Bradford USA: Guardian 3 and 3.5 Variations: Saber, Flat, Wharncliff, G-Necker, Sheepsfoot

[sodak]

Hate these double taps...

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Nice man, looks like she has a great edge on there already!
G2

 

[rgc]

Well now, this is a knife I lusted over for a while and when I finally sold enough of my stuff I didn't use I jumped on it. I have one of the saber grinds with the flats ground and darken stone wash blade and let me tell you this knife is perfect for me. I like the handle as well as the thing just sticks to your hand like super glue and of course the M390 holds an edge like no body's business. When I am out and about here in Florida I can carry concealed and the horizontal sheath just disappears under a T shirt (may have some help due to my gut). I also have one of the kydex sheaths for it and this comes in handy when camping (don't ask, but, I usually end up wet some how). All in all this has become my go to knife for everything. Heck, the Guardian3, my Junglas and a SAK Farmer and there is nothing I can't handle in the woods/camping/hunting. They've become my modern day interpretation of the Nessmuk trio.

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Oh yeah, as to the saber grind . . .

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[Gary W. Graley]

Very good sir, that's a slicer!!
G2

 

[ViF]

Guys, could you make a few comparison side to side pictures with popular folding knives like Spyderco PM2, Caly 3.5, ZT0770, ZT0550, BM710, BM940, small Sebenza, etc. please? I'm interested in full flat grind version. Thanks in advance.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

At this time my collection doesn't hold any of those you listed, unfortunately but here's a small pocket dump shot of what is carried on a regular basis;

Guardian3 Full Flat Grind

SAK Electrician, handle is about 3 1/2" long (thanks again Ken !)

Fisher Space Pen

Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED takes 1 AAA battery

Alpine Swiss Wallet (usually empty )

Guardian3_FFG_SAK_Pen_light by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Hope that helps put the size into perspective and welcome to the forums too !

G2

 

[rgc]

Very good sir, that's a slicer!!
G2

Thanks, and I think she's rather pretty too.

 

[sodak]

Here is mine next to my well used (and patina'ed) Caly 3.5 in Super Blue. I'm getting the garage ready for colder weather coming in on Monday, so will be breaking down a lot of boxes today...

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q203/sodak_photos/testing/P1000961_zpsa19c4741.jpg

 

[tex.proud]

Man, would I like a Guardian3 in a full flat grind...but darnit! I already have one in the saber grind darkened stonewash. It's a little beast! I work outdoors, and very much prefer a fixed blade for hard my hard use purposes. I'm frequently working with customers around (telecommunications field technician) so a smaller knife is better. I've had customers intimidated by larger knives. The Guardian3 fits the bill perfectly. Corrosion resistence, stoutness, edge retention, etc... I'm such a fan of it, I got the Guardian4 the moment it bacame available.

Love the pics of the full flat grind. I'm a fan of FFG. And the leather virtical adaptation is nice! If I didn't already have the Kydex sheath for it...

I use it every day at work in the kydex, and it's part of my concealed EDC in the horizontal leather. Disappears like another posted (under the gut ) I'm a fan of Bradford Knives.

I have to add, that Brad's customer service is first rate. I sent an email, got a personal response, and business done. I had not experienced that before.

Ryan

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks, and I think she's rather pretty too.

Indeed she is !! also I just noticed that your blade has a much higher grind than the one I previously had, so that may add to her ability to slice better too.

G2

And nice post Tex...Ryan, welcome to Bladeforums too !

 

[dalefuller]

I bragged about my inbound G3 back in post #10 and Brad asked me to post some pix, so here's my G3 at work in the warehouse, at home in the garden, making lunch in the kitchen, and a comparison shot with some well known folders that I usually carry. I've had her for 6 days now and I'm beginning to think that I may have some folders F/S on the exchange before long. So far,all I've done is wash the blade in some clean dishwater, rinse and dry it well, and put a light coat of food grade mineral oil on the blade.

View attachment 488048 View attachment 488049

View attachment 488050 View attachment 488051

Just as an FYI, the G3 also fits pretty well in the large Sharpshooter pocket sheath... the Hunter size.

Nice work on this model, Brad.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Nice, I concur very handy knife, I've hand a few small fixed blades over the years and for me this has just the right blade to handle length. Also a key thing is how wide and thick the handle is, this promotes a more secure grip, along with the great texturing they machine in on the scales. Well done Brad and crew!
G2

 

[mattal21]

I was interested in buying a few Bradford knives and noticed that they were local to me so sent off an email asking if we could meet up so that I could handle them before deciding to make the purchase. Come to find out these knives are made basically 5 minutes away from where I work so Brad and I met up for lunch so that I could take a look at the knives. Long story short I ended up buying a G3 with coyote brown scales and a G4 in S30v with the first set of Carbon fiber scales. Both are razor sharp.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Pretty lucky to be so close! Nice knives and some serious hardware with them too !
G2

and just noticed you're also new to BladeForums, welcome sir!

 

[craytab]

G2,

I loved your original review of this blade! This one makes me want a FFG one as well!

I got mine a week or so ago. It game razor sharp and the G10 with the pattern is some of the most grippy around. Love it. I also like how it holds in your hand. The choil really isn't a choil but rather part of the handle. This makes it so nothing but laser sharp M390 extends out from your index finger. You have complete control. Since the G10 is so well textured I have no fear of slipping forward. One thing I did do is dull just a bit of the blade right in front of the choil just in case that while I put my finger in the coil I don't get nicked by the first few millimeters of the blade. I got a kydex sheath as I am more of a kydex guy. It is one nice sheath! I did tighten it up just a bit. I carry this knife in my right front pocket. Often with a folder clipped on the opposite side. So far so good. Great knife!

And some pics:

And someone asked for some comparison photos. I tried to line them up where your index finger would go:

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Glad to be an enabler and thanks for those shots, Great to get the comparison shots there sir!

I'm just a full flat grind snob

and that's about I have to say about that (in my best Forest Gump voice)

G2

 

[LG&M]

Thanks for the look & thanks to everyone for the pictures. Great looking blade. I really like knives this size. Wish I had more knife money.

 

[ViF]

Thank you for pictures guys. G3 is so tiny, too small blade for me. Nice EDC fixed knife anyway.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks for the look & thanks to everyone for the pictures. Great looking blade. I really like knives this size. Wish I had more knife money.

Place a small jar behind some books on a shelf, drop in $1 a day, it adds up quickly

And yep, it is an excellent small knife, ViF might give that Guardian 4 a whirl maybe?!

G2

 

[Bradford]

Thank you ALL very much for the feedback and compliments! We only have a few of FFG left. Here's one I put together the other day, I'm really digging this green right now!
-Brad