Tag Archives: K390

Folders, Review

SPYDERCO LIL’ TEMPERANCE™ 3 LIGHTWEIGHT K390 -C69PBL3K390 -Part 3 – Use Shorty !

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It has been established on the two previous chapters:
SPYDERCO LIL’ TEMPERANCE™ 3 LIGHTWEIGHT K390 -C69PBL3K390- Get Shorty ! – Part 1
and
SPYDERCO LIL’ TEMPERANCE™ 3 LIGHTWEIGHT K390 -C69PBL3K390 -Part 2 – Draw Shorty !

that the Lil’ Temp is very much a hidden gem, refined over two decades by Sal Glesser. In essence, it’s his answer to the compact, heavy-duty 3-inch folder — a kind of “Techno Glesser” that still offers a full, hand-filling grip. Its tall blade profile allows for a finely tuned convex geometry, translating into cutting performance that feels far beyond its size.

K390 is, in my book, a friendly steel. By that I mean it sharpens up to a razor edge without too much effort. It isn’t quite as easy to work with as CPM Magnacut, but it’s far more forgiving than something like CPM 15V. The trade-off is that K390 will stain readily, so regular wiping is part of the routine.

The trade-off is that K390 stains readily, so a quick wipe-down is essential to keep it looking and performing at its best.

The fact that K390 isn’t stainless is not really an issue if you keep the blade clean and check it regularly for any sign of rust. In practice, a bit of grease or oil is enough to protect it, and over time the steel develops a natural patina that gives the knife real character. My own Lil’ Temp is already showing that patina, and it only adds to its appeal.

Geometry is absolutely critical when working with wood. No matter how tough the steel, without the right blade geometry the knife simply won’t bite or carve efficiently.

A full flat-ground high blade simply can’t compete when working on hard wood. That’s why Sal Glesser’s “Lambo of bushcraft knives,” the Proficient, stands out: it combines a high full-flat ground blade made from a high-carbide super steel (S90V) with an exceptionally comfortable handle. The result is a knife that slices, carves, and handles demanding tasks with ease — the kind of tool that performs all day without fatigue.

The relatively thick handle of the Lil’ Temp makes it extremely comfortable to hold and use. Its design also provides excellent indexation, making it easy to know exactly where the edge is — even easier than on an Opinel or the round handle of the Proficient.

In the woods, the Lil’ Temp is easy to deploy and put into action. Its point is robust enough to withstand some abuse. While K390 isn’t the toughest steel available, it’s still harder and more wear-resistant than many stainless alloys, making it highly capable in practical use.

The thick spine of the Lil’ Temp provides an easy resting spot for the thumb, especially on push cuts. This gives excellent control and allows you to apply strength precisely where it’s needed.

The grain structure of K390 responds exceptionally well when working on wood. After some careful convexing on diamond stones, the edge has developed a shape that balances sharpness and durability perfectly for carving and utility tasks.

I was able to carve pickets without breaking a sweat. The knife’s gentle belly plays a key role, working like a guillotine on the wood fibers and making controlled cuts effortless.

The true kings of woodworking and whittling remain the Wolfspyder and the Boker Vigtig vs Wild. Their authentic Scandi grinds allow them to bite into wood with astonishing ease, making controlled carving and fine whittling effortless.

In that context, one of my favorite full-flat-ground folders for whittling is the Native 5 Salt, once convexed. It’s an absolute pleasure to use on wood, combining smooth slicing with precise control.

A folder’s handle will always be less comfortable than that of a good fixed blade, simply because of the compromise required to fold the blade into it.

That said, the Lil’ Temp is among the very best in this regard. Other outstanding handles include the Manly Comrade, the Benchmade Adamas, the Cold Steel Recon 1, and the Wolfspyder — the latter benefiting from Ray Mears’ design philosophy, focused on knives you can use all day long without developing hot spots or splinters.

(Comrade, Recon 1 on the LT’s left and Wolfspyder on its right)

(Adamas and Lil’ Temp)

Another example of relatively demanding use is making this risotto using
an old chunk of dry Parmigiano which needs to have its rind removed, then cut into half-inch cubes — no easy task given how hard the cheese can be.

It’s also a great way to detect hot spots: the weakest point, if any, in the compression lock. That notch on the back of the handle all but guarantees a sore hand after extended use.

Apart from a single trip into the woods, I’ve mostly used the Lil’ Temp in the kitchen, where it’s been steadily building a nice patina. I’ve also taken the opportunity to test its ergonomics with wet hands. The FRN handle pattern is one of Sal Glesser’s great innovations: it gives the knife a no-nonsense, tool-like appearance while ensuring the handle stays locked in place once gripped.

Conclusion

The Lil’ Temperance 3 K390 Lightweight (“Shorty”) stands out as a compact powerhouse in Spyderco’s lineup. With its super-steel blade and excellent geometry, it elevates everyday carry versatility, combining cutting performance, ergonomics, and durability in a smaller format.

Its lightweight build and aggressive handle design make it a tool you can truly rely on. Whether in the kitchen, at the workbench, or outdoors, the Lil’ Temp proves itself capable of handling demanding tasks without compromise. The FRN handle texture, designed by Sal Glesser, not only lends a purposeful, tool-like look but also ensures a secure grip, even with wet hands.

From reviews across the community, a consistent picture emerges:

  1. Exceptional cutting performance — even in tasks where utility blades struggle
  2. Superior carving and utility — excels at both fine control and hard work
  3. Secure lockup — the compression lock feels noticeably beefier than on similar models
  4. Excellent ergonomics — comfortable for long use, even damp conditions
  5. Edge retention — the K390 steel holds its sharpness impressively well
  6. Durability — little to no wear after months of use
  7. Practical carry — light, compact, and easy to deploy one-handed
  8. Minimal maintenance — just regular wiping and light oiling keeps it in peak condition

As one reviewer put it, this “box-destroying little chode of a knife” punches well above its size. Another called it “a tank… carefree, strong AF, and super comfortable.” After extended use — from food prep to cardboard — users report only minor stropping needed, with many calling it one of their favorite Spydercos in decades.

