DOTW #10 Medium Guardian Angel

[JIMMY_MAC]

The medium Guardian Angel is our tenth Dalton of the Week. I've always thought that the Guardian Angel, often called just "Angel", is one of Mr. D's most elegant designs. Based on the serial numbers (97xxxx), I think that they were made in 1997.

The dimensions are:

Overall length: 7 - 9/16" to 7 - 11/16"
Handle Length: 4 - 7/16"
Blade Length: 3 - 1/8" to 3 - 1/4"
Handle Thickness: 0.500" (excluding pocket clip)
Blade Thickness: 0.125

Beadblast, 2-tone, and full satin blade finishes were available. There may have been some hi-polished blades, but I don't recall ever seeing any. There were the standard drop point leaf shaped blades without an upper swedge, and there were ones with an upper swedge. Here is a picture of a Guardian Angel with a very uncommon serrated full satin blade and without the swedge:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/angel2.jpg

Here is a picture of a Guardian Angel with a beadblast blade and with the swedge. The blades of the Guardian Angels were hand ground, so you will see some minor variations in the swedge from knife to knife.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/angelswedge.jpg

I've seen aluminum handled Guardian Angels in gray, black, red, and green. Here's one of the more desirable red ones.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/rangel.jpg

This model was also available with green G10 handles, like this one:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/greenangel.jpg

Here is one with heavy beadblast Titanium handles that does not have the rubber inserts and a 2-tone blade:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/angelti.jpg

Here is another Ti handled one that y'all may have seen in an earlier post - The lower knife is a rainbow Ti Guardian Angel that is Mrs. Dalton's dress knife. The upper knife is her EDC.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/cdedc.jpg

Here's another one that I will call the "enigma". Note that the serial number is 1423 - not part of the usual 97xxxx sequence. I can't explain that serial number.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/redangel2.jpg

The "Enigma" Angel is also different in that the back of the handle is partially enclosed. With all my other Guardian Angels, the handle slabs are held apart by the pivot and two spacers. Here's a pic to show the difference:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/angelback.jpg

I don't recall ever seeing any of these with a PROTO marking. If anyone out there has seen one, please let us know. There is a large Guardian Angel with a 10" overall length. We'll cover that one in an upcoming post. There is also the Militia Guardian, a July 2000 release, which is very similar to the medium Guardian Angel. If anyone out there has additional information on this model or pictures of other variations, please post.