Gerber Gator Brush Trimmer [31-000083]

I've had one of these for over 5 years now. Mine is the same basic design , and I love it. I bought this one for my bother for x-mas.It's been used it for everything from blazing trails, to cutting brush out back, to shaping my bushes out front.The curved blade tip is a unique addition, and actually helps cut brush cleanly and well. You have no real need for a weed wacker, if you have one of these!The weight is good, and it's great for chopping away small branches and almost any type of brush. I keep mine extremely sharp, and have never had any issues with it. It holds an edge very well (it's a Gerber - 'nough said)Remeber, NEVER cut or swing this thing down towards yourself and #2, put a small loop of rope thru the hole in the handle so you can twist it around your wrist, once you get swinging, this thing can become airborne pretty quick...

Received the Gator Brush trimmer a month ago and really love it. I do field work in SE VA and it is much more handy than a machete or bush axe. If you are needing to chop large limbs or trees, this is not the tool for you. When researching before my purchase, there were photos of it with a broken handle. likely from someone holding it at the very end of the handle chopping something quite large or hard. This thing looks to be designed to handle limbs 2" and smaller (and brush as the name says). it really seems to hold an edge well and is balanced pretty good. The sheath is well constructed and not very cumbersome when hiking.And if you are a fan of the TV show Walking Dead, you get the added bonus of knowing they used this in the show. (had several surveyors comment on this)

I really like this brush trimmer. I have the older model without the rubber grip and it is still going strong. I bought this one for the improved grip. I also have purchased three others for family members, and they are just as happy. It will make short work of saplings as well as brush. I have found this brush trimmer to be an invaluable tool for camping and hunting, as well as for yard work. I would recommend this tool to everyone in need of such a tool.

Wow I expect to see a horror movie with this tool in it!But it is great, I pack it on my mower when I'm mowing the barnyard its great for heavy thick woody weeds alfalfa thistle tumble weeds etc. I mowed the Nabors ladies acre no one hade touched it for 2 years all that I couldn't mow I chopped tree limbs up to 1 inch in diameter others were poking fun at me cuz id pump the clutch and start swinging till I could sit up under them and take off again "they wanted to know where to get one" took this on a guide trip into the back country and cleared a shooting lane in seconds. Made me look like a professional.Got a get another one!!

I have an older Gerber brush machete - a great piece of equipment. I've cut down countless small trees and even some much larger hardwoods - including oaks and hickory. I sharpen it with a file and it's been great, lasting years. I accidentally hit a screw and it got a nasty divot, so I figured I'd replace it.This is the one I bought, and it's terrible. It got a huge divot when I chopped a small, maybe 3/4" branch, off an oak. Something I've done plenty of times with the other one, without any damage. I cut a few more, and now the machete is pretty much useless. I threw it away.Do not waste your money. I'm going to look around for a better brand... and I'll keep sharpening my older Gerber and using it, despite the small divot.

just got it today from amazon, great knife/axe, very good quality, feel solid in the hand,however, it came unsharpened, the edge is blunt, axes are sharper than this.took me 2 hours to sharpen it by hand, with a small flat piece block of diamond sharpener,then polished with a small flat stone, found it a little hard to sharpen in the curve.after it's sharpened, wow, amazing knife, tested on some cardboard boxes, slash through likehot knife / butter. no tearing at allwent outside tested on some hedges, after 5 mins, couldnt' lift my arm, this knifeweighs as much as an axe, way too heavy for me, almost double the weight of a machette,came very close at chopping my own leg off, with a couple of swings, this thing is dangerousif you're in the bush, clearing through thick vegitation, becareful of the swing, swing awayfrom your body, not towards your legs or thighgive it 4 stars for it's quality and price value, metal is very strong, protected by greencoating, i guess it wont rust as bad, shealth came is very well made, feels like a $25 shealthon it's own, very thick and has a zipper, inside a velcro strap to hold the top part of the handle in placeonly negative on this is, weight, too heavy to carry and use in the bush, probably go back to using my machettesmaybe carry it in car, use it near camp sites

I think you can abuse anything long enough and it'll break, or fail to satisfy. This Gerber brush axe isn't made to cut firewood or use like a heavy axe or survival knife. It's designed much like a machete but a little stronger for brush, hence the name. If kept well sharp and used for its intended purposes, it should last many years. I'm sure a few people gets a lemon every once in awhile, that's with anything. Gerber makes a quality product and stands behind it. If you need a hatchet, buy a hatchet, this has a purpose just like all other tools available, I use mine for trails and small limbs on my property. I'd definitely buy another.

The first time it was used, it was on very small saplings and branches, it made deep welts in the blade.I am not sure if the blade can be sharpened now to fix it or if it just needs to be thrown away. Very disappointed!

Arrived on time and well packaged. This machete is a great choice for a short but effective brush cutter.cheers,Ted