Gerber / Bear Grylls Parang Machete Review

[Nate66]

Hey all,

I recently damaged my machete beyond repair and have been looking for a replacement. While watching 'The Island', I noticed the Parang machetes they were using and how they were using them. They were using the Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete and really putting it through it's paces. I did some research online and found the reviews for the Parang were quite bad due to recalls and such. Since the recalls were done and over with I decided to give it a try. It arrived yesterday and I immediately took it to the woods. I hacked and slashed and cleaved and chopped and found I was pleasantly surprised. It performed great. I usually never buy endorsed items like this due to the price markup but I am happy in this case as I only paid £35 for it with free shipping. More to follow as I put it through further trials.

http://www.springfields.co.uk/gerber-be ... chete.html

[Hamradioop]

Take a look at this Nate https://youtu.be/2GT5PRSaxT4

I would recommend a bill hook a traditional tool used for hedge laying and wood cutting around the farm to you. IMHO The Gerber Parang has an inherent weakness caused by drilling holes through the tang to secure the handle similar to a knife. The bill hook tang is not drilled and is inserted through the handle as it is a long tang tapering at the end.

Spear & Jackson Stafford Bill Hook


£21.95 inc VAT
from http://www.tooled-up.com/product/spear- ... rettyPhoto

[Hamradioop]

Found this article on bill hooks http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk/blog/p ... -billhook/

[Alexander2003]

Everybody has there own opinion on a good tool, my personally favorite is the last machete I bought The Kershaw Camp10. It´s a well priced carbon steel blade and a good balance to it and i was impressed with the sheath. I got from http://hunters-knives.co.uk/machete-kni ... chete.html well worth every penny to be honest

[alwayscross]

Cant say I like Gerber products, had a bad history with them. I`ve owned two knives and the parang machete, all were very bad. The parang and one of the knives both broke, the other knife was just plain bad. Maybe I was unfortunate, but I cant say I would give them another go.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Cant say I like Gerber products, had a bad history with them. I`ve owned two knives and the parang machete, all were very bad. The parang and one of the knives both broke, the other knife was just plain bad. Maybe I was unfortunate, but I cant say I would give them another go.

notices the scissors on my gerber suspension dont spring back.. i cant remember ever using them


mind you

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gerber-22-01471 ... suspension

(^ periodically come up at £20 ish)

vs the same with some blobs of rubber in the handle with the BG name on £42...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004DSX5B6/r ... suspension

[Alexander2003]

personally think they are over valued in price and quality, if it wasnt for the marketing by bear grylls they wouldn´t sell so expensively

[Hamradioop]

personally think they are over valued in price and quality, if it wasnt for the marketing by bear grylls they wouldn´t sell so expensively

Hi alex would you please post an introduction in new members please.

[Nate66]

personally think they are over valued in price and quality, if it wasnt for the marketing by bear grylls they wouldn´t sell so expensively

I agree, however, as I stated in my original post I usually don't and very rarely buy anything that is endorsed because of the price hike. I bought this really just to see if Gerber has made any improvements since their recalls. i have several other Gerber products and have never really had any problems. I always found Gerber products to be of value but it seems they went downhill, otherwise why do they need endorsements. Hopefully the Parang I purchased fulfills is obligation as it comes with a lifetime warranty and I have no problem sending it back for replacement as they would not want any more bad press. May get lucky and receive some other items as a consolation gift for a shit item.