Spyderco Lil' Temperance 3/Lightweight handle scales
Spyderco Lil' Temperance 3/Lightweight handle scales
In 2003, Spyderco—the innovative American knife brand founded in 1976 by Sal Glesser—released the Temperance as a full-tang fixed blade designed by Sal for hard-use outdoor and survival tasks. The Lil' Temperance followed in 2004 as a more compact, carry-friendly version with a 4.375-inch blade
The Lil' Temperance 3 (model FB05 series) debuted in 2010 as the third-generation update, incorporating modern premium materials and refinements based on user feedback. It featured a 4.375-inch full-flat-ground blade in CPM-S30V stainless steel (later variants in S35VN or S45VN) for superior edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance—replacing earlier steels like VG-10
Weighing ~5.8 oz with 9.375-inch overall length, the Lil' Temperance 3 boasts a full-tang construction, textured G-10 handles (black or green), lanyard hole, and versatile Kydex sheath options—ideal for bushcraft knives, survival knives, EDC fixed blades, and hard outdoor use
Priced ~$250–$350 MSRP (USA-made), it earned immediate acclaim for balanced size, ergonomic comfort, and premium performance—quickly becoming a fan favorite. Variants (black blade, serrated, sprint runs) followed, cementing the Lil' Temperance 3 as a benchmark in compact fixed blades and Spyderco’s legacy of durable, purpose-built outdoor knives