In short, the Lil’ Temperance 3 K390 Lightweight is a sleeper hit: not the most popular Spyderco, but for those who carry it, often a personal favorite. A compact EDC with the heart of a work horse.

Review

SPYDERCO LIL’ TEMPERANCE™ 3 LIGHTWEIGHT K390 -C69PBL3K390 -Part 2 – Draw Shorty !

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First things first: I needed to “de-shoulder” the edge, and K390 proved its reputation as a hard steel. I noticed it again when rounding the spine a bit — those vanadium carbides really make sanding a challenge. Then again, sanding has always been something of a signature for me, especially when shaping convex edges. With 2% cobalt in the mix, keeping the blade clean is essential to avoid stains or rust.

Now, onto the fun part! When you get a new knife, what matters most is how it fits into your life: what makes you smile, how people react to it, and how it feels to carry and draw it from your pocket. The joy of using a good tool should always be a pleasant experience.

The Lil’ Temp 3 is stubby, with a distinctly modern folding knife look. Its blue handle helps it appear approachable — a friendly tool rather than a “ninja weapon.”

One of the biggest drawbacks of the original Lil’ Temp back in 2001 was its clip. That thick, rigid piece of steel with four screws made getting the knife in and out of your pocket more difficult than it needed to be.

The LT3 solves this with its spoon clip, which is easy to tune. Following Sal’s advice, the knife is now effortless to retrieve from the pocket — a huge improvement. The LT3’s handle design also helps: I carry the folder tip-up, and the beak at the end of the handle, combined with the FRN traction patterns, makes the knife practically jump into my hand. Drawing it is effortless, even while sitting in a car.

The squarish handle also is a big plus: it helps indexing the knife instinctively : You know where is your edge immediately.
So, it is very safe and easy to draw it and open it, do the cut and then close it and pu it back in the pocket. You do that without thinking. Muscles memory…
It is a huge plus for a working knife’s user to be able to use the LT3 and close it and put it away back in the pocket in a breeze.
This is also really enjoyable, and coming from many great Spyderco Designs like the Military 2 or the Sage 5 or the Para 3, it is noticeable how nice that LT3 LW is in getting into action.
To sum up, it is really pleasant !

For exemple my lovely Lionsteel Nano is not the easiest to bring into action but it is forgiven as it is considered as a “Lady & Gentleman” folder.

But for a workhorse they are other specifications. Safety and reliability in putting in action your knife is mandatory.

FRN once molded in scales can propose high tech shapes and pattern designed by Sal Glesser which are enhancing the ergos even with wet hands.

The LT3 is one of the most confortable folder i have ever grip. The handle is thick, filling my hand’s palm and ready to be squeezed for hard cuts. The thick blade spine is asking to be pushed into materials.
That’s why my first mission was in the kitchen with tomatoes and lemons…. 😉

After a first cut into lime and avocados the blade was already getting its nice patina. K390 is deadly serious about getting stained and it is a good thing as that patina will protect the naked steel from pitting. I just wipe it clean after a rinse under the tap and check that the pivot to be well oiled.
This is exactly the opposite I do with the Sage 5 Salt ! I’m careless wth those Salt folders. This Sage is smooth like butter even without any oiled pivot. Magnacut and the Sage pivot design turn it like into a knife you can keep dirty and forget in the sink.
Not the LT3.
As strong as its is, its Achilles heel will always been proper care and maintenance. But serious users know how to take care of their tools. And maintenance is also part of the fun of owning good knives. The patina on the K390 blade will always show proudly that your knife is a user not a safe queen.

There is also the solution to cut cheese to keep naturally some grease your blade.
Those two cuts here has been made with the LT3. As you can notice those are clean push cuts. the geometry is that great.
Actually, in the kitchen, or preparing the meal in a camp, that LT3 is at home. That 4mm thick spine is not an obstacle as the blade is tall.

This is one of the things I love in my Cold Steel Voyager or Recon 1 XL: thick high blade but thin geometry. Thhose got much longer blades than the LT3 !

But the C69PBL3K390 does not act like a wedge on fruits like avocado or apple.
But once you turn it against harder material like plastic, you can apply a lot of force ! The handle is so comfy you can use it like a fixed blade. This stubby folder turns into one of the most solid “matter separator” ever made by Spyderco. It feels much more solid than their flagship, the Military and much confortable than their Shaman ! Go figure !
Let’s not forget they all got the same designer but, after 25 years of in house refinement, the LT3 is not a small contender. I even feel the LT3 could be the personal answer from Sal to the Spyderco Techno !
3 inches of pure K390 performance.

Now thickness is always an important factor in performance.
The UKPK is uncanny sharp with its thin blade. But it is designed for more mundane and delicate works not for being used hard in a construction site, for example.
The LT3 plays in the same field as the Tenacious. (The last sprint run in CPM-M4 is really perfect for dirty hard chores.)

Both knives are choil less, with full flat ground blades, and they got an open back construction handle, easy to check and clean.
The Tenacious is a little bit longer offering a great blade/handle ratio.
But the LT3 got a stouter blade and a much better action/ compression lock.
And also a much much confortable handle.

About blade ratio, let’s quote Sal:

Many of our blades are designed to a blade length legality. The Delica is a perfect example. The blade length is 3.0″ which is acceptable in many places for legal reasons and for social concerns. The handle designed to the blade length is just not large enough for many of the people that use knives as tools. So I made the choice to give the handle extra length for safety and control. 

In my opinion, blade to handle ratios are an “eye” thing, which is fine, but I prefer to design with the bend towards function and safety. “A scalpel would not perform better if the handle were smaller or the blade longer”.

“Choil less” does not mean that your index finger is in jeopardy !
In case the ultra strong compression lock would fail or get disengaged…
There is no choil but there is a kick ! So your index finger is relatively safe !

