Gerber Recalls Instant Knife Due to Laceration Hazard

[gfanikf]

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12163.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Gerber® Instant™ Knife

Units: About 3,000

Importer: Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Ore.

Hazard: The locking mechanism on the spring-assisted blade can fail to engage properly, causing the blade to fold during use, posing a laceration hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None

Description: The recalled knives are spring-assisted clip knives with a black retractable 3.18" blade which can be folded into the textured black handle when the knife is not in use. The black handle has four diagonal slots on both sides. When closed, the knife measures 4.57" in length and when open, it measures 7.75". The Gerber "sword and shield" trademark appears in silver, on one side of the blade, close to the handle. The name "Gerber®" is written in silver on the knife's pocket clip. This recall involves model numbers 30-000435 and 31-001101. The different model numbers refer to the same knife sold in a box (30-000435) and in a blister pack (31-001101). The model number is printed on the original packaging underneath the barcode. It is not printed on the knife.

Sold at: Sporting goods stores nationwide from February 2012 through March 2012 for about $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Instant Knives and contact Gerber Legendary Blades to receive a free replacement.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Gerber Legendary Blades toll-free at (877) 314-9130 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.gerbergear.com

Gov docs are all in the PD.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Thanks for posting this.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Thanks for the post - I didn't know it was illegal to sell/resell recalled items as it says.
I have read it a couple of times and fail to see what exactly the laceration hazard is but do note the statement of no incidents/injuries... Curiouser and curiouser.

 

[gfanikf]

Thanks for posting this.

Sure thing. I signed up for AlertsPA which is an email system from the state of PA that sends out (totally depends on what one selects) everything from weather reports, prison breaks, product recalls, and more. A lot of the product recalls never get more than a glance and delete, but (as a parent) the one or two that are relevant makes it so worth it (and the Flood warnings too! lol).

I have read it a couple of times and fail to see what exactly the laceration hazard is but do note the statement of no incidents/injuries... Curiouser and curiouser.

I think it comes from the locking mechanism being faulty.

Hazard: The locking mechanism on the spring-assisted blade can fail to engage properly, causing the blade to fold during use, posing a laceration hazard.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Geeze - what a spaz! I completely missed that. Can't be much clearer can it? Thanks.

 

[bikerdoc]

Just me, but I think that is an ugly knife. Apologies to those that like it.

On topic: good on the CPSC, shame on Gerber QC.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Just me, but I think that is an ugly knife. Apologies to those that like it.

On topic: good on the CPSC, shame on Gerber QC.

Nope, not just you. It's tactugly to me too. And really?!? Gerber made in China? Gimme a break!

 

[DNS]

Butt ugly.

I've never had the urge to buy a $50 china knife though so maybe my opinion is a little off.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

"Thumb Plunge" Lock?

Can someone describe this?

My Google-fu isn't helping today.

What's the deal with the lock, and is the failure a quirk, a design problem, or simply bad QC at the offshore plant?

 

[hso]

A plunge button lock is a standard push button lock that is found on switchblades. The button is a cylinder that has a cutout in it that allows the tang of the blade to slip through/past the hardened cylinder. The cylinder has a spring under it pushing it up to keep the cylinder pushed up against the frame of the knife handle until depressed letting the slot in the cylinder come down and let the tang pass. When the button is released the cylinder moves back into place locking the open blade into place.

The design is well established and is as strong as any out there. Gerber would have had to have tweaked the design and screwed it up (unlikely) OR the factory screwed it up and Gerber let enough into the country to be an issue.