Cruwear Lightweight Temperence

[spydergoat]

Any idea when the trainers are coming? I am late to the party, but finally got this in PE before they sell out. Very excited to own it as a piece of spyderco history and Sal magic, plus a nice large cru wear leaf blade. Now plan to buy the trainer as well because I hate having money.

[spydergoat]

The temp arrived, and although I haven’t cut with it yet, I’ll say what an awesome blade. The fit and finish are great, better than what I had on my other Seki fixed blades I’ve used, the Ronin and Subway Bowie. The handle is quite fun with its grooves and contours and it even displays Sal’s makers mark in one of the indents. The pommel actually has a groove that fits your thumb if you have large hands and want to use a reverse grip. I will admit these spyderco sandwich sheaths have not been my favorite in the past, but maybe I’ll get more into it through using this knife. Overall wish I had gotten it sooner and seems solid for the price.

[SpyderGrill]

The Trainer is out start looking at dealers.

it is a nice knife!

[spydergoat]

Trainer in stock at Knifecenter

[Ferruginous]

I'm really looking forward to the trainer. Many Kali instructors won't allow aluminum training blades, if they get a nick it can make a very sharp spot on the otherwise dull edge. The steel temperance trainer will last the rest of my life.

Now all I need is a flat dark earth handled Temp' lightweight in 3V. The fully enclosed handle allows extended sweaty use of steels I've previously been unable to use in a fixed blade due to the tan rusting. The Cruwear has made a fantastic working knife, even in the Everglades. Oh yeah, and one in Magnacut for use on the boat.

[Spyderwebs]

I liked the SE so much I wanted a PE too, so am now waiting for on of the last sprint T2 / VG10 / Micarta version. Looks amazing and true stainless will make it a great backcountry knife.

I'm tempted to get a trainer too. Give me more motivation please

[SpeedHoles]

Got the PE Temperance earlier this week & threw it into my trail maintenance pack, I had to clear some trail hazards after we had another windstorm.
IMG_20241116_144838_936.jpg
I used the SE version during my last trail maintenance session, mostly for delimbing conifer saplings & it excelled at that task (especially considering that it was designed primarily as a fighting knife). The PE version worked almost as well as the SE at this task: the combination of the single bevel and serrations makes the latter more efficient at cutting through fibrous & springy green wood in the <2" diameter range, I found.

In a previous post, I mentioned that the Temperance won't be replacing the Schempp Rock as my primary trail maintenance belt knife... it still won't, but after using both the PE & SE in that role, I think I will be using them as a smaller, lighter option, on days when I don't think I need the Schempp Rock's extra length & chopping ability (I think the Schempp Rock pairs better with a hatchet/axe, while the Temp will pair better with a nata)

Very nice combo there. What sort of trail clearing do you do?

I pack a Silky quite often (either Big boy XL or Pocket boy) when I don't have a way to carry an electric pruner or chainsaw. I clear both motorcycle singletrack as well as occasional mountain bike trails. I also have an old Spydersaw but admittedly it doesn't work nearly as well as the incredible Silkys, and is basically antique at this point.
Was also looking for a new fixed blade to pack with that gear, and was considering this TemperanceCru. Been carrying my Lil quite a bit coincidentally.

[zuludelta]

Very nice combo there. What sort of trail clearing do you do?

Nothing special, just basic post-storm trail maintenance for the most part. There's a large forested area open to the public near where I live that locals use for trail running, cycling, hiking/walking, fishing, birding, etc. We get windstorms throughout the year so the trails & paths frequently get blocked by fallen trees/branches or there will be hazards like unstable, partially uprooted trees leaning over trails that can fall without warning. I try to deal with the obstructions/hazards when I can as it often takes days or even weeks before the city deals with them (since they prioritize obstructions & hazards in residential/commercial areas).

With regards to felling partially uprooted trees that pose an imminent danger to trail users, I limit myself to felling trees 6 inches or less in diameter because of provincial regulations that require a professional faller certificate (BCFTS) for anything bigger than 6 inches in diameter. I've felled larger trees elsewhere, of course, and know the basics of felling (I've been doing this for almost 20 years), but I don't want to run afoul of the law. Of course, for trees that are already down, I can buck trees of any diameter, and I am only limited by my tools & my physical ability. It's worth noting that softwood conifers (red cedar, Douglas fir) and thinner trees like vine maple are what I primarily deal with, and the hardest tree I regularly saw/chop is red alder (which I think is rated as a medium hardwood).

