Gerber Gator Tools

Gerber has long had a ‘fend for yourself’ ethos and a range of outdoor tools to back it up. I’ve cherry picked a small cross section of kit designed to help you whether you’re hunting, hide-building, clearing undergrowth or camping. I chose two from their Gator Combo Axe range, plus the Machete Jnr along with the Exchange –A-Blade Saw.

Chop Chop

First up the Gator Axe Combo, ideal for small chopping tasks, particularly as it has a textured rubber finish on the 6 ½”, virtually indestructible, glass-filled, hollow nylon handle, it offers a good level of comfort and control too! Inside is a magnet that retains the knife that comes with it – hence the combo title. The forged steel axe head offers a tough 2.7” edge and is moulded into the handle as opposed to being retained by a wedge system. So making the two items one strong single unit

The knife consists of a similar Gator Grip handle and offers a 2.8” modified drop point blade with jimping on the rear for extra grip and pressure if/when required. With the knife in position the Axe Combo weighs 23.6oz and is around 9” long and a very useful set up to carry with your general hunting kit as it’s small and light enough to go on your belt or in your pack. A nylon belt pouch that covers the head is also supplied.

Similar but bigger is the Gator Combo Axe II, it measures 15” overall with a 12.75” hollow handle, the head is forged steel and retained in the same manner as the Combo, while the same Gator textured rubber finish is used. A belt carry pouch is also included. Housed inside is a 6”-bladed wood saw that also offers the same handle configuration as the knife from the Gator Axe Combo. High grade steel is used for the full tang saw and the teeth are very aggressive and set to cut on the forward and backward stroke. Again it’s retained by a magnet and looks useful for cutting bone too.
 
Hack ‘n’ Saw

Gerber offers two machetes – a 25.7” full length version and the more practical Machete Jnr at 18.75” overall. The 10.75” blade has both a standard plain edge but on top is a secondary, rough cut saw edge for cutting branches. It’s high-carbon steel shaft and head has the now obligatory Gator-Grip handle. Only weighing 14.3oz means it’s less strenuous to wield if doing lots of clearing work.

The Gator Exchange-A-Blade Saw is a folding design and comes with a spare blade in its nylon sheath with wide belt loop and Velcro overflap. It measure 8.78” closed and 15.5” with the blade deployed and weighs 10.8oz. The high carbon stainless steel blades are sharp and durable, whether you’re using the coarse one on wood or the fine for hardwood or bones.

They’re designed to cut with a third less effort required from a typical handsaw. To deploy the 6.65” blade press down on the large rocker lock catch at the top and swing it out where it will lock in position. When finished depress the rear of the lock mechanism and it will fold away into the textured, non-slip, composite handle.

It’s recently been upgraded to be stronger, with an overall beefier construction and an improved blade exchange mechanism. The blades, blade channel and handle are made from High Carbon Stainless Steel. The rubber overmoulding is – you guessed it - Gator-Grip.

To change blades - open out the folder approximately half way, then unscrew the big plastic knob from the pivot shaft and carefully pull the blade down and away. Reverse this procedure to exchange or replace. Blade choices are fine or coarse. Gerber again claim you use at least 30% less effort in cutting be that wood, bone or meat.

FOR - Some excellent field tools
AGAINST - Not a Lot
VERDICT - All work well and do as they claim