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View Full Version : Observations and questions on the Lil’ Temperance



yog
09-15-2002, 12:00 AM
I’ve recently purchased a drop point Lil’ Temperance and I must say that it is truly an excellent knife. It’s so good that I think it might have replaced the Military as my favourite large camp knife and big cutter. I know some people will be thinking "“favourite large knife, but it only has a 3” blade ?”, don’t let this fool you, there is no doubt that this is a big knife and will be able to out cut most things that don’t come with an onboard motor supply.

Much has been said about the handle (comfortable, solid, big), but I’m surprised more hasn’t been made of the blade. It’s huge. It has the thickest blade I have seen on a folder, but because it is so wide it still has quite a slim cutting profile. It feels as though you could can-opener a battle ship with this beauty and not have the blade ruined.

The lock is also very impressive. If the only compression lock you have ever handled is the one on the Vesuvious, then don’t even begin to think of it as being the same league. It may look the same and work on the same principle, but the compression lock on the Lil’ Temp is far superior. It has a nice generous thumb recess for unlocking the blade ( a short fall of the Vesuvious), but the placement is such that no hard part of the hand is likely to ever come into contact with the unlocking lever. The positive locking pressure is also very good, the last 10mm of closing draws the blade in quite strongly. The positive closing pressure is so strong that the Lil’ Temp is not an easy knife to flick open, but at the same time glides open very smoothly when opened with the thumb.

Don’t let the fact that it is in the MBC section confuse you. Although it is very well suited to this area, it also makes a terrific all round knife, whether in the town or in the country.



Now for the questions.

I know Sal was a little unsure how this knife would take off so he was only going to do runs in small batches. I can attest to this as mine came straight from the factory, but still entailed a bit of a wait. What has the take up with the general public been like ?

Every review that I have seen seems to feel the same as me, truly an excellent knife, but then again most of us knife knuts felt the same about the Calypso Jnr Lwt.



Sal also mentioned that although the initial run would have a CMP-440v blade, later runs would have a BG42 blade. Has this started happening yet ?

The reason I ask is that my knife is completely without markings, either on the blade or clip, not even a steel type. Not bothered about this at all, but just a little curious.





Walk softly, carry a big stick.

The Cool
09-15-2002, 04:47 PM
Great review Yog. I had no idea that the blade would be thick. I wonder how the Paramilitary will compare?

sal
09-15-2002, 04:52 PM
Thank you Yog for the kind words.

The blade thickness is the same as the Military. It seems thicker on the shorter blade.

The ParaMilitary is planned for a thinner blade than the Military. Mil=4mm, ParaM=3mm.
At least in the prototype. We thought about making the blade thickness on the ParaMilitary the same as the Military (4mm) but we thought that the smaller knife would be preferred in a thinner blade stock. Opinions?

sal

yog
09-15-2002, 05:21 PM
Well I'll be, it is the same thickness (just gone and checked).

It really does look and feal much thicker, an optical illusion as you say.
I've got to say, I really am liking this new drop point / leaf blade shape, it packs a real slice in a short length.

Any word on why the blade is unmarked ?

Walk softly, carry a big stick.

sal
09-15-2002, 05:27 PM
A few somehow got through unmarked. Embarrassing, but true. I'm glad they checked all of the mechanicals.

sal

Pachucko
09-15-2002, 06:17 PM
"The ParaMilitary is planned for a thinner blade than the Military. Mil=4mm, ParaM=3mm.
At least in the prototype. We thought about making the blade thickness on the ParaMilitary the same as the Military (4mm) but we thought that the smaller knife would be preferred in a thinner blade stock. Opinions?"

I'd prefer the paramilitary to be just as thick. Please?

Pachucks

yog
09-16-2002, 12:41 PM
Cool, so this could become a collectors item <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Mind you, by the time I've finished with it it could be a very worn collectors item <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Walk softly, carry a big stick.

V-1
09-17-2002, 04:07 AM
Either blade thickness would be fine w/ me. If I had to choose one, I would go w/ 3mm. Has a color for the G-10 handle been finalized yet? Hopefully tan. Regardless, I can't wait until the Paramilitary is released.

I hope the Lil' Temperance has sold well enough to support refinements and new production runs. Carbon fiber would make an interesting handle unless the carbon fiber couldn't support the guards that stick out. In my opinion, the Lil' Temperance is the most interesting production folder on the market. I carry one of mine everyday.

Dijos
09-23-2002, 01:45 PM
I vote for 3mm. This took all weekend to figure out, after using all manner of knives with differing spine widths. sorry if I offend...although, if the blade thickness isn't worked out yet, This knife isn't coming out for christmas! patiently wainting, joe