Wait a minue! That LT3 Lightweight’s handle reminds the handle of the now discontinued Spyderco Vagabond. (The FB12 Vagabond was a compact fixed blade designed for on-the-go food preparation, such as picnics or packed lunches.)

See?

Same “beak” at the pommel too !

Thick handle and thick 3 inches blade on both.

Same designer again. 😉
I told you the LT3 was a “wandering rōnin” 😉

So once the LT3 has jumped in your hand, it is really sheeple friendly with all its gentle curves and nice handle color. It looks like a puppy of a bigger knife, a cute knife actually. That’s also a big plus for a low profile working tool.
If someone working in a ranch uses a LT3, it won’t raise any eyebrows. It is as threatening as a screwdriver. Nowadays this is a big plus to own a low profile knife. Also when in sheeple hands, the LT3 is able to deliver. Yesterday, the family kept borrowing my knife, even to cut the crust of the pie for the Grand Ma ! This would not happen with my beautiful pointy Military 2 (Even my pointy UKPK was seen by them as a weapon able to pierce some armor…) ! The Lil’Temperance is just seen as a high tech folding tool, easy to control and put on “safe” and this is just what we ask when children are running around the table.

“The game never ends when your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card” Alan Parson Project.

The Temperance tarot card represents balance, moderation, and harmony. It encourages patience and finding the right mix in life – whether in emotions, relationships or work. It is a sign of inner peace and divine timing.
And this is exactly what the Lil Temperance3 Lightweight is oozing from its synthetic pores right at the moment you hold it.

Folders, Review

SPYDERCO LIL’ TEMPERANCE™ 3 LIGHTWEIGHT K390 -C69PBL3K390- Get Shorty ! – Part 1

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Disclaimer: before going further I need to precise that this knife has been sent to me for free by Golden as part of their brand ambassador program. I thank Spyderco for choosing this little blog and for their trust in my reviews.

“The Lil’ Temperance has been a 20 year personal project. We planned an FRN version 10 years ago, but because it is a smaller market to serve, and I wanted to epitomize the concept, the progress was slow. We changed the design, locks, clips, patterns, etc. Made many prototypes over the years.

The “Spirit” of the design has remained the same. Essentially, a tough, legal 3″ blade MBC folder. Along with my own experience, I had input from James Keating (the Riddle of Steel), Bob Taylor (Warrior designer), Mike Janich (whom we all trust and revere), Bram Frank, Craig Douglas and Laci Szabo. 

The first runs made for an interesting design, that was effective for two grips. Then I altered the design to also serve Pikal concepts (forward edge up and reverse edge in.), which was not incorporated in the original design.
I’m looking forward to the FRN version.
sal“

My first Lil’ Temperance was a “Rhino” — the nickname for the C69 full-flat-ground trailing point blade. That model was released 25 years ago. At the time, I also gave it another nickname: the Lil’ Chinook, after James Keating’s Chinook — a stout folder with a thick trailing-point blade made from CPM440V.

I even found a picture from Knives Plus to document it:

That folder was also available in Leaf Shape Blade like this new K390 just received from Golden today.


Twenty-five years ago, Sal Glesser was deeply influenced by the Martial Blade Craft approach. During that period, he designed the FB05 Temperance, a fixed blade in VG10 made in Japan with combat applications in mind. A trainer version was also available, featuring a red handle and a dull, skeletonized blade.

Sal also created a folding companion: the very stout Lil’ Temp C69, made in S60V (440V) in Golden. It was marketed as “a compact yet heavy-duty folding knife suitable for defensive use.”

Both the FB05 and the Lil’ Temp C69 featured round marks in their handles to facilitate quick grip changes — for example, transitioning from an icepick grip to a hammer grip — a key element in knife fighting. The C69 even had a special clip designed to match its three craters, showcasing the new in-house Compression Lock. The first iteration was extremely strong, often painfully pinching the skin between thumb and index, but in every other way, it was a true “folder on steroids.”



I don’t advocate using knives for defense; they should be a last-ditch option — the very last weapon you’d want to rely on. Historically, knives have always been tools of attack, from backstabbing to throat cutting, not instruments for self-preservation.That’s why I was glad to see that the Temperance II shifted toward a more “camp utility–oriented” design. The current Sprint Run of the Lil’ Temp I features a CPM Cruwear blade, which emphasizes tooling performance over combat potential. Unlike a VG10 blade, which could be used as a weapon, Cruwear is designed to stay sharp reliably over time — a knife for work, not just to be sharp once and used in aggression.


The K390 version of the Lil’ Temperance 3, following the path of the VG10 model, continues this shift from weapon to tool. Gone are the rotating points on the clip and handle; the focus is now purely on utility. With K390 steel, the knife becomes a genuinely tough, long-lasting edge tool — a folder built for work rather than combat.

That 4 mm-thick blade with its high full-flat grind really begs to be used hard — it inspires confidence in every cut. Its leaf-shaped profile would even make it an excellent Parmigiano knife, allowing you to twist the blade into the cheese to fragment it with ease. 😉 For reference, the Millie and Shaman feature slightly thinner blades at 3.7 mm.

K390 is simply a great steel. Period. I’ve already written extensively about it — for those interested, here’s a link to one of my detailed reviews.

In short, K390 is a high-vanadium tool steel with outstanding wear resistance. It can hold an edge through extended wood carving, feathersticking, or fire prep. Although K390 is non-stainless and will develop a patina, it is forgiving, strong, and maintains a razor-sharp edge for a very long time.

K390 is made for workers who need a reliable tool and know how to care for their blade. It responds exceptionally well to leather stropping, which helps maintain its edge. (For reference, the upcoming CPM Magnamax is expected to be a stainless version of K390, similar to how CPM Magnacut relates to CPM 4V.)

