DUMB PRODUCT RECALL: KNIFE IN AXE HANDLE CAN SLICE YOU BY ACCIDENT

From: New York attorney Gary E. Rosenberg (personal injury and accident attorney and lawyer; serving Brooklyn Queens Bronx; Brooklyn Accident Attorney)

Seems that if you can't be bothered to carry a knife with your axe, this was the tool for you. Except now it isn't because you can cut yourself by accident.

Gerber Legendary Blades Recalls Combo Axe Due to Laceration Hazard.

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® Gator® Combo Axe

Units: About 103,000

Importer: Gerber Legendary Blades, of Portland, Ore., a division of Fiskars Brands Inc., of Madison, Wis.

Hazard: The knife in the axe handle can come out when the axe is used for chopping or hammering, posing a laceration hazard to the user. That would be an accident.

Incidents/Injuries: Gerber has received five reports of laceration injuries. All required stitches.

Description: This recall involves the Gerber Gator Combo Axe, which has a 7-inch knife in the hollow axe handle. The axe is approximately 8.75 inches long with an axe head that is 4.75 inches x 2.7 inches. The axe handle is marked with the "Gerber" trademark. The Gerber Combo Axe II, which holds a saw in a longer axe handle, is not included in this recall.

Sold at: Retail stores nationwide, including The Sportsman's Guide, Dick's Sporting Goods and Bass Pro Shops/American Rod & Gun and online since March 2005 for around $28 - $60.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the knife from the axe handle and contact Gerber to receive a free handle cap, which will hold the knife in the axe handle during transport and storage, instructions for the use of the handle cap, and a warning label to affix on the axe head. (That warning label should help!)

Consumer Contact: For more information, 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.

Comment: My readers will be comforted to know that this recall only involves the axe model with a knife in the handle and not the axe model with a hand-saw in the handle. Whew.

RELATED CASES:

RECALL OF CRATE AND BARREL BRAND GLASS WATER BOTTLES; THEY PRESENT RISK OF ACCIDENT AND INJURY DUE TO LACERATION HAZARD    (Posted by Brooklyn Accident Attorney Gary E. Rosenberg on April 6, 2010)

WIND CHIME TOYS RECALLED; THEY PRESENT PUNCTURE AND LACERATION HAZARDS TO CHILDREN     (Posted by Brooklyn Accident Attorney Gary E. Rosenberg on February 13, 2010)

LACERATION/CUTTING HAZARD CAN SLICE AND DICE AND INJURE CONSUMERS    (Posted by Brooklyn Accident Attorney Gary E. Rosenberg on January 21, 2010)

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY - TAKE ACTION NOW AND FEEL BETTER    (Posted by Brooklyn Accident Attorney Gary E. Rosenberg on December 13, 2009)

MAN TAKES SWORD TO COURT: COPS     (Posted by Brooklyn Accident Attorney Gary E. Rosenberg on December 11, 2007)