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Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

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Product Description
Many people prefer fixed blades to folders. For one thing, they don't have any moving parts, which makes them far stronger Read More

Comfy, EDC-Friendly & Available in 8 Styles

Many people prefer fixed blades to folders. For one thing, they don't have any moving parts, which makes them far stronger. For another, they’re much easier to clean and allow you to twist, pry, and pierce without worrying about disengaging a lock. Our first fixed blade collaboration, the Drop x Bradford Guardian 3.5 is a twist on a popular existing design—now with new materials and colorways. Featuring a 3.5-inch Nitro-V stainless steel blade, the American-made Guardian 3.5 is fit for the jobsite, warehouse, boat, or backyard. Thanks to the contoured CNC-machined scales and the large grip area behind the small sharpening choil, it’s super easy to use. The design facilitates maximum control whether you choke up, choke down, or use a reverse grip. What’s more, we’re offering it in eight different styles with a handmade full-grain leather sheath for belt, bag, and pack carry.

Note: Due to the popularity of this product, we’re having trouble keeping it in stock. Preorder now and we’ll reserve your spot in our next run, expected to ship June 30th.

Due to the sensitive nature of shipping knives internationally, we can only ship this knife to select countries. It is the responsibility of the buyer to know and comply with all importation regulations and local laws. Click here for additional information.

Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

Based on 6 Years of Community Feedback

Before founding Bradford USA, owner Brad Larkin was carrying on his father Greg's family business. Known as Larkin Precision, it's one of the few "job shops" that is trusted to perform bevel grinding for other makers of custom and mid-tech knives. After years of doing work for other makers, Brad started his own company in 2012. Bradford USA has been creating reliable blades ever since. Among the company’s most popular models is the Guardian 3. But as versatile as it is, there were many calls for a larger blade, which led to the 4.6-inch Guardian 4. The Guardian 3.5 is the perfect balance between the 3 and 4. It has the same cutting-edge length as the 3, but with a larger grip area for any size hand. The spine has almost a full inch of jimping for extra control. Additionally, the handle comes in a variety of materials. See below for more details.

Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

Which Handle Is Which?

Because we know the EDC community loves variety, we're offering four different handle materials to choose from. First, there’s G-10: a rugged heat- and water-resistant material with high tensile strength. Next there's G-Wood: a tough composite made from G-10 and natural wood veneer. Up next is Richlite: a durable and sustainable material made from 65 percent recycled paper and 35 percent phenolic resin. And finally, there's Linen Micarta: a strong and moisture-resistant laminate with a fibrous feel to it. All of the scales are 3D contoured for a comfy hold and can be adjusted with a common #4 spanner bit.

Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

A Closer Look at Nitro-V Steel

Created by New Jersey Steel Baron, Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched stainless steel with excellent edge retention, high hardness, and extreme corrosion resistance. Most often compared with AEB-L—a steel praised by custom knifemakers for its use in razor blades—Nitro-V enhances the formula with nitrogen and vanadium. This new recipe provides better wear resistance, especially in marine and wet environments. It can also be heat treated to a higher working hardness than AEB-L for a longer-lasting edge.

Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife
Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

Style Options

Specs

  • Designed by Brad Larkin
  • Manufactured by Bradford USA
  • Produced by Massdrop
  • Blade: Nitro-V stainless steel
  • Blade type: Drop-point
  • Handle: G-10, G-wood, Richlite, or Linen Micarta
  • Grind: Flat sabre
  • Compatible with #6 spanner bit
  • Full-tang construction
  • Lanyard hole
  • Jimped spine
  • Finish: Stonewash or Nimbus
  • Blade thickness: 0.15 in (3.8 mm)
  • Blade length: 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
  • Cutting edge: 3.2 in (8.1 cm)
  • Overall length: 7.25 in (18.4 cm)
  • Weight, G-10: 4.5 oz (128 g)
  • Weight, G-wood: 4.4 oz (125 g)
  • Weight, Richlite: 3.9 oz (111 g)
  • Weight, Linen Micarta: 4 oz (113 g)
  • Weight, sheath: 1.8 oz (51 g)

Included

  • Handmade full-grain leather sheath (stonewashed blades come with brown sheath; Nimbus blades come with black sheath)

RETURNS—NO QUESTIONS ASKED

We get it. Sometimes what you ordered just doesn’t work out. If that’s the case for you, don’t fret! All customers (both US and international) may return this item in new, unused condition within 30 days of delivery.

Shipping

Estimated ship date is Jan 6, 2021 PT.

Payment will be collected at checkout. Cancellations are accepted up to 2 hours after checkout for in-stock items, or up until pre-order ships.

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Top Customer Questions8
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Question
What's the best way to sharpen and maintain this?
Nov 13, 2019
Top Answer
Luke5403
177
This little knife comes up razor sharp with just the leather strop. I use the gray Bark River stropping compound first, then finish up with green stropping compound. I don't abuse my blades, but...Read More
Mar 8, 2020
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Question
What's the best way to sharpen and maintain this?
Nov 13, 2019
Top Answer
Rmfavero1
6
To maintain the blade, I like the Syderco Sharpmaker ceramic rod sharpener.Read More
Dec 15, 2019
Question
When are you gonna make lefthanded sheats??
Mar 24, 2020
Top Answer
Rmfavero1
6
Bradford does make left handed sheaths. I have a couple of them.Read More
Apr 19, 2020
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