Keep in mind that K390 loves to patina and will rust if left unprotected. A light coating of mineral oil — like the kind sold by Ikea for cutting boards — is an easy and effective way to keep corrosion at bay.

I noticed a small nick on the out-of-box factory edge. No big deal — it happens, especially since the knife had just been “chipped” to France. 😉

To fix it, I reached for my Spyderco Stuff 2 and Fällkniven DC4 diamond stones. I worked the blade carefully, avoiding the edge on leather, until the nick was no longer visible. A few passes on a white ceramic rod brought the edge back to razor sharpness. Ten minutes later… the Lil’ Temp was ready for action.

It’s now impossible to spot the chipping — or maybe it was a slight bend. Either way, it’s fixed. I’ve seen the same issue with my Tenacious in M4 after it hit a stone floor, and once again, diamond stones worked their magic.

K390 behaves similarly to CPM-M4: it’s forgiving and easy to maintain despite being a stellar alloy. While I love CPM-15V for its toughness, it’s a bear to sharpen, whereas K390 is much easier to fix.

That said, K390 is still non-stainless: it will pit and rust if neglected. Take care of it. I know plenty of people who would struggle — they throw their knives in a toolbox and never clean them. K390 is not for them. But for those who maintain their tools, it’s a super duper steel that rewards proper care.

The Lil’ Temp has no choil, which means you rely entirely on the handle for grip and control. I love choils on slipjoints, where there’s no lock and you often grab the folder by the blade. But on a reliable locking folder, a zero choil works perfectly.

The Compression Lock is ultra-reliable, strong, and designed to prevent accidental disengagement. You can depend on it completely — there’s no fumbling, no second-guessing.

That thumb ramp is wide and a perfect comfy spot for your thumb or for that tender web skin between the thumb and the index finger.
The action is smooth but as smooth as the Sage5 or the Millie 2. No vertical play. No pinching. Drop chute after a little wrist flick.
The opening arc is a little wider on this one due to the placement of the hole a little far from the axis but the Spyderflick is easily done. It is fidget pleasant folder ! I don’t think it is good for tip down carry and “spyderdrops” as the guard is a little to wide. But for tip up carry and middle finger’s flips, it is perfect.
The relatively thick handle is really comfy even when squeezed.
So far I have not find any hot spot. I will certainly sand the edge off the FRN but nothing is really needed, it is just my taste in smoothing everything.


Lightweight ? Not really at 108 grams for a 3 each blade. Only 5 grams less than the G10 version. This “Lightweight” version has kept its two recessed skeletonized stainless steel liners (when the Para3 Lightweight, for example, ditched them). Here, only the G-10 scales has been replaced by two beautiful thick blue scales. This color is really sheeple friendly and the wife already likes it. The black clip is also a very nice touch. This folder oozes some very toolish scents: this is a work poney !


The open construction of the Lil’ Temp also makes it very easy to keep clean. You can rinse it and quickly check for any dirt or debris, which is especially useful after outdoor or kitchen use.


The heavy-duty clip is built for work. That FRN handle can be a pocket shredder — no doubt about it. Sanding the FRN scales doesn’t change that in my experience. This is a true blue-collar folder, meant to be clipped in solid pockets and relied upon day after day.

The knife is enough compact to jump into the watch pocket !

« I bend the clip slightly on almost every knife I carry.

I usually take something wedge shaped and slide it under the clip a small amount at a time until I get the bend I like. Not everyone will like the same bend so incremental bending works best. I like very little resistance in retrieving my knife from my Right-Front-Pocket. Just enough to keep it from falling out of my pocket. YMMV.

sal »
That’s a game changer and pocket savior once you have found the sweet spot of clip retention.

Once a samurai, now a wandering ronin. Once a self-defense knife, now a powerful tool. Regardless of its past, the Lil’ Temp is a true gem — thoughtfully designed, finely crafted, and made in Japan.

“The maker said it was a very difficult model to make, and for him to say that, I’m guessing it’s true. They’ve been making our knives since 1980. I worked with the Grand Father and the Father and Eric works with the son. I think we’re fortunate to be able to bring the model to you.

Sal“

Sharing the same FRN pattern as the Golden-made folders, the Lil’ Temperance features a larger pivot screw than the Para 3 and Sage 5 (made in Taichung). Despite its small size, the lack of a choil gives it plenty of usable edge.

Edge-wise, it’s impressive: the Lil’ Temp offers virtually the same cutting edge length as the larger and heavier Manix 2, all within a form factor similar to the Para 3. Its “no choil” design is reminiscent of my Tenacious, maximizing the usable blade while keeping the knife compact.

The blade length is just shorter than 3 inches with 74mm. It is not designed to reach the heart between the ribs. It is designed to work hard on various materials. It is designed as a formidable “hard use” cutting tool.

See how the poor bottle falls apart under the Lil’ Temp’s edge!

I remember seeing the Spyderco Police showcasing K390 — a knife originally oriented toward martial use, gradually drifting into more practical, tool-like applications. I’m glad to see the same evolution with the Lil’ Temperance: “Although rooted in Martial Blade Craft design, it provides reliable, full-service performance for any cutting task.”

And it doesn’t hide its abilities. Compact though it is, it’s unapologetically loud about its cutting power.

I couldn’t agree more — this is shaping up to be a truly tough, little big knife, perfect for Part 3 of my adventures.
But don’t forget the Part 2, first.

Folders, Review

Delica K390 with Lynch Titanium Scales – A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing !

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I got the chance to get that customized Delica through Henri Ramsey, a Spydiefriend from the Facebook French Spyderco Fan Club.

The K390 Delica has always been a monster of pocket knife (click on the name to go to my old review of the Delica with buffed sprint alloy). The thin blade mixed with the super tool steel allow (K390) alloy has proven to be amazing for hardchore.
From their Seki Japan plant, Spyderco is producing many different K390 model, folders and fixed blades. The Stretch 2 being highly regarded as one of their best design.

The Blue Pingo has been made in Golden though.

