Bradford Guardian 3

Deinos said:
They haven't switched steels. All 3 steels are available, depending on where you are ordering it.

Just guessing, you would have to ask the man himself, but I assumed N690 was added as a way to get cost down to get guardians into more hands. Not a bad steel. Hear it is very similar to VG10 as far as toughness, edge retention, etc. Some sites like "the big river" only carry the N690.
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Thanks for the info! The site I'm looking at only carries N690 as well. I guess I must have missed it on the actual Bradford website. Great lookin knife whatever steel ya choose though!
 
highestpoint said:
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Really love mine I got from ndjeep (thanks again for the deal). Made me decide I wanted to pick up a wharnie along with a 4, 5 and a 6. Only complaint I have is that when in the sheath not enough of the handle sticks out but could easily be fixed with a lanyard that I've been holding off on making. Retention is good though.

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Glad you like it...
Ya, a fob or lanyard really helps extracting the G3 from its deep sheath.

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks again for the info guys! And thanks for the link to the review Gary! A lot of good stuff there too, I appreciate all the help! I may just go right to the man himself to get one.
 
That's exactly what I did. Couldn't find what I wanted, hit Brad up and he built one for me! Great guy to deal with!
Joe
 
I want one and I seem to keep missing the good deals on this site. I'm almost afraid that it will turn out to be too small for what I want so I hesitate for that reason. (There is a real fine line for me regarding being large enough to fit my hands but small enough to be able to carry.)

FWIW I don't ever recall anyone writing anything negative about them.
 
Knifeoholic said:
I noticed on the Bradford site that it says they're made with M390, but the site I'm ordering from says N690. Have they switched steels? I only see M390 and a CPM-3V Sprint available on Bradford site.
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I've had all three steels, and the N690 would be last on my list. I have the Guardian3 in M390, and am also a lover of 3v, although I missed that 3v for sale in
the Exchange the other day..
N690 is modified 440C made by Bohler foundry, but the N690 is closer to VG10 in performance than 440C. I've had N690 in at least one folder and it worked just fine, but I'm such a casual user.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I've had all three steels, and the N690 would be last on my list. I have the Guardian3 in M390, and am also a lover of 3v, although I missed that 3v for sale in
the Exchange the other day..
N690 is modified 440C made by Bohler foundry, but the N690 is closer to VG10 in performance than 440C. I've had N690 in at least one folder and it worked just fine, but I'm such a casual user.
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Thanks for the info! I've got an M390 blade on the way, can't wait to try it out! It cost me a little more but I think it's worth it. Just went with the black G-10 handle because of price increase, but I can foresee a set of those gorgeous G-Wood scales in my future!

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!
 
Knifeoholic said:
Thanks for the info! I've got an M390 blade on the way, can't wait to try it out! It cost me a little more but I think it's worth it. Just went with the black G-10 handle because of price increase, but I can foresee a set of those gorgeous G-Wood scales in my future!

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!
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M390 over N690 is worth the extra cost. Good choice!
 
Sonnydaze said:
I've had all three steels, and the N690 would be last on my list. I have the Guardian3 in M390, and am also a lover of 3v, although I missed that 3v for sale in
the Exchange the other day..
N690 is modified 440C made by Bohler foundry, but the N690 is closer to VG10 in performance than 440C. I've had N690 in at least one folder and it worked just fine, but I'm such a casual user.
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I'm "that guy" lol who snagged that 3v jade nimbus. I had been waiting and waiting for one to pop up and luckily got it. It's my first 3v blade and I can already tell why it's a favorite among almost everyone who has used it.

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Knifeoholic said:
Thanks for the info! I've got an M390 blade on the way, can't wait to try it out! It cost me a little more but I think it's worth it. Just went with the black G-10 handle because of price increase, but I can foresee a set of those gorgeous G-Wood scales in my future!

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!
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Please let us know how you like it. It's my favorite model! Loved seeing everyone's G3 on this thread. The wharncliffe looks so robust and awesome. Wish I had the funds.

That's a beautiful collection Yehus!

Here are mine...


BTW I have hands like catchers mitts...

