The Lil Temperance 3 Lw, Sal thank you so much for creating it!

[apollo]

Some years ago i got my hands on the Original Lil temperances.
And i fell in love with the design. Sadly because they are so rare i never really was able to put some real use in to them and they ended up being secondary carry’s.

A few years later the Lil temperance 3 G10 came out and i was hyped. Putting my deep interest in it and patiently waited for its release. Sadly i was completely devestated when it hit the European Market as it was prices completely out of my price range. So i passed on it and forgot it.

Again some time went by and the g10 was discontinued and replaced with the Lw.
So hopes went up again but quickly went back down as the LW came out at the same price as the G10.

BUT last week finally i noticed to my great happyness prices came down on the design and i pulled the trigger on it! And boy am i so glad i finally have this puppy!
It has bin in my pocket now every day and its amazing its everything i hoped for in a new and improved version of the amazing classic!
Sal i want to thank you for this design its truly a marvel!
Now what do i like about this design? First of all its size. I usually carry Manixes.
And sometimes i wished i had a knife on me slightly smaller but build with the same tanky idea.
The lil temp is just that its an amazing little beast that cuts like a lazer while being build to give confidence at any job possible. Also in my Medium to large hands its amazingly comfortable just like the originals or dare i say even better?

The Blade might scare some folks away because its a wonderful chunky piece of Vg10.
But as its so tall it comes down to a very thin edge that slices like any other much thinner Spydie.
Vg10 is also one of my favorite steels. Its takes and edge very easily and keeps it for a pretty decent time.
For me its as enjoyable then a Super steel.

When it comes to the compression of lock i say its perhaps the best version of the lock i currently ever had.
Its silky smooth and so easy to handle. The Frn for once does not even bother me i even like it while the people who know me know i am usually not a fan of the stuff.

Now i do have a few questions. For those who own the K390 variant how would you guys say the steel is compared to cruwear or 15V? And is the color of the handle more green or blue? As i seem to find many pictures that seem so different in comparison its hard to tell what it really is.
Any one know if the clip is the same as on the Native? As i would like to find a deep carry one for it in the future.

And last but not least Sal is it possible this amazing design may get a sprintrun or perhaps a Spy-27 version in the future?

My new Lw


My originals.

[mikey177]

Any one know if the clip is the same as on the Native? As i would like to find a deep carry one for it in the future.

The Native 5 LW clip has a narrower pattern.

The clip on the Chinook 4 however is a match, except the Chinook 4 has shorter screws that cannot be used on the LT3 LW.

Photo below shows the Chinook 4 clip mounted on the LT3 LW using the screws of the latter.

[apollo]

Any one know if the clip is the same as on the Native? As i would like to find a deep carry one for it in the future.

The Native 5 LW clip has a narrower pattern.

The clip on the Chinook 4 however is a match, except the Chinook 4 has shorter screws that cannot be used on the LT3 LW.

Photo below shows the Chinook 4 clip mounted on the LT3 LW using the screws of the latter.
lil temperance lw clip pattern.jpg

Thx. Guess finding a deep carry clip for it will not be an easy search then.

[mikey177]

You're welcome. Good luck with your search.

[Guts]

I bought one of these clips years ago and it worked great https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/model-un ... 12670.html
Although looking at the description now, it seems they changed the hole spacing on it. Back when I bought it, the hole spacing was 0.500", but now it's saying 0.475". YMMV

As far as K390 vs Cruwear and 15V:
- Not quite as tough as Cruwear but higher wear resistance
- Not as wear resistant as 15V but higher toughness

Just going off what the experts have said, but that matches my experience with the steels as well. I'd also add that K390 seems to show signs of rust easier than the other two from what I've experienced. They're all some of my favorite steels to sharpen though. Handle is definitely blue on the K390 model fwiw. I wish the LT3 was one of the Seki models included in the recent PD#1 sprint. Would've loved to see the burgundy handles and TiCN coating on the big little blade.