So here you got an incredibly tough, strong and wear resistant blade on scales produced by Lynch. A typical Sal Glesser design: performance first !

But Lynchnw has taken that game to another league with their scale:

“A few years ago Casey put out a very limited run of the LynchNW MOD 1 Delica 4 and some scale sets. This is our newest Delica MOD 2 Titanium Scale Kit, modifying your choice of Delica 4 Knife with a set of Custom Titanium scales, featuring a forward finger choil, blade profiled scale holes, smooth bellied profile, a custom titanium back-spacer, enlarged lanyard hole, and a custom designed deep carry titanium clip. ” To quote Lynchnw.com site.”

What bring these new scales apart of adding titanium for the pure neo industrial look of it ?
It bring many things:

A finger choil. A real one.


A longer handle and your pinkie will thank you for that.


A slim package which is soft on your pocket trousers.


Seven holes which are showing the edge of your knife when it’s closed.

See how cute is it ?

So here we got a very friendly city pocket knife which is not screaming “I’m a sword from Hell !!” like my new beloved Hellboy Chief or this AFCK in M2.


It looks like a lady and gentleman knife.
But beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

This one share the same core engine as a Police 4: K390 at 65HRC in a thin geometry ! It is a Metropolice knife.





Review

Spyderco Dragonfly Wharncliffe K390 SC28FP2WK390 – Roar like a Dragon, fly like a bee.

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Behind the code “SC28FP2WK390” is hidden one of the gem designed inhouse by Sal Glesser. The Dragonflies are legion.
(All those green texts are actually links)

Quoting Spyderco: “The Dragonfly 2 is one of the most size-efficient folding knives ever created, especially when expressed with a straight-edged Wharncliffe-style blade. When that blade is crafted from tough, wear-resistant K390 tool steel, the result is a compact, powerhouse cutting tool that will take and hold an exceptional edge.

Like the standard Dragonfly 2, this knife also features a user-friendly back lock, and a reversible deep-pocket wire clip, but its linerless FRN handle is molded in the signature blue color of Spyderco’s K390 family of knives.”


The Dragonflies are very small locking knives which has been made in many many ways: stainless steel handle, Salt rustproof serie and many Sprint Run is now offered in Wharncliffe blade shape with one of the best super tool steel available K390. Such a strong steel on a small thin tool is a must try.
Wharncliffe blades offers such a great performance. I have reviewed it many times.
Backlocks or Lockbacks are known to be the strongest lock available and by design you are chocking the blade by the hum and the choil and you are applying your cutting force directly to it and not to the handle, preserving the mechanism for harder chores.

The handle despite being reduced is for 4 fingers grasp. This is a tour-de-force in term of design.


My Pingo’s blade is thicker and as a splint joint it has proven to be a really great companion. The Dragonfly is destined to propose a more aggressive solution in term of matter separator in a smaller package.

The Wharncliffe design is king in the plate as only the point get in contact and the edge is preserve from hard contact with ceramic. So this little knife can be used as a very small steak knife.

Actually my friend Jur told me: “The older you will get the smaller knives you will prefer. He was right.”

All in all the Dragonfly in K390 is a very nice combinaison. A very compact thin tool equipped with a strong blade ? This is a great Lady or Gentleman companion.

Advice, Review

STEEL K390 BÖHLER’S MICROCLEAN – UNCANNY BLADE MATERIAL.

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20190220_161257-012564009346563921525.jpeg

I have seen a video where someone is stabbing concrete with its Spyderco Police 4 to show how K390 is strong ! The blade of that famous knife is thin and this thinness is here for a purpose: Sal Glesser has decided to use the Police 4 plateforme according to his own desire but toughness and impact resistance may have weighed in on the decision. For once the Police is not especially aimed at the LEO but those ELU who use their thin knives hard !

“We make quite a few designs for the Law Enforcement market at this time, so the design for Police use is necessarily the case anymore, like it was in 1984. I designed the Police 4 to include what I would like in a knife, more than what a LEO might like. It’s still a kissing cousin, and large for most people. I widened the blade, enlarged the hole and selected a steel that I like to use. The design’s success in the marketplace is unknown at this time. But I get to have one. ” Sal Glesser.

K390 is not stainless. It’s a cold work tool steel which uses Bohler proprietary Microclean technology.  K390 has close to the same edge holding as A11 but is much tougher. Bohler’s third generation particle metallurgy contributes to the toughness of the steel.This steel will be hard to grind, finish and sharpen. Once it is sharp it will stay sharp for a long long long time. It’s CPM M4 on steroids which means K390 has more strength, durability, stability and wear resistance than M4 ! And I do love CPM M4.

Here is a video which confronts CPM M4 and K390:
https://youtu.be/TI53ziibeiQ

From Bohler’s commercial:

“K390 is quite simply the powder metallurgical cold work tool steel with the best properties for cold work applications available from BÖHLER at the moment. K390 MICROCLEAN was developed to meet the demanding wear resistance and compressive strength requirements of cutting, blanking and punching applications, for cold forming applications and for parts which are subjected to abrasive wear in plastics processing. Tool life can be increased by several hundred percent due to the outstanding wear resistance, high compressive strength and good toughness of BÖHLER K390 MICROCLEAN. These material properties enable our customers to make their production processes more efficient and consequently to reduce the price per part produced. Too hard to be machinable? Quite the opposite. The task of the tool steel manufacturer is to produce a steel which is, on the one hand, easy and economic to machine (with a hardness of around 280HB) and simple and unproblematic to heat treat, but which, on the other hand, has a very high hardness (up to 64HRc) and optimum performance in use. The secret lies in the powder metallurgy process. A very fine, homogeneous microstructure guarantees optimal machinability.

K390 owes its superior properties above all to the powder-metallurgical production process. The main advantages of BÖHLER MICROCLEAN steels over conventional steels are: • uniform carbide distribution • small carbide size • uniform chemical composition over the entire cross-section and length • virtually isotropic behaviour due to improved homogeneity and the absence of segregations.”