 
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I love mine in N690. Cut a little of damn near everything and no edge or corrosion issues.
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bdmicarta said:
I want one and I seem to keep missing the good deals on this site. I'm almost afraid that it will turn out to be too small for what I want so I hesitate for that reason. (There is a real fine line for me regarding being large enough to fit my hands but small enough to be able to carry.)

FWIW I don't ever recall anyone writing anything negative about them.
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Nothing negative to say about them at all. I have 3 of them, 1 FG M390 and jade green stonewashed, 1 FG 3V & black CF stonewashed, and 1 sabre ground with a swedge in 3V and a G10 contoured handle. My hand is 3.5" across the palm at the base of my fingers. It takes a 3.5" handle for me to get a good 4-finger grip. I can do 4 fingers on the G3 handle if I use the choil. Otherwise, the handle feels about like a BM mini-Grip handle to me.

HTH when you're deciding on the size. If you want to try one before buying let me know and I'll ship one of mine to you for a "test drive".
 
andydviking said:
Please let us know how you like it. It's my favorite model! Loved seeing everyone's G3 on this thread. The wharncliffe looks so robust and awesome. Wish I had the funds.
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First off welcome to BF! Lots and lots of great info on here, especially from others wiser than myself, hah! Absolutely love this blade! Has tackled everything I've thrown at it with ease. Perfect EDC size if you ask me. Mr. Larkin is a great guy to deal with too! The M390 seems to hols an amazing edge and was screamin' sharp out of the box.......now I want a G4! Also I agree with ya on the Wharnie version, might need one of those too! (My wallet just needs some recovery time first :D) I'm very pleased with the sheath too, it never seems to be in the way. Even when I was working on my car the other night, laying on the floor and switching positions, it was never a bother. Even easily accessible when sitting!

Anyone who is on the fence about getting one... Give in to temptation! Lol! Highly recommend it! And if you don't like it for some reason, I'm sure it will get eaten up on the exchange in no time!

Here's a pic from when I received it!......




Still would like to pick up some of those sexy G-Wood Scales!

Thanks once more to everyone for all the great info and pics! Much appreciated! :)
 
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Great point about the sheath being comfortable while working. I cannot remember one single time I had to readjust it.
I love crossdraw carry and how the knife fits! Definitely needs a lanyard, makes it much easier to remove.
Joe
 
The G3 finds its way on my belt everytime I throw on jeans. Cant believe how comfortable it is and how you forget its there so easily. Even sitting down on the edge of the couch leaning over to eat on the coffee table. Sold :D





 
When I purchased my G3 Brad assembled it for me right at his booth at a local knife show a couple years ago, was one of the most personal purchases I've ever made and it left a mark on me that makes my G3 a special knife for me. He's a class act and is someone I'd be more than willing to support again given the funds, such a nice guy. I picked out an M390 FFG w/ Nimbus finish, probably the best combo the knife comes in.

Also, the knife is fantastic, the only complaint I have is the edge ends right at the choil which causes unnecessary nicks and cuts when grabbing the knife haphazardly, which was fixed on my own with relatively little effort and improved the knife even more. I like it enough to have purchased a custom sheath for it, even with most of its usage getting usurped by my Bushfinger it still rides on my belt more often than not.

 
KingMC said:
When I purchased my G3 Brad assembled it for me right at his booth at a local knife show a couple years ago, was one of the most personal purchases I've ever made and it left a mark on me that makes my G3 a special knife for me. He's a class act and is someone I'd be more than willing to support again given the funds, such a nice guy. I picked out an M390 FFG w/ Nimbus finish, probably the best combo the knife comes in.

Also, the knife is fantastic, the only complaint I have is the edge ends right at the choil which causes unnecessary nicks and cuts when grabbing the knife haphazardly, which was fixed on my own with relatively little effort and improved the knife even more. I like it enough to have purchased a custom sheath for it, even with most of its usage getting usurped by my Bushfinger it still rides on my belt more often than not.

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How did you fix it? Just smooth over the edge a bit. I may do this to one of mine soon and I'm wandering just how much I wanna file down. Any close ups of what you've done?
 
I took a diamondstone and ran the very corner of the edge at the lip of the choil at a 45 degree angle to the edge, essentially just chamfering off the very very tip of the edge to not be sharp (maybe 1/16th of an inch of the edge total got flattened)

pictures don't really show anything.
 
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