BLOG: Machetes Recalled Due To Laceration Hazard!?
By Jim Donovan: I see a lot of strange stuff in this business, but a recall alert that I just received did make my eyes roll this morning.
Gerber Legendary Blades (not the baby food Gerber people) is recalling 119,000 Bear Grylls Parang Machetes due to a laceration hazard. That's right, a machete is being recalled because people may get cut! Apparently a weakness in the area where the handle meets the blade can cause the handle or the blade to break during use, posing a laceration hazard. There have been 24 reports of breakages, and one injury.
I know that I am going to run out right away and check my machete collection, (I always have a machete handy when I hack through the Amazon jungle) and I suggest you do the same. If you've got one of these, you may want to be very careful.
The recalled product is a curved blade machete with an overall length of 19.5 inches and a blade length of 13.5 inches. The handle is a dark gray textured rubber grip with wrist lanyard, orange trim and a stylized "BG" on it. The blade is marked with the "GERBER®" trademark and a stylized Bear Grylls trademark. The machete comes in a black nylon sheath with orange and gray trim. The machetes were sold separately or as one of the products in Gerber's Apocalypse Survival Kit. The model numbers are on the package. Model numbers are: 31-000698, which has "Survival Series" printed on the package; and 31-001507, which was sold only at Walmart. Model number 30-0006010 is for the Apocalypse Survival Kit, which includes a Parang machete among other items in a foldable black cloth case with "GERBER" printed in orange on the inside right.
The knives were sold at sporting goods stores nationwide and online from January 2011 through June 2012 for about $43 for the individual Parang machetes and $349 for the Apocalypse Survival Kits.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Parang machetes and contact Gerber Legendary Blades to receive a free replacement.
For additional information, contact Gerber Legendary Blades toll-free at (877) 314-9130 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.gerbergear.com