[p_atrick]

Another +1 for this model. It is a little quirky, a little bulky, and it isn't the best tool for all jobs, but I just love the feel in hand.

[benben]

Carrying my K390 today, it's just a great little / big knife!

A serrated Cru-wear in some nice color G-10 (Green ) would be nice!

[benben]

Been carrying both of these two stubbies a lot lately, years ago I traded an original Techno to a guy for a Manix Cru-wear sprint run, kind of wish I had it back now, it would go great with these two!

[apollo]

Been carrying both of these two stubbies a lot lately, years ago I traded an original Techno to a guy for a Manix Cru-wear sprint run, kind of wish I had it back now, it would go great with these two!
IMG_4014.jpegIMG_4015.jpegIMG_4016.jpeg

Good looking duo! Really need to get that K390 love the blue!

[benben]

Been carrying both of these two stubbies a lot lately, years ago I traded an original Techno to a guy for a Manix Cru-wear sprint run, kind of wish I had it back now, it would go great with these two!
IMG_4014.jpegIMG_4015.jpegIMG_4016.jpeg

Good looking duo! Really need to get that K390 love the blue!

It's a great knife, great hand filling handle, and there's been some really good prices on them lately if you look around!

[zuludelta]

Now i do have a few questions. For those who own the K390 variant how would you guys say the steel is compared to cruwear or 15V?

The LT3LW in K390 has been a mainstay in my work folder rotation for the past 18 months or so, alongside a PM2 in Cru-Wear and a recently acquired Para 3 LW Sprint in 15V, so I can speak directly to your question, as far as practical usage goes, though keep in mind the usual caveats about anecdotal evidence, non-controlled testing environment, user bias, etc. I should also mention that I maintain a 15° per side edge on the LT3LW & PM2, while I have the Para 3 LW's edge at 20° per side (and these angle differences affect performance way more than the steel composition).

From my experience (and as predicted by its chemistry), K390 holds both a fine edge & a working edge noticeably longer than Cru-Wear, but that may be because my use doesn't involve putting exaggerated lateral stress or direct impacts on the blade edge, so Cru-Wear's superior toughness probably isn't as huge of a factor in the practical edge longevity comparison, as far as my use case.

I haven't had the 15V Para 3 for so long that I feel fully confident making a definitive statement comparing its practical edge-holding performance to K390 (and especially because I run its edge at a more obtuse angle), but from a sharpening perspective, I think they're somewhat comparable: My Para 3 LW in 15V had a slightly cock-eyed grind out of the box, so I reprofiled it before even using it at work, and it was actually a lot easier to reprofile than I expected for a knife that's run pretty hard. Neither K390 nor 15V is a "beginner steel" for sharpening, of course, but with the right abrasives, they're relatively straightforward to get shaving sharp.

All three knives are really good, but the reason I grab the LT3LW in K390 more frequently than the other two is because of the design being a better fit with my hand, more so than the steel: all three steels are beyond more than adequate for what I need in a folder, so handle fit is the more important factor for me when deciding which to use between the three.

[Fastidiotus]

One of Spyderco's best hard use work knives. I don't know why Sal is trying to keep it on the secret menu calling it an SD knife. The LW particularly shines because the FRN handles are completely contoured on the edges and even around the comp lock. The serrations are also gorgeous on this model. Very similar to the Caribbean and the blade is very slicey, which seems impossible given the thicker blade stock. I've had no issues with it wedging into things like the Lil Native sometimes can. Anyone in the market for a Para 3 should be taking a long hard look at the Lil Temp LW.

[apollo]

Now i do have a few questions. For those who own the K390 variant how would you guys say the steel is compared to cruwear or 15V?

