- Steel
- Imported
- Quality tested and ensured for maximum durability
- Designed with only the toughest, roughest users in mind
- Comfort and Performance come hand in hand with Rothco
- Tactile rubber grip
- Fine edge and saw blade
The Gator Machete wields a 15-inch fine edge blade on one side, a 18-inch high performance saw blade on the other, and our proprietary Gator rubber grip for ergonomic control while using either. The riveted, nylon sheath provides safe, durable transport. Clear foliage with a single swipe. Machete also doubles as a saw. Great for clearing shooting lanes. Quality, tough, black oxide-coated steel blade is 15", fine razor's edge with "toothy" serrated saw on top. Gator sure-grip handle 25" overall, weighs 1 pound, lanyard hole. Black 400-denier heavy nylon sheath with belt loop.
By Amazon Customer
Machetes come in various shapes and sizes and each one has its specific purpose. That is one thing you need to keep in mind when buying a machete. Do you want a "do all" or are you more concerned with household/yard/lawn chores. This was never designed to be a "bush" machete. Gerber admits that. It was designed to be used by the common guy with chores and the occasional camping trip in mind. Does that mean it can't survive in the "bush"? No, it can do just fine but not as good as some of the heavier thicker bladed machetes. Again, that's not what you are buying with this. Having been in the military and actually being issued machetes for various missions, I can call myself a decent judge of character for a machete. This thing is great for around the home. It goes through limbs with ease. I've chopped 2-3 inch limbs with minimal effort. The saw end actually works though it does take some getting used to. The handle is nice and soft and easy on the hand which is good because it prevents the blade from jumping back at you. The scabbord/sheath isn't anything fancy but it works properly and comes with a belt attachment.
Now for the cons: I believe all machetes should come sharpened from the manufacturer. This blade is still squared when you get it. The handle has two bolts and nuts that hold it in place. They don't come loose often but they do loosen up over time and make the handle wiggle in your hands. This can easily be fixed but it is an issue you get out of the box. The saw blade works properly though, because of the angle, it can be tough to acquire a good starting angle. The blade is thinner than most "field" blades. But again, you're not buying a "field" blade.
Overall it is a great blade when used for what it was designed. It wasn't meant to chop down trees. 2-3" limbs are the max i would suggest hacking at. The saw end works but take a bit to get a good starting angle. The weight of the blade is great for household chores and camping. Not a survival blade. Comfortable handle but don't forget to check the bolts and nuts every now and then. I would definitely recommend this blade for any home owner or anyone wanting a camping machete. If you're into the survival thing, don't buy this. There are other companies that design their machetes specifically for that.
Now for the cons: I believe all machetes should come sharpened from the manufacturer. This blade is still squared when you get it. The handle has two bolts and nuts that hold it in place. They don't come loose often but they do loosen up over time and make the handle wiggle in your hands. This can easily be fixed but it is an issue you get out of the box. The saw blade works properly though, because of the angle, it can be tough to acquire a good starting angle. The blade is thinner than most "field" blades. But again, you're not buying a "field" blade.
Overall it is a great blade when used for what it was designed. It wasn't meant to chop down trees. 2-3" limbs are the max i would suggest hacking at. The saw end works but take a bit to get a good starting angle. The weight of the blade is great for household chores and camping. Not a survival blade. Comfortable handle but don't forget to check the bolts and nuts every now and then. I would definitely recommend this blade for any home owner or anyone wanting a camping machete. If you're into the survival thing, don't buy this. There are other companies that design their machetes specifically for that.
By D. Schwemin
I want to start by saying that I happen to own quite a few machetes such as Tramontina, Imacasa, Condor, Ontario, Ka-bar, and Cold Steel. So I have quite a bit of experience when it comes to machetes in general.
Upon receiving this machete, I immediately took note of a few things. First, I was rather impressed with the quality of the sheath that comes with this machete. It's a sturdy quality nylon sheath that is a rigid construction. Usually, most machetes either come with no sheath at all, or a rather lousy one at best, so this was a pleasant surprise, especially considering this machete sells for under $20!
The next thing I noticed about this machete in comparison to my other, more traditional, machetes is that this machete is rather heavy and slightly awkwardly weighted due to the rather modern styled handle design. However the handle is very comfortable and the "Gator Grip" is textured very nicely and provides lots of traction.
One downside to this machete though, is that it's not full tang which presents some concerns due to the fact that it's used primarily as a chopping tool. Unfortunately, only time will tell as to how sturdy this machete will prove to be. I will be sure to include an update in the event of any type of failure.
