Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete

J

J.Davey

Joined
Feb 10, 2004
Messages
1,620
Ya' know, I was actually looking forward to trying one of these out, especially after seeing the YouTube vids exclaiming how 'heavy duty' they are going to be. Then I read this review on fieldandstream.com:

"However, the blade isn’t very thick (a hair over 1mm) like most machetes, giving it light weight for repeated swings, easy maneuverability and quick swiping speed, but sacrificing strength. The light, plastic handle, without a stainless pommel like the Ultimate Knife, makes the whole tool feel a bit unbalanced and delicate, though once you get to swiping, the advantages of the blade shape are immediately apparent."

This does not inspire my faith in the product. 1mm is pretty damn thin, especially for something that is being marketed as 'heavy duty'. Was this just a test model? :confused:
 
the sheath looks like it's a lefty! they at least got one thing right by me :D
 
Planterz said:
Hard to tell exactly, but it looks thicker than "a hair over 1 mm" in this video.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/video.php?do=viewdetails&videoid=90
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That's what I thought, too! Then I read the review. I wish Gerber would just give some more relevant product info than they have. Thickness??? Actual steel type (not just 'high carbon'...THAT TELLS US NOTHING). As I said, I like the blade shape on this machete, but even 30 or 40 dollars is too much to pay for a turd.:(
 
J.Davey I don't know if you have seen the bad reports on the Bear Grylls knife but I would hold off a little on this machete to see what the feedback is. It does look like a nice design though.
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
J.Davey I don't know if you have seen the bad reports on the Bear Grylls knife but I would hold off a little on this machete to see what the feedback is. It does look like a nice design though.
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It was actually the review on BladeForums of the survival knife that led me to the Parang Machete. I'm in no rush. I have a couple of good machetes already, but as I've said, I just really like the design of this one. I just hope it isn't a big turd!;)
 
Its a machete!

I don't want a thick blade ;) Look at the ESEE lite machete for an idea of what a machete done right is like in terms of thickness!

1mm is nice. ;D I love the handle style, I will for sure get one!
 
forcedestrike said:
Its a machete!

I don't want a thick blade ;) Look at the ESEE lite machete for an idea of what a machete done right is like in terms of thickness!

1mm is nice. ;D I love the handle style, I will for sure get one!
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Thank you for sharing your definition of what every machete should be. As for the ESEE Lite Machete and what it does best, I would say convince people to spend way too much for a touched up Imacasa machete:p;).
 
J.Davey said:
Thank you for sharing your definition of what every machete should be. As for the ESEE Lite Machete and what it does best, I would say convince people to spend way too much for a touched up Imacasa machete:p;).
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I wasn't trying to set an absolute definition, just my opinion bro!

For me and most people that I have spoken to (I could be way off base) machetes are light weight choppers with thin blades for light to medium vegetation.

Regarding the ESEE machete its alot more than a touched up condor, it has amazing seemless micarta handles- if you go to becker the handles by themselves cost 40$ and no one says that Ka-Bar are over priced!

10$ machete and 40$ flawless custom fit (I believe they are finished by hand) micarta grips.

and even more importantly for me it has the ESEE guarantee :P


It retrospect I am being an epic koolaid drinking fanboi (atleast I admit it!) right now so I will stop but my point (I believe) are still valid. ;)

But we are totally off tangent now so to break it down- the Golok Parang from Gerber does not seem to be flimsy for me, I believe the original concerns were about the toughness of such a thin blade however extensive use with similar tools has told me that such blades tend to flex rather than snap. So toughness is assured based on design as long as the heat treat is not too high and with that safe and comfortable handle + workable sheath it seems like a solid, good deal.

:thumbup:
 
forcedestrike said:
I wasn't trying to set an absolute definition, just my opinion bro!

For me and most people that I have spoken to (I could be way off base) machetes are light weight choppers with thin blades for light to medium vegetation.

Regarding the ESEE machete its alot more than a touched up condor, it has amazing seemless micarta handles- if you go to becker the handles by themselves cost 40$ and no one says that Ka-Bar are over priced!

10$ machete and 40$ flawless custom fit (I believe they are finished by hand) micarta grips.

and even more importantly for me it has the ESEE guarantee :P


It retrospect I am being an epic koolaid drinking fanboi (atleast I admit it!) right now so I will stop but my point (I believe) are still valid. ;)

But we are totally off tangent now so to break it down- the Golok Parang from Gerber does not seem to be flimsy for me, I believe the original concerns were about the toughness of such a thin blade however extensive use with similar tools has told me that such blades tend to flex rather than snap. So toughness is assured based on design as long as the heat treat is not too high and with that safe and comfortable handle + workable sheath it seems like a solid, good deal.

:thumbup:
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I was just being a wise-a$$, too. :D
 
Ya' know, I never even thought to actually ask the question. Does anyone actually know the thickness or steel type used on the Gerber BG Parang Machete???
 
I'm not even sure that Gerber knows the answer! :p

I'm interested in the Gerber parang too, but I'll be content to wait for now. I've got some Fiddlebacks I haven't been beating up enough. :D
 
If it's anything like the ultimate survival knife, then I may get it just to have something to scoop my dog's poo up from the neighbor's yard
 
cnas122 said:
If it's anything like the ultimate survival knife, then I may get it just to have something to scoop my dog's poo up from the neighbor's yard
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Even 30 bills is pretty pricey for a poo scooper!:D And, if the quality is anything like the BG knife, it may be hard to use for that purpose; I've never seen somebody scoop poo WITH poo.
 
J.Davey said:
Actual steel type (not just 'high carbon'...THAT TELLS US NOTHING).
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I always assume that if the manufacture does not specify the steel type (ie. just "carbon steel" or "stainless steel") that it is becuase they are using cheap stuff and trying to avoid saying so. I just assume the worst.

IMO, you can buy a better machete for less money any number of places.
 
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