Love the feisty little BPs. My male normal rescue is the same in the sense of "laying in wait" in strike mode and following any heat signature across his tub. He hadn't been held in three years previous to me taking him in and has tagged and struck at me several times. So I still have to remind myself from time to time that I can not be as nonchalant when removing him as I am with my others.
Nice job on taking him in though, he looks good.