The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·11182·Announced 2011-03-23

Gerber Gator Combo Axe Recalled for Laceration Hazard

Gerber is recalling about 103,000 Gator Combo Axes because the knife in the handle can detach during use, posing a laceration risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural defect in a tool that resulted in five reported laceration injuries requiring stitches, meeting the criteria for significant injury reports.

Plain-English summary

Gerber Legendary Blades is recalling approximately 103,000 units of the Gerber Gator Combo Axe. The recall is due to a laceration hazard where the 7-inch knife located in the hollow axe handle can come out when the axe is used for chopping or hammering.

The affected product is an axe approximately 8.75 inches long with a 4.75-inch by 2.7-inch head. The handle is marked with the "Gerber" trademark. The Gerber Combo Axe II, which features a saw in the handle, is not included in this recall. Gerber has received five reports of laceration injuries, all of which required stitches.

The axes were sold at retail stores nationwide, including The Sportsman's Guide, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Bass Pro Shops, as well as online, since March 2005 for between $28 and $60. Consumers should immediately remove the knife from the axe handle and contact Gerber to receive a free handle cap, instructions for its use, and a warning label to affix on the axe head.

The recalled product

Product
Gerber® Gator® Combo Axe
Manufacturer
Gerber Legendary Blades, of Portland, Ore., a division of Fiskars Brands Inc., of Madison, Wis.
Category
Consumer Product — Hand Tools
Hazard
Affected units
103,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same manufacturer · Gerber Legendary Blades, of Portland, Ore., a division of Fiskars Brands Inc., of Madison, Wis.

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Same hazard · laceration

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