Spyderco Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight Folding Knife C69SBK3

Spyderco Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight Folding Knife C69SBK3

Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser is no stranger to the idea of carrying a knife as a personal defense tool. He grew up in one of the poorer—and rougher—areas of Brooklyn, New York, and learned at an early age to appreciate the protective value of knives. Later in life, that streetwise mindset also led him to train in various martial arts, including disciplines focused on edged-weapon skills. While most of Sal’s knife designs emphasized the blade’s utilitarian use, a few unapologetically embraced the spirit of what he calls “Martial Blade Craft.” These include the various expressions of the Lil’ Temperance folder and the newest member of that family, the Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight.

Lil' Temperance Origins

The original Lil’ Temperance, introduced in 2001, was a high-performance folding knife intended for both utility and personal defense. It featured a stout leaf-shaped blade originally made from CPM 440V particle metallurgy stainless steel and later from CPM S30V. Full-flat ground from 4 mm (0.157 inch) stock and produced in both PlainEdge and SpyderEdge variants, the blade was supported by Spyderco’s innovative Compression Lock mechanism, giving the knife “MBC-rated” lock strength for extreme reliability.

The stainless steel liners that formed the foundation of the Compression Lock were nested into green G-10 handles that were carefully machined to create an advanced ergonomic handle design. This three-dimensional design included three rotating “pivot points” on the front scale and a unique pocket clip with a matching series of holes. Designed for right-side carry only, the pocket clip could be configured for tip-up or tip-down orientation. In either position, the clip holes aligned perfectly with grooves in the opposite scale to provide index points for martial arts grip-change tactics. Pinching one of the holes between the thumb and index or middle finger created a natural pivot axis that allowed the knife to be quickly shifted from a standard grip to a reverse grip and back again. The presence of three pairs of holes and openings allowed users to choose the pivot point that best suited their hand size and handling technique.

Lil' Temperance 2

In addition to the original version, Spyderco also made a second Lil’ Temperance variation. It featured exactly the same handle construction, but instead of a leaf-shaped blade it had a blade with an upswept tip and a concave “clip” on the spine. The concave clip, reminiscent of the classic Bowie knife shape, also provided a more secure purchase when the knife was held in a reverse grip and used to hook and redirect an attacker’s limb.

Like its sibling, the Lil’ Temperance 2 blade was 4 mm thick and had a full-flat grind for optimal edge geometry. The ground bevels of both profiles also extended the full length of the blade and completely eliminated the ricasso (the unsharpened portion of most blades between the shoulders of the grinds and the handle). This maximized edge length and allowed both knives to cut with authority far beyond the size of their compact blades. Early production of the Bowie-bladed Lil’ Temperance 2 also showcased CPM 440V blade steel, but later transitioned to CPM S30V. Although a fully serrated SpyderEdge version was mentioned in Spyderco’s 2003 product guide, the Lil’ Temperance 2 was produced only in PlainEdge format.

Lil' Temperance 3

The Lil’ Temperance and Lil’ Temperance 2 remained in the Spyderco product line from 2001 to about 2004. During that time, their signature clip design was refined several times to make it more pocket friendly, but both models were ultimately discontinued.

In 2017, Sal Glesser decided to revive the Lil’ Temperance, but in a slimmer and simpler form. Dubbed the Lil’ Temperance 3, it had a broad leaf-shaped blade made from CPM S30V. Like the first-generation design, the blade was made from robust 4 mm stock and featured a full-flat grind for an exceptional balance of strength, edge geometry, and low-friction cutting performance. Although its ricasso was slightly more pronounced than the original, it still boasted a nearly full-length edge for maximum cutting performance. It also added a strategically placed section of jimping (textured grooves) on the thumb ramp to ensure positive thumb purchase. Like its predecessors, its trademark round hole was fully accessible from both sides to allow fast, ambidextrous one-handed opening.

The most pronounced difference between the Lil’ Temperance 3 and the first-generation design was its handle. Instead of the original’s 3D-machined relief, its scales were made from peel-ply-textured G-10, providing a slip-resistant surface in a simpler format. The handle profile was also streamlined to eliminate the complex finger grooves at the rear in favor of smoother curves. True to form, however, it retained the classic design’s high-strength Compression Lock and nested stainless steel liners. To complement the easy-to-clean open-back handle design, the stainless steel liners were also skeletonized to further reduce weight.

In keeping with the original spirit of the design as a potential personal defense tool, the Lil’ Temperance 3 included one indexing “pivot joint” in each handle scale and added the versatility of a four-position pocket clip. The broad clip could be mounted to support all possible carry positions, including left or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry. Regardless of its configuration, the grooves in the scales were precisely aligned with the concave section of the pocket clip to create a pivot axis for grip-change maneuvers.

Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight

In 2022, Spyderco took the evolution of the Lil’ Temperance concept one step further by replacing the G-10 handle of the Lil’ Temperance 3 with injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN), creating the Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight. Like all Spyderco “Lightweight” knives, this designation reflects the FRN handle construction and does not necessarily mean a dramatic reduction in weight compared to other versions of the design. In the case of the Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight, the actual weight reduction is only 0.2 ounce (6 grams), or five percent.

A more important advantage of the FRN handles on this knife is that they allow a deeply molded Bi-Directional Texture pattern. Compared to the subtle texture of peel-ply G-10, this texture significantly increases grip security, especially in high-stress situations or demanding environmental conditions. Staying true to its predecessors, the exact center of both scales features a subtle groove that aligns perfectly with the concave area of the pocket clip, providing a defined pivot point for grip changes. Skeletonized stainless steel liners nested into the scales form the foundation of the knife’s high-strength Compression Lock mechanism. They also provide a solid anchor for its broad, four-position pocket clip, which is fully configurable for left or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry. For those who like to use fobs or lanyards on a knife, the handle also includes a generously sized lanyard hole.

The stout leaf-shaped blade of the Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight is full-flat ground from 4 mm-thick VG-10 stainless steel and features a minimal ricasso to maximize edge length. It includes a textured thumb ramp for enhanced control during use and is available in a choice of PlainEdge or fully serrated SpyderEdge format.

The Lil’ Temperance 3 Lightweight proudly continues the legacy of a true Spyderco classic and faithfully honors the spirit of the original design while incorporating several significant improvements that make it even more functional and capable. Whether you are looking for a compact, robust knife or a trusted personal defense tool, it is clearly up to the task.

Specifications

Closed Length: 11.1 cm

Cutting Edge: 7.2 cm

Blade Style: Leaf-Shaped

Blade Grind: Full-Flat

Blade Finish: Satin

Blade Edge: Serrated

Handle Color: Black

Locking Mechanism: Compression Lock

Pocket Clip: Tip-Down, Tip-Down, Left/Right Carry

Model Number: C69SBK3

Model Name: Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight

Designer: Sal Glesser

Made in Japan