Broken Gecko gaff on lightning struck Eucalyptus

Broke the end of a Gecko gaff while removing a dead Eucalyptus yesterday. The tree was struck by lightning over a year ago which apparently makes them even harder and boy was it hard–like climbing a rock.

While moving around the trunk after a cut I noticed the spike on my left foot slipping–broken gaff! Must have got caught in crack. Luckily had some spare gaffs (short) to swap in. Hopefully can resharpen the former long gaff into a shorty so then I'll have a spare of each.

No tree should do that to gaffs imo, I've climbed lightning damaged trees and they weren't any harder than ded elms.

I would send them to the manufacturers to inspect.

No tree should do that to gaffs imo, I've climbed lightning damaged trees and they weren't any harder than ded elms.

I would send them to the manufacturers to inspect.

Yeah, never heard of anyone else breaking a gaff either. What's more I didn't feel it happen. I.e. no major twisting in the ankle assuming the gaff really was stuck.

Who actually manufactures these? Can't seem to find any link to the German manufacturer - Distel?