Guardian Tactical Exilis!

Not an Exilis but I have a black blade and carbon fiber Helix coming on Monday. I can not wait for this knife to show up.

Congrats on the Exilis, let us know what you think of it after carrying it for a while.
 
I'm still on the fence about the size. One minute I hate it, the next I love it. I REALLY wish it had an anchor point for a lanyard. If I decide to keep it long-term, I may have to drill a hole somewhere. A lanyard would really help rationalize its small size. I do like that the 2.9" blade makes it legal most places. The beefy momentum of the blade makes it a phenomenal flipper for the size.
 
slavia631 said:
I'm still on the fence about the size. One minute I hate it, the next I love it. I REALLY wish it had an anchor point for a lanyard. If I decide to keep it long-term, I may have to drill a hole somewhere. A lanyard would really help rationalize its small size. I do like that the 2.9" blade makes it legal most places. The beefy momentum of the blade makes it a phenomenal flipper for the size.
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Depending on the blade to handle ratio, that may not be possible. Any lanyard through a hole might just get cut by the blade. A few production companies have made this error.
 
You're right. They leave no room to spare in the handle...which is part of what makes the knife really cool. It may require actually fabricating a backspacer insert and machining a gap to accommodate. Why Guardian didn't do this themselves like on every one of their other models still baffles me...
 
Regarding the "proprietary" pivot pattern, it can easily be adjusted using any thin rigid blade, as the slots in the screw line up across the axis.
 
placed an order for an Exilis direct from GT. It's $269 shipped. Sue emailed back on blade finish choice: Black Tactical, Two-Tone (as in the picture), Stonewash, Beadblasted/Satin, or Dark Stonewash. I went with the stonewash. I think it'll wear better and match up better with the gray aluminum scales although the two-tone looks striking. We shall see. Sue said they'll ship within a week. Of course, I figure, the holidays may delay it a little.

"Introducing our New Manual Folder- The EXILIS! A Mini Flipper with even more Advanced Features: first ever Adjustable Lockbar, Patent Pending!, made with Titanium, and our Ceramic Ball Bearing System."​

Specifications:

• CPM-154 Blade
• Blade Length: 2.9″
• Blade Thickness: 0.125″
• Handle Material: Hard Coat Anodized Aluminum Handle
• Handle Length: 3.9″
• Handle Thickness: 0.490″
• Blade Finishes Available: Black Tactical, Two-Tone Black, Beadblasted, Stonewash, Dark Stonewash
• MSRP: $269.00

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Bottom of the page to order: http://www.guardiantacticalusa.com/products/
 
slavia631 said:
You can see photos of all the blade styles by searching Exilis on knifecenter.
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I saw that this morning on the KC New Items page. Was waiting for cancellation of my direct order with GT. Confirmed by Sue. So, ordered the black wash from KC for $255 shipped with some freebies using coupon code SIGNALGREEN.

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Guess I should have waited a week instead of buying direct. Lol. I was so excited.
 
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slavia631 said:
Please share your thoughts here when it arrives!
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I will.

By the way, congrats on yours. You got the two-tone blade? Is the handle dark gray?

The KC picture of the blackwash makes the handle look much darker. I wish they had BlackWashed the handle as well.
 
RamZar said:
I will.

By the way, congrats on yours. You got the two-tone blade? Is the handle dark gray?

The KC picture of the blackwash makes the handle look much darker. I wish they had BlackWashed the handle as well.
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I believe that the handle is a hard anodized aluminum, not sure how a stonewash would turn out on that finish and material.
 
The handle is black, but it has a satin finish so it looks grayish in some lighting. I did get the two tone blade. I am also curious about how anodized aluminum stonewashes...
 
Little update:

After about a week of moderate flipping and virtually no cutting, I found an occasion to try the adjustable lock bar. The blade/lock had already developed a little play, which was totally eliminated by a slight turn of the adjustment screw. I'm not sure whether I should be disappointed that the knife developed play so quickly, however I am impressed that the adjustment worked exactly how it should, and quickly provided a perfect lockup once again.

Should I consider getting the lock bar carbidized?
 
slavia631 said:
Little update:

After about a week of moderate flipping and virtually no cutting, I found an occasion to try the adjustable lock bar. The blade/lock had already developed a little play, which was totally eliminated by a slight turn of the adjustment screw. I'm not sure whether I should be disappointed that the knife developed play so quickly, however I am impressed that the adjustment worked exactly how it should, and quickly provided a perfect lockup once again.

Should I consider getting the lock bar carbidized?
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Is the lockbar titanium then?
 
Received my Guardian Tactical Exilis with a blackwashed blade. The blackwashing is not so gray and I think they could have done more of it plus something to the handles. It's smaller than I thought and you have to grip it high against the guard. Very nice blade, grind, sharp and centered with no blade play at all. Flipper action is quite snappy with a strong detent. Flipper button is too narrow so if you use the switch method it hurts a little once you do it quite a bit. It's a titanium liner so it sticks a little at the beginning. I've included size comparison pictures with Kershaw Camber, MicroTech Mini Matrix and ZT 0700 where all have aluminum handles. I really like the texture and handles of the Exilis. Weighs just 3.39 ounces. The minor complaints are the too narrow a flipper button and at $269 it's a tad too expensive.

Here's how you adjust the lock bar per GT: "With the blade closed. Loosen the two lock screws and then slightly snug them back down. Then turn the set screw in about 1/16th of a turn and then tighten up the two lock screws and try it."

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Out of curiosity, what's the serial number on yours? It's found just inside the blade channel.
 
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