Gerber is recalling about 119,000 Bear Grylls Parang machetes because 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. Gerber has received 24 reports of breakages, including one report of a laceration injury in Canada, which did not involve stitches.


Though the word “parang” is used in Malaysia and Indonesia to refer to a large knife used to clear jungle, the Gerber machetes were made in China. They were sold by sporting goods stores and online by Walmart and other retailers from January 2011 through June 2012 for up to $43 individually, or as part of Gerber’s Apocalypse Survival Kits, which retailed for $349.

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 recall marks the fifth recall of Gerber cutting products since 2010, when the company recalled 149,000 Gerber Gator machetes and 6,000 Gator Machete Jr.  machetes due to reports of injuries.