For those unfamiliar with the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight and its predecessors, here is a very abbreviated summary of the design's history, taken from the product copy in the Reveal 11 catalogue:
I received the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight in Plain Edge configuration (model no. C69PBK3) at the start of August, and I've been using it almost exclusively since then as my primary work, everyday carry, and outdoors folder. In terms of blade length (74.0 mm/2.91”), cutting edge length (72.0 mm/2.83”), blade thickness (4.00 mm/0.157”), and overall length (182 mm/7.17”), it is within a millimetre or two of the original G10 version. The Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight is nominally lighter than its G10 older brother (108 g/3.81 oz. vs 113 g/3.98 oz.) but this difference is barely perceptible in hand and in use. The most palpably significant distinction between the two as far as physical dimensions is in the handle thickness: The Lightweight's handle is about 13.5 mm/0.531” thick compared to the original's 11.0 mm/0.433”. That may not sound like much, but it is very apparent when gripping the knife tightly and bearing down while slicing through thick, dense, or hard materials; or when gripping the knife for extended periods of time, such as when whittling or carving wood. The Lightweight's handle is more comfortable to use in these cases, though it is not as noticeable when wearing work gloves.“The original Lil' Temperance was designed by Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser as a compact yet heavy-duty folding knife suitable for defensive use. Over the years, Sal has refined the design several times, emphasizing its utilitarian function without compromising its ****-for-stout spirit. The latest evolution of this venerable design transcends previous versions by replacing their traditional G10 handle scales with injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN).”
- Lil' Temperance 3 LW & the Lil' Temperance 3
In my review of the original, G10-handled Lil' Temperance 3, I noted a couple of out-of-the-box detent and lockstick issues. As Sal explained in a thread reply, the Seki City partner involved in the production of the knife was still in the process of getting familiar with the engineering of the model's Compression Lock. Thankfully, those problems seem to have been addressed in the update to the Lightweight configuration. My sample of the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight had to have the pivot screw tightened to an impractical degree before being sent out in order to make it past the CBSA's tests for folding knife legality in Canada (big shout out to Gail at Spyderco for ensuring that it made it across the border), but once I'd adjusted the pivot to a more reasonable tightness, the action turned out great. I was able to dial it in to where it was possible to “Spydie-flick” the knife open easily without compromising blade centring or introducing side-to-side blade play. There is very good contact between the Compression Lock faces as well, and there is no grittiness or lockstick at all when actuating the knife's moving parts.
Would I have preferred that the Lightweight had kept the original's CPM-S30V blade? Yes, but keep in mind that my use of a folding knife at the warehouse where I work involves cutting large amounts of 250 lb.–test corrugated cardboard and polyester and polypropylene pallet straps, usage that perhaps overly emphasizes the relative importance of edge retention. I imagine that for most other people's uses for a folding knife, VG-10 is perfectly fine.
There is one clear advantage to the Lightweight's shift to VG-10 steel, though, and it is in its ease of sharpening, re-profiling, and edge repair. In one notable incident, I accidentally struck the Lightweight's edge against a steel load-bearing beam. The blade came away with two 6 mm/0.25” flat spots and there was so much force behind the striking motion that I believe any blade of equivalent size, geometry, and Rockwell hardness would have sustained a comparable degree of damage, regardless of its steel composition.
- Close-up of the damaged edge
- Close-up of the repaired edge
But is there something in the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight that will appeal to users who have never used the Lil' Temperance 3 or its predecessors? I think so. The original Lil' Temperance in CPM-440V (model no. C69GP) hit retail in 2001 and this latest version not only embodies 20 years of Sal Glesser's continuous iteration and refinement of the model, but it also serves as a haptic compendium of ergonomic elements from some of the best knives Spyderco has produced over the last two decades.
The Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight's subtle but effective thumb ramp is sure to be appreciated by fans of the Sage and Chaparral, while the refined profile of the hand-filling handle stirs tactile memories of the Enuff, Alcyone, and RockJumper. For those in the market for a folding knife that can serve as a dedicated close quarters defensive implement in the vein of Michael Janich's Yojimbo 2, it offers a similar Martial Blades Concepts (MBC)-rated design lineage with the additional ability to be carried in facilities and territories with prohibitions against knives with blades longer than 76 mm/3.0”. And for those who are more interested in a folder's utilitarian potential, the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight is a formidable “hard use” cutting tool with virtually the same cutting edge length as the much larger and heavier Manix 2 in a form factor similar to that of the Para 3.
- Lil' Temperance 3 LW beside the Enuff Drop-Point
So what is my opinion of the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight after two months of extensive use? I think it fulfills Sal Glesser's intent to update the original Lil' Temperance from “a compact yet heavy-duty folding knife suitable for defensive use” to a contemporary design that also emphasizes “utilitarian function without compromising its ****-for-stout spirit.” A straightforward cutting tool that far, far exceeds the relative modesty of its materials with its top-drawer ergonomics, robust construction, and remarkable versatility, I especially recommend the Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight to those looking for an efficiently-sized “hard use” work folder or an alternative to the Yojimbo 2.
- Lil' Temperance 3 LW & the Yojimbo 2
Enjoyed this post? Here are my other knife reviews and impressions: Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight, Schempp Rock, Yojimbo 2, Karahawk, Lil' Temperance 3, Introvert
