Bradford Guardian 3 vs White River M1 Pro/Caper???

bustacapps

bustacapps

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I’m new to this group so take it easy on me, I’m sure this has been asked many times. I can’t decide which one to go with for my new EDC. If anyone can share their opinions/advice/experience, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
 
I don't own anything from White River although it was high on my list when I was also considering the G3 as well as the Lionsteel M4. I selected the G3 in M390. I EDC'd for a year then lost it in the forest one day. I missed it so much I was going to order another one. Luckily enough, a co-worker found it and returned it to me so I didn't have to replace it. I feel like I'm missing something if it's not on my belt. I don't do anything crazy with it, but it's done everything I've needed it to do for the last 2 years. FWIW, a knife is a big component of my job. So much so, that I am required by my employer to always have one on me at work. It's not just a piece of jewelry for my pants.
 
shane45-1911 said:
Mind if I ask what line of work? I'm intrigued that an employer specifies that you carry one.
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I don't want to be too specific, but I work on 750 acres of forested land that we divide into 50+ smaller pieces of land. We use twine and tape to mark the boundaries which guests, deer, bears, trees, and other things are almost constantly breaking. There is always something to be cut.
Just for bonus points, part time when the water isn't 38 degrees, I'm also a raft guide and they require a knife as well. We have throw bags, basically a rope in a bag you can throw to rescue someone instead of getting trapped with them. Ropes and rivers with swift currents can be dangerous, so we need something to cut the ropes if needed. I've also seen other guides cut a raft with people trapped under it. But mostly it spreads peanut butter on bread for lunch...
 
Ask yourself what will you be using it for the most and then you can best decide. I just got the Guardian 3 in AEB-L and am very happy with it-
but it's a thicker blade than the White River- it won't be quite as "slicey" if you are going to use it in food prep, for instance. There's a video out there comparing a Guardian 3 vs. another White River knife. I chose the Guardian 3 because I wanted a tough steel, and I found a good sale on it. YMMV and good luck!
 
I have two Guardian 3s and a White River M1 Pro, which seems to be the same as the Caper except for a minor handle difference. The huge difference between the two brands is the sheaths.

The White River Kydex sheath is very good. It has excellent retention and also allows a good grip on the handle as you are drawing the knife, even with gloves on. I carry it a lot as a neck knife, but it also works on a belt.

The Bradford sheaths are poor. The belt loop on the leather sheath (I have two) is so tight I can barely get a flat-blade screwdriver under it, much less my belt. The Kydex sheath is usable, but the retention is poor, and I can't get a good grip on the handle to pop the knife out with my thumb. But I did find a cheap leather sheath on Amazon that works with the Guardian 3. Sometimes I use an Armatus sheath, which I think is a must if you are wearing gloves, but it will make my thumb sore if I draw the knife frequently.

For the Guardian 3, I much prefer the "sheepsfoot" blade over the drop point, because the bevel runs into the finger choil on the drop point, making it fairly easy to cut your finger.

The Guardian 3s are flat ground. The White River is hollow ground. That's a matter of personal preference. I find that all three cut very well.

For both brands, the knives themselves are well finished and very sharp out of the box.
 
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FWIW, I primarily use the kydex sheath with my G3. As previously mentioned, I lost my G3 temporarily. That day I was using the leather sheath which I feel has poor retention. It's not the only time my G3 has fallen out of the leather sheath either. The pancake style kydex works much better for me, even carrying it horizontally.
 
dryflytrout said:
FWIW, I primarily use the kydex sheath with my G3. As previously mentioned, I lost my G3 temporarily. That day I was using the leather sheath which I feel has poor retention. It's not the only time my G3 has fallen out of the leather sheath either. The pancake style kydex works much better for me, even carrying it horizontally.
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That’s the thing I hate about the Bradfords is their horizontal carry leather sheaths.
I don’t know why they don’t change to a vertical sheath which has much less risk of losing your knife.
 
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The G3 sheath is easy to tuck into a jacket or jeans pocket which is how I carry it -- I don't care for the horizontal orientation for belt carry. I'll make a vertical pouch type sheath as son as I can get some more leather -- the scraps of latigo I have around aren't big enough. Love the knife, though, and am highly impressed by Magnacut.
 
I love the Bradford sheath personally. Yes, the leather is a bit stiff at first but once worked on a bit its nice. Wearing the sheath on a thickish leather belt as I tend to do helps with knife retention as well; I haven't had any issues with the knife feeling loose or falling out.

-Mike
 
I like some of my Bradford knives, but the 3 just does not feel good in my hand. And the White River Pro just melts into my hand. So if it's between those two I'd go the White River. I carry a White River Pro pretty often.

I do like the larger Bradford knife 4 and above, but the way the 3 is made doesn't work great for me. They are great quality knives if you like the 3 and itfits your hand.
 
I have both of them and they're both very good knives for very different uses. The White River M1 is more for finesse and fits nicer into my hand than the Bradford 3, but the Bradford is meant more for the rough stuff, so it might be more suited for the kind of use you talked about.
 
Neither of these knives fit my hand well but the Guardian 3.5 is a win. It has more neutral ergonomics and just enough more handle space to be very comfortable in use.

I see two major considerations and both have already been mentioned. First, the blade on either Guardian is thicker than it needs to be for most tasks. Some people like the sturdy feel of a thick blade and that thickness could be a good thing. It just depends on what you do with it. Second, I don't care for either of their stock sheaths, leather or kydex. I upgraded to an Armatus sheath and the difference is night and day. In fact, my recommendation for the Guardian 3.5 is entirely contingent upon getting an Armatus sheath for it.
 
I already have relatively small thick blades that are practically indestructible. I wanted to try something thinner and slicier for a work knife. I picked up the WR M1 Caper about 6 months ago. Mine is a box knife primarily, cutting packing tape and cardboard. But, it's also very good when working a steak! Fits my hand nicely, takes and holds a good edge, and cuts well, pretty much all I generally ask of a knife. I have 3 other WR knives, tho, and I can say the same for any of them.
 
I don’t have either but I have been interested in both. Not so much the White River anymore. I would probably choose the Bradford 3 in aeb-l if I had that option in front of me right now. I personally like the ESEE Xancudo better than the White River Backpacker/Caper. They are the same steel, about the same size, similar shapes, but I like the ESEE better.
 
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