"Guardian" Counterterrorism Tactical
Push/Punch Dagger (Shadow Line)
The "Guardian" is a fantastic push/punch dagger, and this was a
superior custom project for a great client. The Guardian design is
tremendously stout and durable, a perfect piece for protection,
counter-attack, and defensive use. The design was proven in
counterterrorism use and remains a serious, professional adjunct in the
tactical field.
Thanks, D. B.!
Included:
The Knife
- Size: Length overall: 7.0" (17.8 cm), Blade Length (to quillons): 4.5" (11.4 cm), Thickness: .248" (6.3 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 12.5 oz. (354 grams)
- Blade: CPM154CM Powder Metal High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T3 Specialty Cryogenically treated to Rockwell C60.5, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
- Bolsters/Fittings: 304 High Nickel, High Chromium Austenitic Stainless Steel, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
- Handle: Black G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Composite
- Type/Purpose/Origin: Answering a need for an extremely
durable, ultimately functional, and devastating defensive tool
for close quarters combat, the Guardian was designed with the
direct input of counterterrorism YAMAM Israeli Defense
Force/National Police Force professionals, and made for
their professional use, and offered for personal tactical
defense. This is a knife that
is extremely versatile, functioning as an extension of the human
fist, with tremendous grip security during the most critical of
moments, offering an intensely sharp and lethal blade with an
additional heavily fortified hammer-fisted persuader point. It is,
simply the most direct, effective and speedy knife form built
for lifesaving defense. I'm proud and honored to have made these
for one of the world's most effective and well-trained
professional counterterrorism forces, using their ideas,
guidance, and input combined with my professional knifemaking experience. The Guardian
was created because, while more lengthy and elaborate double-edged counterterrorism knives like the
Ari B'Lilah may be great
for most CT use, the need was presented for a lighter, more
versatile knife that was made for just one thing: immediate
defense from a physical close quarters attack. There are times
where a larger knife may be too unwieldy, may create too visual
of a presence, or may be of too much weight to wear, or there is
not significant gear to making wearing a larger knife practical.
Still, there is a need for a critical emergency survival
defense, particularly when under physical attack when a firearm
can not be drawn, much less collateral cleared. This knife was
designed for the wearer to be able to immediately put it in his
hand, in closed-fist form, without elaborate grip technique, and
to defend his life with simple punching and hammering motion
natural to the human movement. No matter where the enemy is
attacking, the blade will yield an extremely aggressive point
and razor sharp cutting edge with enough power behind it to
drive through heavy clothing, around gear and equipment with
tremendous force.
- Blade Steel Alloy: This Guardian
blade is a special hypereutectoid, high alloy martensitic
stainless tool steel, CPM154CM. This is a powder metal
technology tool steel, a high technology steel known for extremely
even distribution of alloy elements and a uniform microstructure.
It's a high molybdenum stainless steel, and the molybdenum aids in
forming nucleation sites for complex carbide development. The
moly also increases the toughness dramatically, resulting in a blade
that's extremely durable. This allows me to temper the steel at a
higher overall hardness, for great wear resistance as well. The high
chromium and high carbon results in profuse chromium carbides,
increasing corrosion resistance as well as wear resistance.
- Heat Treatment: This Guardian has my
T3 heat treatment, yielding an astounding blade in incredible
condition through advanced processing protocols. How advanced is
this treatment? It's a multi-stage cryogenic treatment,
involving temperatures ranging in over 2000°F (1090°C)
to -320°F (-196°C). The process is an evolution of my
advanced heat treating processes, and consists of 33 dedicated
and specific steps and takes 172 hours. This means that just to
heat treat this blade takes over a week. The reason for this is
scientific and critical, but yields the most stable, most
wear-resistant, most durable and long-lived structure of this
steel, profuse with fine multi-element carbides and a uniform
and unbelievably robust structure. This is a testament to my
determination to make the very best knives, steels, treatments
and kits in the modern world. I know of no one else who has
advanced the treatment to this level; it's unheard of in the
metals and knifemaking field.