From Phil Wilson on the Spyderco Forums.:
“I have been using K390 from the start ever since it was introduced by Bohler and I got some small samples to try. A bit of history is that it is the European version of CPM 10V but not the exact chemistry (about 1% less V plus small addition of a few others). That is because the CPM 10V chemistry was protected by patent at the time. If you check the K390 data sheet it claims that the bit less V gives K 390 a little boost in impact toughness. It also can be heat treated at a lower temp. than 10v. So it is pretty much the same as the A11 grade but different in a few small details. It is hard to tell the difference between CPM 10v and BU K390 in the real world in my experience. I like both grades and they are the base line (along with Vanadius 10 and K294) from which I measure wear resistance. The 5 chrome is there to make them all air hardening among other things and does not contribute much to corrosion resistance. It is going to make a killer knife in the new offering and be another classic. Phil”

On my Urban, K390 has proven to be very tough. It is my main travelling folder. And it is a real wolf under sheep’skin. One of the little home test I got is by removing the metal around a bottle of wine’s cork. Most of the time, the knife edge is bent and shows some shining due to miss alignement but not with K390. The steel feels like plastic. On my three knives, the Pingo got the most stout blade and less pointy. This little knife is simply used very hard with zero damage to the edge: digging in wood, cut into staples, scrapping various paints and plastic. So far, even if the steel is not stainless, a mild patina has protected it from real rust.

So what do we got ? A tough blade which keeps its sharpness for a very long time. A forgiving edge which can be used by clumsy hands with no after thoughts.
The side effects are: the need of diamonds and ceramics to keep it razor.
Once convexed to me taste, I use white ceramic and some stropping just to get it mirror.

We definitively needs more knives in K390 !

 

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Folders, Review

A Spirit In a Material World: Sting, The Police.

3 Comments

Like I have said in my previous review of that venerable folding knife :
It has taken me a very long time before to get any interest in the Police model.

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My first real step in the wide Spyderco world was the Terzuola Starmate and the Millie. The Starmate was equipped with some super new steel the CPMS60V named CPM440V then. It was the beginning of the powder steels and Spyderco was experimenting on a bold plateforme even using (like the Millie) hidden nested liners !

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The actual Police with its “non nested” liners is thinner than the Terzuola C55.

Steel wise:
Meanwhile in the 90’s, new Japanese steel VG-10 was used on their first fixed blade “the Moran” and the Seki made Police was then “stuck in GIN-1 or GIN-2″… Ah, I was and I’m still a “steel whore” (a term of self qualification of Sal Glesser) after all. I was unfaithful and really attracted by M2HSS version of the AFCK…  Not for the patina (as they were PVD covered) but for the benefits of getting a thin pointy blade with more lateral strength than usual stainless steels of that time. As much as I loved the AFCK, the long version BM800 was “plagued” by a titanium linerlock which was less solid than the short version with its stainless liners.
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I have later used (a lot) an “oval hole” BM806 with a much stronger lock and D2 tool steel blade.

K390 is a wonderful steel. Strong even not as strong as CPM3V found in the Tuff. I have used the 4th Police as an Ice pick with no fear of breakage.

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Like the famous Opinel: thin blades are such a joy to use. A super K390 gives strength to a thin ground blade and turns the “old LEO tool” into a workhorse designed for ranchers. I was disappointed the Spyderco Powerlock was not used in the new Police but, well, the Police feels so solid: I can’t complain.

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Now I would do a maximum of lobbyism to get a Nilakka Sprint Run using K390. This steel used is purely a pleasure to keep razor sharp only by stropping it on leather.

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Now for the con, I have found the grind is not really even. There is some sort of wave on both side of the blade. I have found it when I was convexing the edge and on light reflexion. This is purely cosmetic.
Let’s keep in mind, K390 is certainly a very hard steel to work on. I have noticed the same waving on my Pingo…

Anyway I can explain now that passionated new love for that venerable knife. It is too long to be acceptable for the Law abide citizen but, what a great tool ! It is much better than my beloved K2: less hot spots and much better blade design from Sal.

This is the same kind of love I got with the extraordinary Bowie from Ed Schempp which shares the same thinness blade wise. I would militate for a K390 Bowie sprint run ! But it seems “Made In Taiwan” sprint runs are rare.

Thinness is good ! Look at that Strudel ! 😉

Here we got a “potentially staining” steel with great (extraordinary) qualities enhanced by a thin thin blade and thin thin geometry saved by a great heat treatment, all is delivered in a slim rock solid package hence the Steel Cheetah’s nickname from my initial review.
This 4th incarnation is an outstanding heir of a great 1980’s design. Sal Glesser is pushing the limits of folding cutlery quietly and gently:
“Integrity is being good when no one is watching.” Such an inheritance !

Folders, Review

Spyderco Police C07GP4 – The Steel Cheetah.

7 Comments

“The original Police model was a response to a request from Police for a Mariner with a point. I saw that as an opportunity to create a new design that was closer to what I personally liked. I thought to call it “LaSalle”, but in the end, i pushed the ego out and called it the Police model. As the design evolved, details changed and from those changes I was able to see what I didn’t like and went from there. As you said, it was decades in the development.”
Sal Glesser

I remember one of the very first advertising of the Clip It collection of Spyderco. The Police was presented in its stainless handle serrated edge version of that time (80’s…) and it was written something like: “Pure Performance” … The cheetah is a good example of incredible fast and lean animal and as this knife, it is thin and light and totally performance oriented.

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The venerable Police model designed by Sal Glesser is at its 4th version. Born in the early 80’s it is now part of Spyderco’s Legendary knives. I remember seeing some models with “Pride Integrity and Guts” engraved on their blade: they were the very first. This knife can be spotted in so many Hollywood movies, mostly in the hands of bad guys and even in the excellent classical Spike Jonze’s musical video for the Beastie Boys: Sabotage ! The stainless serrated hollow ground blade was really catching the lights hence it’s success for a dramatic entry in various films !

