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Don't buy this machete!

us Offline Spartan19

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Don't buy this machete!
on: November 03, 2017, 12:29:34 AM
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is the first and last Gerber machete I will ever buy. I was at the Home Depot today, and found a Gator machete jr. and paraframe combo for a great deal. So I bought it and this evening my dad and brother and I were out clearing some brush to test it out. Early on, the blade nicked a rock towards the tip, and got a small nick. At first I thought little of it, it's to be expected when chopping. Then the whole blade started peeling back like tinfoil, just chopping at small branches and trees. I'm very dissappointed in not only the tool, but in Gerber's quality, and I'm a Gerber fan! :rant: It's sad to see such an old company slide so much >:(
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Send In the spartans


ca Offline Syph007

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #1 on: November 03, 2017, 12:32:29 AM
Sounds about right.  I had the non Jr full size one.  It was so bad I couldn't even give it away and ended up just garbaging it.   I still find cold steel the best of the cheap machetes, and after that condor.
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us Offline Spartan19

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #2 on: November 03, 2017, 12:33:32 AM
Yeah, it's sad, I just can't get over how flimsy the steel is
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us Offline Alan K.

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #3 on: November 03, 2017, 12:57:09 AM
I never liked the Gerber Gator machetes.  I have several Tramontinas from Brazil that work very well and only cost around $10. I think the Cold Steel and the Condors are about the same but they cost a little bit more.


us Offline Spartan19

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #4 on: November 03, 2017, 02:13:30 AM
I had heard good things about the Gator machetes, but for it to bend like that is just ridiculous. I definitely don't like them now :td:
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us Offline ironraven

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #5 on: November 03, 2017, 03:07:56 AM
That looks like a call Gerber issue. Or just take it back to Home Despot.

I don't know about yours, but mine had their christmas stuff coming in alread today.
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hr Offline styx

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #6 on: November 03, 2017, 08:41:39 AM
ok that is crazy
Solving problems you didn't know you had in the most obscure way possible

"And now, it's time to hand this over to our tame race axe driver. Some say, he can live in the forest for six months at a time without food, and he knows of a secret tribe of only women where he is their God. All we know is, he's call the Styx!" - TazzieRob


scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #7 on: November 03, 2017, 09:15:12 AM
I wouldn't let this one stand either; take it back to Home Depot or contact Gerber.  Even if seems they can't make a machete, they do have excellent customer service.
Be excellent to each other and always know where your towel is.


us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #8 on: November 03, 2017, 11:18:06 AM
It looks like you time traveled to the zombie apocalypse and brought that back :ahhh Sorry to see that it didn't even last an evening clearing brush Spartan :facepalm: I agree with some of the others that you should take it back to Home Depot or contact Gerber about this :-\


mc Offline Gerhard Gerber

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #9 on: November 03, 2017, 11:38:03 AM
 :facepalm:

Few years ago I saw and immediately wanted to buy the Gerber (BG) Parang, but a google search got rid of that urge.....

I was again surprised watching some YT videos to see that there was a time when Gerber made good knives, I've never found anything I wanted to buy from them, despite it having my name on already  :facepalm:



00 Offline Mechanickal

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #10 on: November 03, 2017, 12:13:57 PM
I have a brand new Gator Jr at home...

:ahhh


es Offline ThePeacent

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #11 on: November 03, 2017, 12:39:36 PM
Sorry for that, 
but to be bluntly honest it's a well known thing that Gator machetes are cr*p. There's literally hundreds of threads, videos, reviews (Amazon, REI, Wal-Mart, etc.) and comments on how bad these are.   :ahhh

I have seen them snap when cutting cardboard boxes, chip hitting green twigs, bend irreversibly after the first strike on soft wood and crack to pieces cutting bale. It's not your fault, but I mean, a very little, minimal search would have brought those issues up, images of dozens of these broken and reports of many extremely common failures of this model.

There's where the infamous Bear-Grylls and Crappy-Gerber trend and bashing began. The Parang is also an example of this. Non full tang, pot steel, inexistent heat treat, flimsy construction...

So now I can only recommend that you stick to the old Gerbers (Gator folders, Guardian, Bowies, LHR, BMF, Mark I and II, EZ,  and others as well as their old multitools) and for inexpensive machetes...

- $10-25 gets you nice Tramontinas, Imacasa, Marbles and some Cold Steels
- $25-50 gets you some very good Cold Steel and Condor Machetes
- and for a little more you can have very good Ontario, KaBar, other Condor and ESEE machetes

Hope you get your money back and do better choices in the future    :salute:
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us Offline Spartan19

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #12 on: November 04, 2017, 02:43:26 AM
It looks like you time traveled to the zombie apocalypse and brought that back :ahhh Sorry to see that it didn't even last an evening clearing brush Spartan :facepalm: I agree with some of the others that you should take it back to Home Depot or contact Gerber about this :-\

Glad I didn't run into any zombies with this thing Poncho, I'd be eaten by now :D

I wouldn't let this one stand either; take it back to Home Depot or contact Gerber.  Even if seems they can't make a machete, they do have excellent customer service.
I'm planning to take it over to Home Depot tomorrow and see if they will either refund it or replace it. If they won't I'll just go straight to Gerber warranty
Send In the spartans


fi Offline AlephZero

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #13 on: November 06, 2017, 12:39:27 PM
"Hoarder of weirdness,
Always posting random things,
I'm AlephZero" :ninja:


ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #14 on: November 06, 2017, 01:49:02 PM
It wouldn't be the internet without people complaining.


ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #15 on: November 06, 2017, 01:50:27 PM
I think you guys got it all wrong... they should charge extra for that safety feature. I mean isn't it brilliant that when you slip and hack at your leg, you won't be injured?
It wouldn't be the internet without people complaining.