If I'm packing light, I can make the Gomboy work for felling 6 inch diameter trees, but if I have space in my pack, I will almost always carry the BigBoy. The extra cutting edge & longer handle just makes the work so much easier.

The saw is my main tool, but I will carry a 4 to 6 inch fixed blade (usually the Schempp Rock, but occasionally the Cru-Wear Temperance LW if I'm carrying light) for doing snap-cuts on small branches (<1") in cramped spaces or if I'm trying to reduce the size of a fallen tree's crown to make it safer to work around it. The Temperance LW isn't 100% ideal for this task (it's a fighting knife first & foremost), but its great general ergonomics makes it a decent small/midsize outdoor utility knife.

I also carry either an 11" or 14" Fiskars hatchet or a 9" to 12" chopper for rapidly debulking tree trunks (and also to expose the dry wood inside during spring/fall/winter) to make it easier to saw through them. The Silky Nata is great for this (it's an excellent combo hatchet/large knife), but I'll also occasionally use a Jarosz Choppa or a Becker BK9 if I want to change it up.

[Spyderwebs]

I got the T2 / VG10 / Micarta and have to say its immediately my favorite fixed blade.

The grind on the blade with its high height means its very slicey and thin behind the edge. Almost laser-y.

The micarta scales are effectively as grippy as the FRN even though they lack the finger divots. The divots make for a great pivot point, but the FRN is inherently very slick, even with the surface texturing. I love micarta and prefer it to the frn. But $110-140 retail can't be beat.

The Cruwear version sheath us more cut back near the thumb ramp and deploys better. I ended up sanding a triangle off the VG10's sheath which made it much more comfortable to deploy. (The knife retains exteemely securely in the sheath, so I find it helps to use the thumb and pop it out simultaneously with a pull-draw.

The full tang on the VG10 is great. Really makes for a classy knife.

The VG10 has 4.8" edge with 5.0 blade
The Cruwear has 4.2 edge with 4.6 blade

The VG10 feels noticably larger in hand thanks to an extra .60" edge.

Sal really nailed this knife's ergos. Essentially flawless.

I'll post pics and a full comparison soon.

Loving both though!

[sal]

Just FYI,

I hand carved the original out of basswood while Gail and I were travelling to a show.

sal

[VandymanG]

Just FYI,

I hand carved the original out of basswood while Gail and I were travelling to a show.

sal

Thank you Sal.

[Tristan_david2001]

I’d love to try the T2 someday, as much as I love a good micarta handle over frn, I don’t think it beats out the original temp for me, mainly because the 3D contouring the frn handle achieves, even though frn can be a little slick especially with sweaty hands, I think the aggressive guard and hook at the back completely eliminates that issue, it makes for a super locked in grip, a big reason why the original temp is my number one favorite fixed blade design, but I personally could just stand for them to make a version of the knife to be a little smaller, particularly the handle on the t1 is quite obtrusive to carry as an edc knife on your waist imo, weather vertical or horizontal. I wish it was sized almost like the mule but still keeping the prominent distinctive features of the temp like the handle contouring and large thumb ramp. If I’m carrying my temp out for the day it’s usually in my pack, which is fine too. And the size of the t1 makes it a stronger design for a self defense tool, as well as a good camp/food prep knife as well, but for edc it would be cool if there was a lil’temp fixie

[gumaropa]

All,
I wanted to offer a field report on the CRU-WEAR Lightweight Temperance knife which I used to process a deer - I tried to keep the gore at a minimum, the goal here is to show you that this is a great knife design.

I saddle hunt public land with a traditional recurve bow. Baiting is not allowed, so the best way to hunt is to hike into the more remote areas to avoid the crowds, set up early in a tree, and shoot at close distances (~ 20 yards or less). When you are lucky enough to harvest an animal, you need to process it and carry it out in your backpack - hence the need of a good knife. I know the Temperance is probably not what most people would use to field dress a deer, particularly in its serrated version, but I found it to be a very good knife for this application.

I carry my Temperance under the bino harness using the G-clip fastened to two Molle straps. That way it is within reach at all times and stays clear of the backpack and the bow string should you shoot while on the ground.

After I took this picture I added some camo tape to the handle so I could dampen the sound of the bowstring hooks which are also attached to my bino harness (you can see one to the right). This also helps when in the tree as noise control is key.

