Gerber Legendary Blades, of Portland, Ore., has recalled about 119,000 Gerber® Bear Grylls Parang Machetes. 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. The firm received 24 reports of breakages, including one report of a laceration injury in Canada, which did not involve stitches. 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 recalled blades 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 their website at www.gerbergear.com.