- Blade Design and Geometry: The Guardian's blade needed to be long enough to punch through
what the enemy is wearing, and remain sharp and tough through
many years of use. It needed to be stainless for minimal care,
and it needed to be reliable, extremely sharp, and heavily
supported. I hollow
ground the blade with a 3" contact wheel for a very thin and
super-keen cutting edge while retaining the strength of a thick,
heavy central spine to support the blade's double edges. The blade doesn't have any serrations or
choils, so that thrusting movements will not be hindered by any
geometry of cutting edges or features hanging up or snagging.
The edges are stopped in penetration by large, significant
quillons that protect the user's hands and fingers, while
creating an essential shape to engage with the sheath retention
of both the kydex and the leather sheaths. The central spine of the
ricasso rides between the two largest, strongest fingers of the
hand, the index and the middle finger, and is thick enough for
absolute support and all contact areas are rounded, smoothed,
contoured, and blasted for a comfortable feel. The knife is full
tang, that is, has a solid core of tool steel throughout, and
has deep and accurate bold hand-filework, distinctive and aiding
in grip.
- This is an extreme use, highly wear-resistant, and extremely keen high alloy
powder metal stainless steel blade
with advanced heat treatment.
-
Blade Finish: The blade and bolsters (and all
of the accessories) are in my "Shadow" line of
counterterrorism and tactical knife finishes. Answering
the request for completely subdued and non-reflective
surfaces, I developed the Shadow Line with my Ghost
Slate finish. This means darkening in a permanent
fashion not only the stainless steel of the knife,
blade, handle, and fittings, but all of the gear in the
entire kit: the fasteners, the sheath parts, aluminum
mounts, accessories and entire package. Read more about
my Shadow Line and Ghost Slate finish on my
Counterterrorism Knives page
at this bookmark.
- Bolsters: I bolstered the Guardian with my
signature zero-care, high nickel, high chromium 304 austenitic stainless steel bolsters,
contoured and rounded for comfort of the hands, and shaped and
radiused in the front face for easy cleaning. They are attached
with multiple through-tang pins of 304 stainless steel, and
the mounting is permanent, as well as extremely corrosion-resistant. This is the
same steel used for stainless steel nuts, bolts, and fasteners,
and the bolsters are heavy, thick, and solid, giving great
balance to the knife. The bolsters are dovetailed to create a
solid, seamless union with the handle material. The bolsters are treated in my "Ghost Slate"
shadow line for reduced glare and match the rest of the knife
and gear.
- Handle: The
handle scales are black G10, a fiberglass reinforced epoxy composite
that
is one of the most durable and dependable manmade handle materials
on earth. The handle scales are dovetailed and locked and bedded
under the bolsters, secured with four heavy 304 stainless steel pins. The
handle shape is comfortable and secure, and fills the palm of
the hand for support. The tang is fully fileworked with
a bold pattern for increased purchase and
handmade signature. The tang is milled for weight reduction and
balance, with plenty of
thickness to support the frame in the hand.
- Balance and Feel: The feel of the knife is very
solid and strong, bracing the handle in the hand reinforces the
"square-fisted" punch position taught in close quarters combat for
locking the wrist solidly. The extension of the blade is significant
yet not too unwieldy, the persuader/talon protruding out the heel of
the hand gives another option for defensive use. This is a serious,
critical defensive weapon that can save a life in the worst possible
scenario, dependable and proven.
Included:
The Sheaths
This knife has two sheaths, one in heavy leather double snap
retention, one in tactical combat, tab-locking.
1. The "Post Lock" Leather Sheath
- Materials: Heavy 9-10 oz. thick leather shoulder, stainless steel reinforcement screws,
stainless steel internal dot-snaps, hand-stamped, black lacquered, nylon stitching
- Storage: double-layered embroidered drawstring bag
in cotton canvas, polyester
- Description: I've created an advanced leather
sheath for this model, based on client feedback and necessity of
safety and strength for daily carry. My clients may typically wear a leather
sheath for daily carry, so I wanted to create a leather sheath that
was as close to indestructible as leather can be. I started with the
thickness; this is thick shoulder, about 0.2" (5 mm) thick, as heavy as
leather armor, and the heaviest leather straps for rigging, and
twice as thick as the leather on a saddle. I hand-stamped/tooled the
sheath in a bordered basketweave design, and dyed it black. The first thing you'll notice
about the sheath is the very high front,
covering the knife blade and handle almost completely, protecting
the wearer from the persuader point. It also shields the knife
handle from view for privacy. On the sheath front are two "D" shaped tab
stitched points; these are the locations of the two D-shaped tab
retention points (called "Post Locks") that engage specific locations on the knife handle.
