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Gerber knives

9 reports to CPSC, the latest made Jun 15, 2023. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search, on saferproducts.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

  • 9reports to CPSC
  • Jun 15, 2023the latest report was made
  • Sep 2, 2012the earliest
  • 2with the company’s comments
Brand
Gerber
Makers
Gerber Legendary Blades and FISKARSMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product
KnivesCPSC’s product type: Knives, Not Elsewhere Classified (code 464), in Kitchen: Knives & Slicers

By month

1 report from July 2022 to June 2023; the most in June 2023, 1. 8 earlier reports, since September 2012, are in the table.
The numbers, as a table
Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
MonthReports
June 20231
April 20211
March 20171
October 20162
June 20133
September 20121

How badly anyone was hurt

  • Hospital admission 1 CPSC: Injury, Hospital Admission
  • Emergency room 3 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
  • First aid 2 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
  • Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  • No one hurt 2 CPSC: Incident, No Injury

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

Source:

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  1. Hurt, no treatment

    Made Jun 15, 2023, sent to the company Jun 20, 2023, published by CPSC Jul 5, 2023

    The product, in the report: Gerber Gator Machete, purchased 2 months ago.

    Gerber gator machete broke at handle, cut my hand.

    Model
    Gator
    Serial number
    NA
    Bought from
    Dick’s Sporting Goods, Oklahoma
    Bought
    Apr 1, 2023, about then
    Where
    Kiefer, Oklahoma: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 40, Unknown
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by FISKARS
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  2. Emergency room

    Made Apr 5, 2021, sent to the company Apr 9, 2021, published by CPSC Apr 23, 2021

    The product, in the report: Bear grylls gerber machete

    The sheath rivets came apart and I cut my thumb in half

    Bought from
    Amazon
    Where
    Mountain Top, Pennsylvania: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 30, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by Gerber Legendary Blades
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
  3. No one hurt

    Made Mar 14, 2017, sent to the company Apr 6, 2017, published by CPSC Apr 27, 2017

    The product, in the report: Gerber Gator machete, 24 inch.

    While cutting tree branches with a Gerber Gator Machette the handle broke off where the handle meets the blade.

    Model
    Gator
    Bought from
    Wal-mart, Utah
    Bought
    May 15, 2013, about then
    Where
    Cedar Hills, Utah: Place of Recreation or Sports
    Who was involved
    Age 42, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by FISKARS
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  4. Emergency room

    Made Oct 29, 2016, sent to the company Nov 7, 2016, published by CPSC Nov 30, 2016

    The product, in the report: Gerber Cohort knife

    On October 15, 2016, I was using my Gerber Cohort knife which is subject to the recall – product number 8970614F.  The knife was in my left hand and I was pushing with my right hand on the back of the knife when the knife came unlocked, closing on my left index finger.  I was cut down to the bone and cartilage and required emergency care, stitches and surgery to repair my tendon.  I have suffered tendon and nerve damage.

    Model
    Cohort
    Bought from
    Home Depot
    Bought
    Dec 17, 2014
    Where
    Lake Orion, Michigan: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 35, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by Gerber Legendary Blades
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
  5. Emergency room

    Made Oct 5, 2016, sent to the company Oct 14, 2016, published by CPSC Oct 28, 2016

    The product, in the report: Folding Knife

    This is the same knife as in Recall number: 12-163. I believe that the company may have redesigned the knife due to the previous recall and subsequently have actually made it as equally dangerous.

    It is impossible to open with one hand as advertised. Once the initial resistance is overcome while opening it, it opens extremely rapidly with great force. I had one knife that I sent back to have the clip replaced and noted this issue as well. I was informed that the clip had been redesigned and that the opening mechanism had also been redesigned. I received a replacement knife and was unable to open it with one hand. While using both hands to open it, the knife opened so rapidly that it popped out of my hand and somehow lacerated my right index finger resulting in the need for two stitches. There are numerous reports of issues with this knife in the reviews on the Gerber Website. My initial review is dated 8/31/16. I have copied a link to the knife below.

    http://www.gerbergear.com/Knives/Assisted/Instant_31-002184

    Model
    Instant
    Bought from
    REI, Colorado
    Bought
    May 15, 2015, about then
    Where
    Colorado Springs, Colorado: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 53, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by Gerber Legendary Blades
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
  6. First aid

    Made Jun 17, 2013, sent to the company Jun 25, 2013, published by CPSC Jul 17, 2013

    The product, in the report: Gerber Bear grylls parang machete

    When I first got my parang machete I was putting it in the sheath but I put it in wrong and it cut through the sheath and cut on my left hand my middle and ring finger the ring finge it went to the bone all I did was treat it myself by wrapping it. It took severial weeks for it to heal

    Bought from
    Amazon
    Bought
    Nov 28, 2012
    Where
    Utica, Mississippi: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 54, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by Gerber Legendary Blades
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
  7. Hospital admission

    Made Jun 10, 2013, sent to the company Jun 28, 2013, published by CPSC Jul 15, 2013

    The product, in the report: Machete

    January 12th, 2013, caller opened package received and cut his thumb while pulling his Gerber Machete out of the packaging used when packing it to send to him.

    He has had surgery, cannot bend his thumb and can only move it up and down. Two arteries where cut during this accident, both tendons were cut and all the nerves were cut. He has been advised that the nerves may grow back within the next two years.

    The caller traveled to the Denton Regional hospital by driving himself after wrapping his thumb very tightly. He then spent two months in D&D Rehabitional Center in Denton, TX. He was released after four hours of surgery with pain medicine and antibiotic.

    He has not contacted the manufacturer yet but does intend to contact them.

    Model
    31-002289
    Where
    Argyle, Texas: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 65, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by Gerber Legendary Blades
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, Hospital Admission
  8. First aid

    Made Jun 8, 2013, sent to the company Jun 17, 2013, published by CPSC Jul 1, 2013

    The product, in the report: Gerber 31-002289 Bear Grylls Parang Machete with Nylon Sheath

    Gerber Bear Grylls Machete arrived, I opened it, pulled the knife out, the sheath split open and I drew the knife the length of my hand, cutting it to the bone.

    Model
    Gerber 31-002289 Bear Grylls Parang Machete with Nylon Shea
    Bought from
    Amazon.com
    Bought
    Oct 2, 2012
    Where
    Helena, Montana: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 62, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by Gerber Legendary Blades
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
  9. No one hurt

    Made Sep 2, 2012, sent to the company Sep 11, 2012, published by CPSC Oct 2, 2012

    The product, in the report: assisted opening knife

    Knife has opened several times while in my pocket. The blade tip has cut the pocket.

    Model
    Gerber Instant
    UPC
    13658 13491
    Bought from
    Georgesports.com
    Bought
    Aug 27, 2012
    Where
    Highland, Michigan: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 56, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Gerber, made or sold by FISKARS
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Source:

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

    Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Back to Knives

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Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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