00 Offline Mechanickal

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #16 on: November 06, 2017, 02:12:24 PM
And if you forgot to pack your sandwiches before leaving the house, you just bash your machette onto a log and use the resulting tin foil for that :tu:


fi Offline AlephZero

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #17 on: November 06, 2017, 02:13:12 PM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D
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Always posting random things,
I'm AlephZero" :ninja:


hr Offline styx

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #18 on: November 06, 2017, 03:44:04 PM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D

what if the circle goes around again?
Solving problems you didn't know you had in the most obscure way possible

"And now, it's time to hand this over to our tame race axe driver. Some say, he can live in the forest for six months at a time without food, and he knows of a secret tribe of only women where he is their God. All we know is, he's call the Styx!" - TazzieRob


ie Offline Don Pablo

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #19 on: November 06, 2017, 04:14:07 PM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D

what if the circle goes around again?
Now now, don't be silly.  :P
Meta on top of meta? What does that look like?  :rofl:
Hooked, like everyone else. ;)

All hail the hook!


fi Offline AlephZero

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #20 on: November 06, 2017, 05:19:32 PM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D

what if the circle goes around again?
Now now, don't be silly.  :P
Meta on top of meta? What does that look like?  :rofl:

 :whistle:

Show content


 ::)
"Hoarder of weirdness,
Always posting random things,
I'm AlephZero" :ninja:


fi Offline AlephZero

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #21 on: November 06, 2017, 05:23:26 PM
As for the original subject (shocking, I know  :pok: ), I suppose Gerber slightly misunderstood the definition of a "cheese knife"...

 ::)
"Hoarder of weirdness,
Always posting random things,
I'm AlephZero" :ninja:


ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #22 on: November 06, 2017, 05:46:18 PM
As for the original subject (shocking, I know  :pok: ), I suppose Gerber slightly misunderstood the definition of a "cheese knife"...

 ::)
:rofl:
It wouldn't be the internet without people complaining.


hr Offline styx

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #23 on: November 06, 2017, 08:47:50 PM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D

what if the circle goes around again?
Now now, don't be silly.  :P
Meta on top of meta? What does that look like?  :rofl:

 :whistle:

Show content


 ::)

I could go for some baked potatoes
Solving problems you didn't know you had in the most obscure way possible

"And now, it's time to hand this over to our tame race axe driver. Some say, he can live in the forest for six months at a time without food, and he knows of a secret tribe of only women where he is their God. All we know is, he's call the Styx!" - TazzieRob


ie Offline Don Pablo

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #24 on: November 07, 2017, 12:30:50 AM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D

what if the circle goes around again?
Now now, don't be silly.  :P
Meta on top of meta? What does that look like?  :rofl:

 :whistle:

Show content


 ::)

I could go for some baked potatoes
Roast potatoes (in quarter wedges, boiled until the edges are just soft enough to crumble when the pot is shaken, and roasted with some olive oil until crispy) are one of my absolute favorites, along with calamari rings that have very light batter coatings that crumble and fall off when you pick them up.  :drool: :drool: :drool:
I'm drooling in RL writing this.  :drool: :drool: :drool:
Hooked, like everyone else. ;)

All hail the hook!


hr Offline styx

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #25 on: November 07, 2017, 08:47:23 AM
Notice also that in that 5 year old thread  SOG was said to have become the new Gerber... I suppose now the Gerber has become new SOG?

The circle has gone full meta!  :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh


 :D

what if the circle goes around again?
Now now, don't be silly.  :P
Meta on top of meta? What does that look like?  :rofl:

 :whistle:

Show content


 ::)

I could go for some baked potatoes
Roast potatoes (in quarter wedges, boiled until the edges are just soft enough to crumble when the pot is shaken, and roasted with some olive oil until crispy) are one of my absolute favorites, along with calamari rings that have very light batter coatings that crumble and fall off when you pick them up.  :drool: :drool: :drool:
I'm drooling in RL writing this.  :drool: :drool: :drool:

Those sound good. We have a traditional meal called police which would literally translated mean shelves. Basically unpeeled potato halfs just salted and put in the oven skin side down. Once they are golden brown they are done. They tend to go with sauerkraut, bacon, yogurt and butter. Some people put bacon on them before baking and that turns out really nice too
Solving problems you didn't know you had in the most obscure way possible

"And now, it's time to hand this over to our tame race axe driver. Some say, he can live in the forest for six months at a time without food, and he knows of a secret tribe of only women where he is their God. All we know is, he's call the Styx!" - TazzieRob


us Offline SteveC

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #26 on: November 07, 2017, 10:28:38 PM
Hard to beat the old Ontario army machete, mines taken a beating and still going strong.



us Offline Spartan19

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #27 on: November 08, 2017, 11:37:29 PM
I went out to Home Depot the other day, and when the lady at the service desk heard what had happened, I had a brand new one so quick I din't know what hit me, almost as if this had happened before :think: :think:. She was shocked when she saw how badly bent the blade was on the Gerber. This new one is only going to be used for chopping overgrown toothpicks, hopefully it's up to the task ;) :D
Send In the spartans


scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #28 on: November 09, 2017, 11:07:42 AM
I hope this one holds up a bit better. :tu:
Be excellent to each other and always know where your towel is.


es Offline ThePeacent

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Re: Don't buy this machete!
Reply #29 on: November 09, 2017, 12:35:14 PM
good luck with the new one   :salute:
My toys:

MTs: Surge (2x), Skeletool CX, Rebar, Blast, Fuse, Micra, Squirt (3x), Wave, Crunch, Mini, Spirit (2x), Pro Scout, MP700 (2x), Diesel, Powerlock, PowerPlier (2x), PocketPowerPlier, Blacktip , ST6 (2x), 5WR, A100

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