These post lock tabs have stainless steel (corrosion-proof and very strong)
dot snaps that snap to the inside sheath back. When the knife is in
the sheath, these dot-snaps are engaged, making two audible and
tactile "snaps" that assure the wearer that the knife is secured.
When snapped, it's impossible for the knife to be removed, to fall,
to vibrate out, or to even be forced from the sheath. This makes
this post lock design a positively-locking leather sheath that can't be forced, even in
the most violent and active situations. When the wearer wants to
remove the knife, he pushes his fingertips into the handle,
unsnapping and folding the front face of the sheath outward,
unsnapping the post lock tabs, moving them out of engagement points on the knife handle. Because the front of the
sheath folds, it's made of extra-thick leather and it's reinforced
at that critical point with two 304 stainless steel Chicago screws,
which go completely through the sheath front, welts, and sheath back. This
way, no stress is on the stitching at this point. What about the
stitching? The belt loop I secured with double row stitching of
nylon, for great strength and durability. The belt loop
will accommodate a 2.0" wide belt. On the welts, back, and front, I
stitched the sheath with double-row stitches, for extreme strength,
stiffening, and durability. The sheath is rounded, contoured,
smoothed, and sealed with three coats of lacquer for longevity.
- Casual and PSD wear: Clearly, most of my
tactical and combat gear cannot be mistaken for utility wear. Heavy,
solid kydex sheaths can be bulky and weighty to wear in the casual
sense, nor are they meant to be. This Guardian sheath is different.
Because it's hand-tooled leather, more common daily and casual wear
is possible, traditionally on the belt. This makes the knife a good
choice for PSD (Principal Security Detail, or Security Detail) work.
- Simply put: This is the most secure, durable,
and well-constructed leather sheath possible.
2. The Tactical Sheath
- Weight: 11.4 oz. (323 grams)
- Materials: Hybrid Tension Tab-Locking in Black Kydex, Black Anodized Aluminum Alloy, Blackened Stainless Steel, anodized 6AL4V Titanium.
- Description: This sheath is one of my hybrid
tension tab-locking models, originally designed for
counterterrorism use.
This is my proprietary design, the best possible sheath of its type
available in the world today. Actually, it is the ONLY type of this
sheath available in the world today!
- Retention Spring Strengths: 5 lb., 15 lb., 20
lb.
Included:
Accessories: Belt Loops, Plates, Straps, Clamps
This kit contains my standard belt loop and mounting package.
- Standard Belt Loops: accommodates 0.190"
thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength
corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil
thickness
- Medium Profile Belt Loops: accommodates
0.250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high
strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black
at 1 mil thickness
- High Profile Belt Loops: accommodates
.250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high
strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black
at 1 mil thickness
- Vertical Flat Mounting Straps:
accommodates up to 2.0" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear,
clamps rigidly and vertically 90 degrees to the long axis of
the sheath, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion
resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
- Horizontal Flat Mounting Straps:
accommodates 1" to 3" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear,
clamps rigidly and horizontally (in line with the long
axis of the sheath), black anodized 5052H32 high strength
corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil
thickness
Included:
LIMA (Lamp, Independent Mounting Assembly
- Lamp Independent Mount Assembly (LIMA):
Backup, emergency, safety LED programmable flashlight and
independent web frame and mount, in polypropylene stitched with high strength polyester,
anodized 5052 high strength corrosion resistant black
anodized aluminum mounting bar, 304 stainless steel ring
retainers, nylon elastic shock cord, with ThruNite Ti3
flashlight.
Included:
Storage
- Envelope Bag: 1000 denier Cordura® ballistic
black nylon, waterproof polyurethane coated, inside layered in heavy
polyester felt. Stainless steel dot snaps, embroidered patch, removable
embroidered name patch with hook and loop
To see many more options for mounting, wear, and rigging, please visit
these pages and look over their detailed photo sets. I've assembled and
mounted the knives and kit accessories in a variety of ways, and most of the
various arrangements are applicable to this knife as well.