I processed the deer directly on the ground using the gutless method. Here you can see the skin which was parted along the backbone and then worked towards the belly. Notice that other than the exit would by the front leg, there are no cuts under the skin. The knife was incredibly sharp from the factory and handled quite nimbly for its size. I found the serrations made short work of cutting through the hide and separating the hide cleanly from the body.

Here is the reverse side. Again, other than the entry wound above the front leg (elevated shot from the saddle), very few nicks are seen. I did get a bit more hair than I should have on the front quarter. You can see how the skin was folded under the completed side. The camo tape is really not needed since the handle is grippy, but in this case it worked well when wet.

The last picture shows what was left when it was all said and done. Here is where the serrations combined with the CRU-WEAR steel made a huge difference. I separated all four legs without sharpening the knife, which included hitting bone several times to cut thought the tendons. You can see I also had a wood saw with me which I tried to use to cut the ribs, but found the teeth did not work well on bone.

Sal and team, I want to thank you again from reissuing this knife. The size, weight and "simplicity" of the handle make for a great hunting knife. The steel works wonders in its serrated form, and the knife is still "like new" after processing the deer.

The other knife I use is a Moran, which is another fantastic design including the handle with the soft inlays and the featherweight for the entire package - you can tell the difference between the Temperance and the Moran, even though the Temperance is also very light for its size. Any chance we could see a spint run of the Moran in serrated CRU_WEAR?

Happy New Year and thanks again Spyderco and forum members for all you do - please keep the reviews coming!

[sal]

Hi Gumaropa,

Thanx for the report.

Was the Moran you carry the trailing point or the drop point? We've not put teeth on a Moran, but it is an interesting request.

sal

[gumaropa]

Hi Sal, thanks for the reply - that was quick! It is the Moran drop point. I picked it up at the factory while talking to your shipping manager a couple of years ago - very nice guy BTW, and very knowledgeable. Before I purchased the Temperance, I carried the Moran under the bino harness just as shown above. Given the smaller size, it carries a bit more discretely. I now carry it inside the pack as my backup knife (with the kill kit), and I also use it to process the meat at home before it goes into the freezer. Thanks again for all you do.

[sal]

Thanx Gumaropa,

I'll look into the possibility of a Moran Drop point with teeth. It's nothing that Moran ever mentioned, but it might be a very useful design?

Anyone else have interest in the Moran Drop point with teeth? It's a very functional design.

Talkin' story;

Bill Moran came to me with a request to make the model. We had a mutual friend, Jim Phillips, that was the link. When I worked with Bill Moran to make the model, he said it was the single model that he carried all of the time. He said that he evolved the model over a 40 year career and it was the one that he most wanted to see a production model made. He said he used it in his shop daily for all sorts of cutting applications, as well as in his everyday life. The design is very understated, but easily carried and used. We've kept it in the line for decades because it is so useful, and to honor Bill Moran.

sal

[Kleon]

I had the great honor of sitting with Bill and his lovely wife at an ABS banquet while at a hammer in at Washington Arkansas. What an evening and how humbling to be in the presence of such a legendary blade smith!

I love the fact that you keep his model in production Sal. Such a classy decision.

[sal]

Thanx Kleon,

We still send the foundation royalties on sales of the models. The foundation also sells the models in their museum

sal

[holokai]

All,
I wanted to offer a field report on the CRU-WEAR Lightweight Temperance knife which I used to process a deer - I tried to keep the gore at a minimum, the goal here is to show you that this is a great knife design.

Thank you for the great report and pictures; I’ve always wondered how SE would be for processing deer as I also use the gutless method. Any disadvantages to SE while processing?

I’ve been on the fence between the Temperance sprint run PE and the Moran drop point. Nothing against VG-10 but it would be a no brainer for me if the Moran came in Cruwear or Magnacut as I prefer the drop point shape.

[Brock O Lee]

I’ve been on the fence between the Temperance sprint run PE and the Moran drop point.

Something to consider about the Moran: it a small knife. That is fine, but the odd thing is that the handle is exceptionally short, shorter than a Delica. I was surprised about this when I handled one years ago. I could get a 3-finger grip on the handle, 4 fingers if I shifted my index finger onto the wide ricasso, if I remember correctly.

For reference, I can get a comfortable but somewhat snug 4-finger grip behind the choil on a PM2.

Try to handle one before you decide.