Drop + Bradford Guardian 3.5 Fixed Blade Knife

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.

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.

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.

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.