GerberGear Gator Machete 25" with Plain Edge Blade and Saw, Gator Grip and Protective Sheath for Gardening, Survival, Hunting, Camping and Bushcraft, Black

Let's start out by shouting from the rooftops that this little guy rocks! There are a couple of minor issues, but it's definitely getting 5 stars for an amazing value at $15.59.Let's go over the good stuff first (and there's plenty of it):The Gerber junior has several attributes that take it way beyond just a good deal.As said above, the price is right. At $15 - $20, it's a total bargain ... Your argument is invalid.While this mini machete certainly isn't made of the finest, imported, hand crafted materials (refer to price), if used within its limits, it seriously gets the job done. Because it's lightweight and half the length of a full size machete, you can easily carry it on your belt, or strap it to a pack and you'll barely know it's there until you need it.That being said — Don't let the smaller size fool you. OK sure. You probably won't get far cutting through towering oaks or sequoias, but it will chop right through a 3/4 in diameter branch with one clean shot. You can take down one inchers with a couple more chops, and you can get through branches that are 2 in in diameter or more if you have a little patience and throw in a dab of elbow grease. Somehow they definitely found a pretty solid balance between being light enough to take backpacking but heavy enough to chop through some decent branches.Another rare and good thing to find in a cheap cutting tool (despite some reviews that say otherwise) is that the blade comes out of the factory pretty sharp. After a few minutes with a decent sharpener, you can get the edge to cut through Kryptonite. No complaints in that department. Especially for the price.To protect and haul your blade, the nylon sheath is decent enough. It seems like it should stand up to some punishment while still being light enough that it doesn't add any noticeable weight when the blade is sheathed and on your hip. The velcro strap isn't particularly sturdy, but hopefully it will hold up. For the money, you can't ask for too much more than that.Now on to the bad (just a couple of minor non deal breakers):The machete is not full tang. For those that are new to knives and machetes, the tang refers to how far the metal blade runs up the grip. The Gerber jr. is not a full tang blade. This could become problematic somewhere down the road and could potentially lead to a broken blade or grip if you are using your blade as a rock hammer. Don't forget that you aren't paying big bucks for a product that will last you generations. Despite it's ... lacking of tang, if you treat the blade right and use it properly and within it's limits (that means NO prying), it feels like it will last through many outings in the woods.The other little hiccup in an overall awesome product, is the saw function. It's a great idea (note the use of the word "idea"), and if absolutely necessary, you could use it to (eventually) saw through larger pieces of wood. However, I think that this one looks a little better on paper and is exactly as I said before. A great "idea." It just isn't that practical. The saw blades are sharp and staggered like a saw is supposed to be. The problem is that they are too thick to efficiently saw through large diameter material. When trying to saw back and forth, you seem to have to devote a lot of energy and attention to avoid getting the saw teeth stuck in the log every other stroke. It can become frustrating and time consuming, and if you're backpacking or camping, your time would probably be better spent searching for dry tinder or picking a guitar by the fire. Now remember. This is far from a deal breaker. How much sawing are you really planing on doing with your MACHETE anyway?The conclusion is simple. This Gerber jr. is a serious bang for your buck. It works. It looks solid. It feels solid, and it hasn't failed yet. Overall this blade is absolutely ideal for taking on the trail to help gather fire wood or clear a site for a shelter. Although it seems to be born to be taken into the mountains on a trek, it can also be used around the yard for small to medium sized clearing jobs. If you are looking for a smaller answer to a full sized machete and don't want to dull up the blade of your hunting knife, this bitchin' little piece of hardware is definitely for you.

I recently got my hands on the Gerber Gear Gator Machete, and I must say, it’s a fantastic tool for anyone who loves the outdoors. The first thing you’ll notice is the excellent grip on the handle. The Gator Grip texture ensures that it stays firmly in your hand, even in wet conditions, making it incredibly reliable.The blade is razor-sharp right out of the box, allowing for clean and precise cuts. Whether you’re clearing brush, chopping wood, or just feeling like a jungle explorer, this machete swings effortlessly and gets the job done efficiently.Overall, the Gerber Gear Gator Machete is a must-have for anyone looking for a durable, sharp, and easy-to-handle tool. Highly recommended!

This goes with me into the field every time. I has a great balance and strength. The edge goes away quickly but I would expect that from a cheaper blade. I keep a wetstone in my pack. Great for brush clearing for my forward observers. The straps on the scabbard are great for molle. The velcro is less than adequeate. The handle has discentegrated after a couple days use but not too bad. I have had to tighten the handle down a couple times after abusing it. I let one of my Soldiers use it and he struck some rocks, but the dinges were easily ground out. It is hard enough to cut through 6" tree trunk and soft enough to put a quick egde on. I might be ordering these for an entire unti. Big fan. Overall I think this is a great tool to have out in the field. I take if for all my Army field training and it gets used every time. Still has a lot of life in it. Easy to out and egde back on it.

Can't really complain since this thing costs less than a meal nowadays, but you can't really sharpen this machete because of how thin it is. I've tried once with a whetstone, but it seemed like the edge was getting way too brittle for my liking so I stopped. The saw is a nice touch but you don't really get enough leverage since you can only have one hand on the handle and one holding the log/stick whatever. It still worked but at that point just get a regular camp saw. It did nice in cutting though moderate foliage when it was sharp, but once it got dull it was assigned to sawing duty.

Was looking for a smaller, inexpensive machete that I could use on my hikes through the beach dunes to hack down that shrubby encroaching invaisive nemesis of Western Oregon called Scotch Broom. For $15 plus change I'm very satisfied. The grip is secure and comfortable. The weight seems about perfect for good control and handling and for making a good chopping or slashing swing. The blade came very sharp and could have been used "as is", but about five minutes with a ceramic rod and it was slicing thin strips of newsprint the entire length of the blade. Tough woody Scotch Broom stalks 1" to 1.5" in diameter are severed easiily with a slashing 45 degree diagonal cut. It's a lovely sensation and a heck of a lot of fun. So far the blade and edge has held up just fine. Don't know about the saw tooth edge because I haven't used it yet. Being carbon steel, especially in a coastal marine environment, it will rust quickly if neglected. So far, cleaning the blade after use followed by a motor oil rubdown has kept it rust free. The sheath is well made too. To summarize, exactly what I wanted.Update: used the saw tooth side of the blade to saw through about a 4 inch diameter Douglas Fir tree that was partially blocking a hiking trail. It took a little more time than a good camp saw but worked pretty well. It would be a lot of work to tackle anything larger than this, but for 1 to 3 inch branches the saw portion of the gator is very useful.