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I was never a real fan of the first 3 versions of the Police models even if I recognized it has a valuable tool. In my book, the Tantaka was the true heir of those years. The fourth version caught my eye as it was promoting a new steel the KC390.

Many times I had noticed some vertical play on “Made In Japan” folders from Spyderco and decided to buy one if only I could test it before.
But this one came from a Massdrop sale and I was very happy to get one with zero blade play in any direction. Mine feels solid and knowing how strong a good backlock is, this flat long folder is really impressive. So it was about time to review this venerable classic folder which is delivered with a plain edge only and K390 … but why choosing a “staining “steel high performance steel when the Police as always been serrated and stainless ?

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“We make quite a few designs for the Law Enforcement market at this time, so the design for Police use is (not?) necessarily the case anymore, like it was in 1984. I designed the Police 4 to include what I would like in a knife, more than what a LEO might like. It’s still a kissing cousin, and large for most people. I widened the blade, enlarged the hole and selected a steel that I like to use. The design’s success in the marketplace is unknown at this time. But I get to have one. ” Sal Glesser on Spyderco Forums in 2016.

 

Also the blade is perfectly centered. The construction is the same as my Endura and Delica, sandwiching the steel liners with the handle material. Here it’s black G10 on skeletonized liners: the knife doesn’t feel heavy at all but very well balanced and fast in the hands.

The long flat blade is still intimidating while deployed. Let’s see some comparaison pictures. Notice the black could of forming patina in the middle.

Here with Ed Schempp’s Bowie which is one of the best blade/handle ratio folder in the Spyderco collection, full flat ground versus high saber flat ground. The Bowie has been convexed to my taste. The large choil on the police is confortable though.

Here compared to the wonderful Manly Peak, another thin backlock lightsaber. The Manly has not been really convexed; it is really thin ground ! With its S90V blade, better edge/handle ratio and zero blade play construction, it is a real contender to the fourth version of the Police.

They share the same thin stock blade. The Manly (on the right) is even pushing the envelop a little further by proposing hidden nested liners for the same handle thickness.

It is obvious the Delica and the Police are sharing the same DNA even if the Delica main difference is the absence of real choil to choke up the blade. I have both in tip down carry position for easy spyderdrops opening. Here is the Knifecenter special edition of the Delica.

The Delica still got the Boy indentation on the lock when the Police is now leaner. This raffinement has never made a real difference to me. The spring on the Police model is quite strong actually so no worry about unlocking it will chocking the handle.

Here you can notice how longer the Millie handle is compared to the Police. Also the belly of the Millie is much more pronounced. I think now the Police 4 has been also designed to be used while wearing gloves (one of the Military plusses). Both finger holes are equally wide with a very pronounced blade’s hump. The Police’s choil is even wider than the Millie’s !

Also the Military blade is thicker as is its handle. The Police is perhaps more “urban” oriented: it is a large folder easy to wear with any suits.

Here you can admire how the Police is a steel cheetah: lean and mean. The clip was mounted that way and I was tempted to add a deep carry clip but eventually, the spyderdrop is the more handy way to open that large folder so the clip is now mounted near the pivot.

This thin blade enhanced by a great steel (K390) is pushing that venerable model to new heights. We are far from the serrated hollow ground model of the 80’s which was respecting special requirements from the LEO. “It was designed to have an as large as possible blade built into a thin, equally sized handle. Because of this, Save and Serve professionals continue buying the Police Model as an essential tool for their trade.”
From Spydiwiki.

It is a flat and elegant design with a very clever purpose: to insert easily the knife inside the pocket when tip down carried.

Some sanding was required to get the handle even smoother for easier pocketing.
Aerodynamism is one thing, pocketodynamism is another.

Again, never breath that dust it is toxic for your lungs.
“”The benefits of G-10 as a handle material are many. It can support a building, be drilled and sawed. It’s doesn’t retain heat or cold, shuns chemicals, discoloration and peeling. “

And that makes it long folder which can easily be pocketed. Carried tip down, the handle shape pushes my wallet away  when inserted and allow very quick and positive spyderdrop openings. They are four positions to mount the clip on the Police since the 3rd version in 2008.

Next step, with some diamonds, it was time to reprofile the blade to a Manly Peak level and to thin the edge by “deshouldering”. Not an easy task as K390 is a bear to sharpen.

The occasion to picture the blade before to scratch it.

The light reflections on the blade shows it has already started a mild patina while being stored.

K390 develops naturally a beautiful patina like storm clouds. Here is the Police with my Pingo and Urban.

Funny how it is hard to catch on photography but the Urban got the convexed grind I want to achieve for the Police. Both knives are signed by Sal Glesser’s logo.

I have check how the patina was easy to remove before going back to sharpening.

Here you can see the dust formed by the diamonds of a DC4.
K390 is a very wear resistant steel…

 


Here what Phil Wilson said about it in the Spyderco Forums:
“I have been using K390 from the start ever since it was introduced by Bohler and I got some small samples to try. A bit of history is that it is the European version of CPM 10V but not the exact chemistry (about 1% less V plus small addition of a few others). That is because the CPM 10V chemistry was protected by patent at the time. If you check the K390 data sheet it claims that the bit less V gives K 390 a little boost in impact toughness. It also can be heat treated at a lower temp. than 10v. So it is pretty much the same as the A11 grade but different in a few small details. It is hard to tell the difference between CPM 10v and BU K390 in the real world in my experience. I like both grades and they are the base line (along with Vanadius 10 and K294) from which I measure wear resistance. The 5 chrome is there to make them all air hardening among other things and does not contribute much to corrosion resistance. It is going to make a killer knife in the new offering and be another classic. Phil”

So slowly it is deshouldered but I will be obliged to go back to the blade later. It is, for me, like painting a ceiling… I always come back for another layer… 😉

All right, the performance are already promising. The plastic Bottle Butt is as thick as the blade itself but it has been able to got through it right in the middle. Again, zero blade play on that huge folder: very happy.  Same punition for the bottle neck. The Police shows how powerful it is and that the recipe of “thin blade + super steel” is always a winner for high performance knives. More to come, as this one is going to be user !

