Product Review: Gerber Heavy Duty Racheting Pruner

I bought this pruner for my wife recently, and we had a chance to put it to the test this fall when we were doing some yard cleanup before winter set in. How did the Gerber fare? Let's take a look.

How Does it Work?

First, I want to say that I do not publish reviews of products that I don't like or would not recommend. Having said that, this Gerber product was not as stellar as I had hoped it would be. After all, as anyone who has experience with Gerber products would probably agree, Gerber is a good company with some really fine products. I really like the concept of this product, and the Gerber name is a big plus in my book.

The main reason I took a look at this product is that my wife is developing minor arthritis in her hands. I've had arthritis for many years (since childhood, actually) and I know what it's like. It may not slow you down when it's minor, but it is a pain, literally. So a ratcheting pruner is a great thing for us. And I have to tell you, the Gerber works great! It makes cutting some of those bigger twigs and small branches a lot easier. You can cut through small things with a single squeeze, but bigger pieces will allow you to squeeze, while the ratchet mechanism loads and then lets you squeeze again while the ratchet moves along and brings a little more pressure. With each squeeze it cuts deeper until it severs the branch. It really makes the work a lot easier, because it essentially magnifies your strength, and reduces the effort to cut. And it's comfortable in the hand too. I truly love the way it works.

Build Quality

Ok, here is where I fail to love the product. There are two primary problems with the Gerber design on this product. First is the safety lock, which allows the pruner to be locked shut. The lever on the Gerber is made of nylon, and the first few times we used it, it was fine. But after only a few times, the nylon post that engages the steel mechanism in the tool began to deform, and it got harder and harder to engage or disengage. If the safety lever was made of metal, this would not have happened, and that mechanism would probably have given many years of trouble free operation. It is not essential to have the safety clip on there at all, but it is nice, and I wish Gerber would have done a better job with it.

The second problem, and really a lot worse one has to do with the ratcheting mechanism. The mechanism is well designed in that it functions extemely well, and the parts all fit right and move right. But the construction is a bit cheaper that expected for a Gerber product, with the mechanism being made of die cut steel that has been formed by bending into the shapes needed. That's actually OK, so long as it hold up, and the metal is pretty heavy, so might reasonably give some years of service. But the mechanism is held together by a very light weight rivet. Now as I said earlier, my wife and I put this tool to the test. We cut up a lot of stuff with it. But we only put about a month of use on it. And after that short period of use, the rivet is badly bent. I would guess it could go a bit further before it breaks, but break it will, as metal fatigue weakens it through further use. I can easily repin it, but that is a hassle, and one that I would only normally expect after some years of use on a product like this.

What About the Rest of It?

The blade is a Gerber blade, and performed as expected. We've cut a lot of stuff with it, and the edge is holding a lot better than I expected. We've had anvil pruners before, and the blade basically squeezes down tight against an anvil on the opposing jaw to cut the material. On this model, the anvil, instead of being all metal is lined with what looks like nylon, and that tends to take a lot less edge off the blade, and probably contributes to the blade remaing sharp longer along with the better blade quality of the Gerber. The handles are easy on the hands, and that is really important for a tool that you might use for extended periods of time.

Additionally, it comes with a very nice nylon case, though the belt strap on the back is vitually useless on the belt, in my opinion, becuase it is so narrow that it slips and slides all over. It makes the belt strap so annoying that I won't use it, therefore rendering it useless, at least for me. On the other hand, the heavy duty nylon case is still a great way to carry the tool in case it isn't closed, because it protects the blade from damage, and your fingers from the blade. I wish it had a larger pocket style belt loop like carpenters' tool pouches instead of the light weight one inch nylon web strap.

Rating

For design and function, I give the Gerber excellent marks. It is so easy to use, it makes the work a lot easier. It really does what it claims to do.

For build quality though, I give it poor marks for the two problems, the nylon safety lock and the ratchet mechanism pin, while the blade is outstanding, as are the handles.

Overall, I'd give these pruners a 7 out of 10, and I do recommend them, but with some reservation.