too soft but the saw worked fine. And my axe with the saw in the handle has issues too. The other three current recalls I didn't remember as I didn't have those products. Not a good recent track record for the designers at Gerber.

I found the Parang to be decent at chopping small branches/trees but little else. I didn't try hacking a larger branch or I may have had the blade come off.

I've become wary of Gerber in recent years.

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yeah they've started cheaping out to the point of their products becoming dangerous to use.

[jbmonkey]

Yeah they've started cheaping out to the point of their products becoming dangerous to use.

The fiskars finland made stuff still seems to be okay.......so far anyways. I've put somehard use on a gerber axe, that was made in finland by the parent company and it has handled it fine.


On the recall, we all talked about that design flaw a while back. In fact I think you pointed it out first, well to be fair and accurate...... first that I saw and remember. Surprised it took so long for an official recall.

[TornadoRaino]

I got one as a gift. Sending it in for the recall

[theAntihero]

Hmm i got one because it was either get it and get free shipping or pay 15 bucks shipping. I dont use it at all but i have been using the sheath for my Condor Golok. I wonder if its worthwhile to return it?

[singularity35]

I love Gerber. I used to steal my son's all the time before. And my granddaughter's too...

[wroughndt]

Has anyone had one replaced yet? I figure the replacement will be the same thing with a sturdier tang but I'm interested to see what they look like.

[FortyTwoBlades]

The fiskars finland made stuff still seems to be okay.......so far anyways. I've put somehard use on a gerber axe, that was made in finland by the parent company and it has handled it fine.


On the recall, we all talked about that design flaw a while back. In fact I think you pointed it out first, well to be fair and accurate...... first that I saw and remember. Surprised it took so long for an official recall.

Yes--any of their Finnish items are still a-ok. As are their high-end offerings. But while their low end has been crap for years it was never DANGEROUSLY crappy!

I think it was Joezilla who first indicated his skepticism but I chimed in shortly thereafter.

[co556guy]

I have a rule about things that cut or go bang.

If it is endorsed by an actor, I don't buy it.

Sell a gun or a knife on it's own merits, and if you have a good one, people will beat your door in to get it.

If you don't, well.............you have what happened to Gerber. The second they stepped away from quality, they had to resort to gimmicks.

[TriviaMonster]

I am surprised no one has made mention of the ultimate apocalypse tool: The Woodman's Pal Does Gerber have license to make this or is it just a common design?

[FortyTwoBlades]

Gerber is knocking it off. It's been long enough by this point that even if the design had been patented (not easily done in a manner that actually is meaningful) they would have been able to legally copy it anyhow.

[silentlysolaced]

I marked all parts of mine (blade/handle/sheath) with a sharpie to keep them honest. I am hoping for a slight redesign somewhere, though I'll say I beat on the original and it held up/an edge just fine.

[Arakiel]

I feel I have to add that Gerber's current business ethic completely disgusts me. I want nothing whatsoever to do with them. It infuriates me that my disgust for that company has tarnished the pride I once felt in owning a Gerber knife my father gave to me. F*ck Gerber and their whore b*tch Grylls for sh*tting on one of my only happy childhood memories.
Have a nice day.

[theAntihero]

Has anyone had one replaced yet? I figure the replacement will be the same thing with a sturdier tang but I'm interested to see what they look like.

+1 and a bump of an old thread.

[silentlysolaced]

I received a replacement a couple weeks ago..I took it apart and checked the tang..Everything looks the same except the entire machete seems smaller than the original and the coating is less uniform.

[MassMatt]

...so I guess now the injuries from breakage will be lessened given the snapped off blade that goes flying is smaller?

[T.L.]

If I owned a store I would never stock Gerber products they are such low quality I'd be embarrassed to carry them. I wouldn't sell something that I wouldn't use/endorse. Bear Grylls is greedy.

[ryanv403]

Oh, you mean you can't just glue a 13" blade to a plastic handle and chop down a forest...? I never would've guessed...

I honestly wonder sometimes how Gerber thinks they can get away with crap like this. Are they just assuming nobody will actually use these things?

Haha sometimes i have felt like im the only person that feels that way, i agree with you 100%!