The Ghostwalker and Bloodhound prestige classes fit the bill, at least to some extent. I don't know if/where they may've been reprinted in 3.5. Ghostwalker originated in 3.0 Sword & Fist, and Bloodhound in 3.0 Masters of the Wild, so if they were reprinted, it's probably in Complete Warrior or Complete Adventurer. Both are tough, full-base-attack-bonus prestige classes that are kinda sneaky. They don't get sneak attack or death attack, though.
The Soulknife base class in Expanded Psionics Handbook also fits the bill, though it's kind of underpowered and not so good for multiclassing (their mind blade will never improve beyond its initial cruddy state unless they advance in Soulknife levels, and most of their class features revolve around the mind blade). It's basically a tough, psionic assassin-type, who has no psionic powers but focuses their psionic abilities toward striking effectively with their mind-blade (but they have only 3/4 base attack, and their mind blade advances slowly, so they kinda suck).
Other than that, I can only recommend the Ruby Knight Vindicator, which you already know about. I'd suggest that you start with a multiclass swordsage/warblade, taking an occasional level of warblade to bolster your hit points and Fortitude saves; probably focus on learning a few Diamond Mind and Tiger Claw maneuvers/stances from the warblade levels, while the swordsage levels would get you Shadow Hand, Diamond Mind, and Desert Wind maneuvers that may help.
(for the guy who couldn't remember: RKV is a prestige class for followers of Wee Jas, the Sueloise goddess of death and magic; who's also in the little core pantheon of the Player's Handbook)