The machete comes with a decent grind out of the box that will save you from having to worry about spending time doing any type of heavy grinding, however, it does not come quite sharp enough right out of the box to take into the woods. I spent some time putting about as sharp of an edge as I could on this machete, which was kind of hard due to the fact that Gerber tends to impart a very soft temper on their steel. I was however able to get a sharp enough edge to where it cuts very well in the woods.
The saw on the machete works surprisingly better than I thought it would. I was impressed and happy that this saw will actually serve me well when it comes to notching wood for different common bushcraft tasks.
Lastly, I wanted to touch upon something rather important when it comes to machete use. I noticed a number of people complaining about braking their machetes and putting rather obscene chips in the blade and so forth. Anyone looking to buy a machete needs to keep in mind that machetes are not designed to take down redwoods! They are made from thin spring temper steel and are designed to primarily cut green (living) vegetation and underbrush. If your looking to fell hug-sized trees, then buy an axe. If your looking to have a tool to help clear camp sites, or help carve your path through the woods, than a machete is probably a good option. I would not push a machete to do anything more than a hatchet could comfortably handle.
Also, I notice that the vast majority of North Americans generally don't know which area of the machete to strike with either. I've found that most people that are unfamiliar with machete use, tend to strike with the middle section of the blade. This is bad. When striking with the middle portion of the blade, this puts the machete at high risk of bending or breaking in the event that the machete glances off of the medium being struck, and can cause extreme lateral pressure and flex. Striking with the middle portion of the blade does not offer the most speed and power for your swing either.
The ideal portion of the blade to strike with is roughly the final 1/3 of the blade (generally the flat portion of the blade directly before the rounded belly of the blade). The closer to the tip of the machete that you strike with, the more head speed and power will be generated. Likewise, in the event that the blade glances off of the intended target, the blade will not experience large amounts of flex that could permanently bend, chip, or break the blade. For those who would like to learn more about machetes and their use, check out Joe Flowers or Colhane on youtube.
In conclusion, I think this machete is proving to be a good tool thus far. If I experience any changes in performance, I will amend this review and post an update below.
Upon receiving this machete, I immediately took note of a few things. First, I was rather impressed with the quality of the sheath that comes with this machete. It's a sturdy quality nylon sheath that is a rigid construction. Usually, most machetes either come with no sheath at all, or a rather lousy one at best, so this was a pleasant surprise, especially considering this machete sells for under $20!
The next thing I noticed about this machete in comparison to my other, more traditional, machetes is that this machete is rather heavy and slightly awkwardly weighted due to the rather modern styled handle design. However the handle is very comfortable and the "Gator Grip" is textured very nicely and provides lots of traction.
One downside to this machete though, is that it's not full tang which presents some concerns due to the fact that it's used primarily as a chopping tool. Unfortunately, only time will tell as to how sturdy this machete will prove to be. I will be sure to include an update in the event of any type of failure.
The machete comes with a decent grind out of the box that will save you from having to worry about spending time doing any type of heavy grinding, however, it does not come quite sharp enough right out of the box to take into the woods. I spent some time putting about as sharp of an edge as I could on this machete, which was kind of hard due to the fact that Gerber tends to impart a very soft temper on their steel. I was however able to get a sharp enough edge to where it cuts very well in the woods.
The saw on the machete works surprisingly better than I thought it would. I was impressed and happy that this saw will actually serve me well when it comes to notching wood for different common bushcraft tasks.
Lastly, I wanted to touch upon something rather important when it comes to machete use. I noticed a number of people complaining about braking their machetes and putting rather obscene chips in the blade and so forth. Anyone looking to buy a machete needs to keep in mind that machetes are not designed to take down redwoods! They are made from thin spring temper steel and are designed to primarily cut green (living) vegetation and underbrush. If your looking to fell hug-sized trees, then buy an axe. If your looking to have a tool to help clear camp sites, or help carve your path through the woods, than a machete is probably a good option. I would not push a machete to do anything more than a hatchet could comfortably handle.
Also, I notice that the vast majority of North Americans generally don't know which area of the machete to strike with either. I've found that most people that are unfamiliar with machete use, tend to strike with the middle section of the blade. This is bad. When striking with the middle portion of the blade, this puts the machete at high risk of bending or breaking in the event that the machete glances off of the medium being struck, and can cause extreme lateral pressure and flex. Striking with the middle portion of the blade does not offer the most speed and power for your swing either.
The ideal portion of the blade to strike with is roughly the final 1/3 of the blade (generally the flat portion of the blade directly before the rounded belly of the blade). The closer to the tip of the machete that you strike with, the more head speed and power will be generated. Likewise, in the event that the blade glances off of the intended target, the blade will not experience large amounts of flex that could permanently bend, chip, or break the blade. For those who would like to learn more about machetes and their use, check out Joe Flowers or Colhane on youtube.