The LT3LW in K390 has been a mainstay in my work folder rotation for the past 18 months or so, alongside a PM2 in Cru-Wear and a recently acquired Para 3 LW Sprint in 15V, so I can speak directly to your question, as far as practical usage goes, though keep in mind the usual caveats about anecdotal evidence, non-controlled testing environment, user bias, etc. I should also mention that I maintain a 15° per side edge on the LT3LW & PM2, while I have the Para 3 LW's edge at 20° per side (and these angle differences affect performance way more than the steel composition).
IMG_20250703_080228_585.jpg
From my experience (and as predicted by its chemistry), K390 holds both a fine edge & a working edge noticeably longer than Cru-Wear, but that may be because my use doesn't involve putting exaggerated lateral stress or direct impacts on the blade edge, so Cru-Wear's superior toughness probably isn't as huge of a factor in the practical edge longevity comparison, as far as my use case.

I haven't had the 15V Para 3 for so long that I feel fully confident making a definitive statement comparing its practical edge-holding performance to K390 (and especially because I run its edge at a more obtuse angle), but from a sharpening perspective, I think they're somewhat comparable: My Para 3 LW in 15V had a slightly cock-eyed grind out of the box, so I reprofiled it before even using it at work, and it was actually a lot easier to reprofile than I expected for a knife that's run pretty hard. Neither K390 nor 15V is a "beginner steel" for sharpening, of course, but with the right abrasives, they're relatively straightforward to get shaving sharp.

All three knives are really good, but the reason I grab the LT3LW in K390 more frequently than the other two is because of the design being a better fit with my hand, more so than the steel: all three steels are beyond more than adequate for what I need in a folder, so handle fit is the more important factor for me when deciding which to use between the three.

Thx Zuludelta for the detailed info!
My experience with 15V is limited to the use i get from my Shaman. As my 15v Manix is more of a trophy sprint run. The 15v Shaman has bin a very interesting knife. I only have needed to sharpen it ones altough i do not dare to go beneath 17dps it has performed very well. With only some minor stropping to keep the edge fresh and it has performed that way since it released in Europe.
So its by far my longest edge holding knife.
For example during the same use most of my S30V will last about 2 to 3 weeks before i need to sharpen them again.

K390 Sounds like it will be a real interesting steel to ad to my collection then.
I already have the Lil Temp variant in my basket just waiting for the funds to drop and buy it.
Hope the design gets some more love on the forum as its really a masterpiece.
And hopefully its sells good enough that we can see it getting a sprint run soon. It realle deserves it.

[apollo]

One of Spyderco's best hard use work knives. I don't know why Sal is trying to keep it on the secret menu calling it an SD knife. The LW particularly shines because the FRN handles are completely contoured on the edges and even around the comp lock. The serrations are also gorgeous on this model. Very similar to the Caribbean and the blade is very slicey, which seems impossible given the thicker blade stock. I've had no issues with it wedging into things like the Lil Native sometimes can. Anyone in the market for a Para 3 should be taking a long hard look at the Lil Temp LW.

Honestly the forum can be cruel to designs with a thicker blade stock without reason.
Non italian Spydies with thicker blade stock has always bin great performers. As long as the blade design is wide enough like the lil temperances or Old Manixes the thickness behind the edge is the same then thinner stock spydies and there for they are just as slicy and performing as all the others.

[apollo]

Been carrying both of these two stubbies a lot lately, years ago I traded an original Techno to a guy for a Manix Cru-wear sprint run, kind of wish I had it back now, it would go great with these two!
IMG_4014.jpegIMG_4015.jpegIMG_4016.jpeg

Good looking duo! Really need to get that K390 love the blue!

It's a great knife, great hand filling handle, and there's been some really good prices on them lately if you look around!

Its indeed a great knife. The Vg10 has bin in my pocket every day since it arrived and it has bin a total joy! So the K390 will be here soon...

[cabfrank]

zuludelta really enabled my purchase of this knife. I'm very glad he did, and I absolutely agree with apollo. I have SE VG-10, and it is absolutely one of my all time favorite knives.