Review NIB review: Bradford Guardian 4 3D

[maximus83]

Recently acquired a Bradford Guardian 4 for backpacking and trail use. Haven't taken it out yet but really pleased with the design and ergos, and it has a pretty impressive factory edge.

Details:

• Guardian 4 3D (with the thicker contoured micarta scales, about 0.90" at the widest point, see pics)
• Blade stock about 0.167" at spine (advertised is 0.165", close enough).
• Black stonewash finish that they call "Nimbus" on the blade, it's not a coating.
• Weight with custom sheath the way I'll carry it: 11.35 oz.
• M390 blade, high sabre grind. If I get a smaller Guardian 3, I'll get the full flat grind option for that blade to improve slicing but this one slices very well despite the grind.
• Custom sheath with small Tek Lok from Survival Sheath Systems. I chose this over the optional Kydex sheath from Bradford (which may also be fine). This is an outstanding sheath with strong retention, the main reason I keep going back to Robert at Survival Sheath. The blade locks in with a reassuring snap and holds strongly no matter how much upside down shaking you do, but you can still draw fairly smoothly without going through contortions. This almost perfect retention is one of my favorite things about Survival Sheath Systems.

Observations:

• Overall: recommended based on what I've seen thus far, just using it around the house and evaluting a bit. This is a high quality knife for the money, couldn't be happier with it, the cutting and slicing performance around home is excellent, and really like the ergos of the grip, the 3D scales, etc.
• The cutout in the scales around the lanyard hole is a little odd-looking, see pics, but doesn't interfere with a good grip. And I guess it gives you some exposed tang if you want to bang on something.
• The grip design is interesting and new to me. Using the choil is almost inherently part of the primary grip. I thought maybe I wouldn't like that, but it's surprisingly effective in a smaller utility blade. Also, it has a really nice side effect: the OAL of this fixed blade is a bit shorter than if they gave you a full 5" handle.

 

[Otto Carpenter]

Was looking at these. The 4 is a perfect size for everything except EDC (where I live, anyway). Got a 3 on the way with the high flat grind. This 4 will be on my radar for the future. Enjoy and thank you for the images and thoughts.

 

[jeepin]

Do all of those come with a ruff spine like that ?

 

[Alberta Ed]

Compact, elegant, looks totally functional.

 

[chiral.grolim]

Do all of those come with a ruff spine like that ?

Not the OP, but I can comment that the laser-cut marks are not as obvious on some of the knives. here are a few pics of a G4 that passed through my hands:

For reference, here is the laser-cut marks under the coating of a BK-16:

 

[chiral.grolim]

To the OP, drop me a line if you decide you'd like to carry your G4 at a different height on your belt, or dangler, or maybe angled cross-draw, etc. I offer an accessory that could help, link is in the top of my sig-line.