In conclusion, I think this machete is proving to be a good tool thus far. If I experience any changes in performance, I will amend this review and post an update below.
By 1225aidan
this is a great product i live at a lake near a camp teens come to have sex and drink so iput on a mask and walk around with a this machete to scare them while using this product its what my mom would of do
By Olga S.
For $18 it's only $10 more than a normal cheap machete I get built in saw and a sheath that has a plastic protector built in for the saw edge, which prevents shredding the sheath every time you want to put it away. The metal did not ding as easy as some said. I chopped oak branches laying on the dirt and I'm sure the ground had some small rocks in there and the blade was fine.
I did pre-paint the blade edge after sharpening it a bit more, just to prevent rust in the FL humidity near the ocean. I also repaint every time I use it. The handle seems good and soft and comfy. It is 1/4 tang roughly (you can see the bolted section area), but If it broke I could just get out my grinder and take off a little towards the tip and add a cheap handle or widdle something. It's not just a little 1/2" wide 2' long piece sticking into the handle its pretty wide. The handle seem fine as well. so, I think it will last a dozen years.
I would buy again.
I did pre-paint the blade edge after sharpening it a bit more, just to prevent rust in the FL humidity near the ocean. I also repaint every time I use it. The handle seems good and soft and comfy. It is 1/4 tang roughly (you can see the bolted section area), but If it broke I could just get out my grinder and take off a little towards the tip and add a cheap handle or widdle something. It's not just a little 1/2" wide 2' long piece sticking into the handle its pretty wide. The handle seem fine as well. so, I think it will last a dozen years.
I would buy again.
By MrEye
I've been using this machete for a couple of months now. I have to cut my way through sections of vine and undergrowth on hillsides to work on things like clearing trees. I've cut through branches and small trees up to around two inches. It's holding up well. I don't use the saw side. The case is good to have since I don't want an exposed blade when I'm climbing. Maybe some people had a bad batch of blades, but I really whack at things hard, and it's holding up. One thing I did early on was to chop at at something on the ground. The rocks will nick the blade, but I was able to clean up the damage with some sharpening. I think that's my mistake. I don't expect it to cut through rocks.
By Maurice Goulding
I saw a picture of a broken Gator posted by someone who said they broke it on a small branch, so I was a bit leery in using the thing. The reason the blade broke for that person is that the blade was not properly heat treated. It could have been made at the beginning or ending of a shift. There could have been some equipment malfunction or so on, but I am sure it was an anomaly.
The weight distribution/balance, the comfort of the handle and the strong steel make this a great choice for anyone looking for a good machete. It's not perfect mind you. The blade could be a bit thicker to add power for chopping and the saw blade could be sharper and designed to be a more aggressive cutting tool, but it works.
The weight distribution/balance, the comfort of the handle and the strong steel make this a great choice for anyone looking for a good machete. It's not perfect mind you. The blade could be a bit thicker to add power for chopping and the saw blade could be sharper and designed to be a more aggressive cutting tool, but it works.
By Alex Janow
This thing is awesome. Cuts vines, small branches, shrub branches and anything else needed in a single swipe. Much more fun than pruning shears.
Be aware, the handle does not have much to increase traction and will slip with wet or sweaty hands. No issues when used with gloves though. I recommend: HandMaster Bella Men's Pro Rose Garden Glove, X-Large
Be aware, the handle does not have much to increase traction and will slip with wet or sweaty hands. No issues when used with gloves though. I recommend: HandMaster Bella Men's Pro Rose Garden Glove, X-Large
By Alan O
Make all your neighbors nervous by wielding this stylish machete while clearing brush, pruning branches etc. Yard work doesn't need to be boring and mundane any more.
Seriously though...works great for chopping small branches and the saw is very effective at cutting larger branches. If you camp this might also be great for gathering and cutting small firewood etc.
Enjoy.
Seriously though...works great for chopping small branches and the saw is very effective at cutting larger branches. If you camp this might also be great for gathering and cutting small firewood etc.
Enjoy.
By Jeremiah Hosmer
tell me where you are going to get a machete for this price. WAIT WAIT, nowhere. great for the money. I'm not an outdoor product tester or survivalist but I do live in the country and have had fun chopping through the woods a few times
By Geo
Great machete, got it for clearing heavy brush. I own property in central florida, with thick brush. This is an excellent tool for clearing a path. Cuts up to 1-1/2" saplings in one wack. Only gripe is the saw tooth are not sharp enough for cutting. However I have cut tall grass and up to 3" saplings with few hits. Still a 5 star machete.
Comments
Post a Comment