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I have mounted a deep carry clip from Blade4sell.

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Folders, Review

Pingo Blue C163PBL K390 Exclusive Edge Matters Edition

6 Comments

My first (black) Pingo was almost 6 years ago. Since, Pascal has reviewed his (orange) Pingo… in his entertaining review Pingo Star !
I got the opportunity to get a very rare beast: a blue Pingo with K390 steel blade and studs to mask the tiny trademark hole and protect it from lint.

First I have noticed is the very firm and strong spring in this one, much stronger than my previous version. It is not the easiest opener with stud which is good as it keeps up its legal character: this is a two hands opening knife which can be open with a painful thumb. 😀

Now about the steel K390 is known to me as a friendly steel. I call it an hyper steel !

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
C Si Mn Cr Mo V W Co
2.47 0.55 0.40 4.20 3.80 9.00 1.00 2.00

The numbers are talking for themselves !!
This is not a stainless steel with carbides forms from Vanadium, Tungsten and Chrome (which is not used for stainless purpose here)…
It will get a patina very quick on daily use (especially eating and cutting meat) and this patina will protect the steel even better. It will show some character in its legality.

What a beautiful tool ! It will be a beater as he name will be Bluebeat !

“Gazing into the heavens on a night as clear as ice
We held our breath
As a new jewel glistens in the Belt of Orion
Out to the west
And parked up on the ridge between all the different lands
I feel I’ve always been here
Do we go back to the city, back to the lights
To the unforgiven world or on into the night
Where there’s always something new to fall in love with
Searching after something new to fall in love with
There’s always got to be something new to fall in love with…”

Bluebeat New Model Army.

So again Spyderco has provided a non locking sub 3 inches spyder with one of the best super “engine” available hence the fun of using it hard!

It can disappear in the watch pocket. There is no reason to leave it behind !

Of course I needed to convex the edge a great deal as I know how stable this alloy is on thin edge. So no fears in making a real blue razor from it.

Folders, Photos

Spyderco C127PGY Urban K390 – Lil’Grey Alien armed with Hyper Steel.

12 Comments

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Mostly knives company gives the best steel to there flagship models but again Spyderco create the surprise in bringing a 1200 pieces sprintrun of their lightweight Urban slipjoint folder with the best of the best of the cold tool steel: the Austrian Swedish-made Bohler K390.

The steel is a third generation powder steel and to quote them:
“Just as mountaineers need the best equipment to conquer the highest peaks, it‘s essential to use the best materials for your tooling to ensure trouble-free production and achieve outstanding tool life. Three reasons why BÖHLER K390 MICROCLEAN is highly cost effective: Extremely high wear resistance, excellent toughness and very high compressive strength. The high-performance powder-metallurgy steel BÖHLER K390 MICROCLEAN is a reliable solution for your difficult cutting, die-cutting and cold forming operations, and it has a very good track record for applications in the plastics industry.”


Phil Wilson has been using it and he’s known for getting the best of super steels.
“I have been using K390 from the start ever since it was introduced by Bohler and I got some small samples to try. A bit of history is that it is the European version of CPM 10V but not the exact chemistry (about 1% less V plus small addition of a few others). That is because the CPM 10V chemistry was protected by patent at the time. If you check the K390 data sheet it claims that the bit less V gives K 390 a little boost in impact toughness. It also can be heat treated at a lower temp. than 10v. So it is pretty much the same as the A11 grade but different in a few small details. It is hard to tell the difference between CPM 10v and BU K390 in the real world in my experience. I like both grades and they are the base line (along with Vanadius 10 and K294) from which I measure wear resistance. The 5 chrome is there to make them all air hardening among other things and does not contribute much to corrosion resistance. It is going to make a killer knife in the new offering and be another classic. Phil”  On the Spyderco forums.

So one of the best steel is available on a slipjoint the C127.
It’s almost the same cockpit as the Squeak, the blade is a tad under three inches with a full flat ground blade. The backspace is in stainless steel and is used as main spring and the handle are FRN: fiber reinforced nylon. A generous choil gives you security as the blade cannot close on your finger. It’s the same idea as on the C36 Military you hold the open folder by the blade so there is less stress on the pivot. The hump and the choil work as the quillons of a boot dagger. It means also you can give a lot of power into your cuts.

The C127 is modest. This is not the K2. The Urban is a gentleman knife legal in many places. If it was a car, it would not be a Landrover but a Mini.
But here the Mini is turned into a mini Cooper with a very powerful prepared engine as the steel is the chore of the knife.
Again steel is nothing without a good heat treating and without a great geometry adapted to the steel.
And my C127 arrived with a very thin edge. The Maniago naufacturer seems to be very good lately in the way it provide good edges to its blade. Like the Elmax Squeak I was able to cut through the bottle butts with ease and control. The knife cut precisely with not a great amount of force, this is always a pleasure to fill the thick center crossed without the rest of the bottle to collapse due to too much strenght.

Now K390 is not stainless and it suppose to develop a patina. This is good news as it will gives to the knife a lot of character by turning it full grey !

It’s not the first time that Spyderco equipped his FRN knives with the best exotic super duper steel. It was the case with CPM110V on the Blue Manix 2 FRN and the Blue Native FRN . K390 is going also on another flagship: it will equiped the 4th edition of the Police Model. I had the chance to handle it yesterday at the Minimeet and this is going to be a great big folder with a lot of cutting power (Full flat ground large blade) on a sturdy construction (I just regret the did not bring the Power Lock on the Police model, but this is just me…).

For my European fellow have found easily the knife for 77 euros shipping included.
You can use the search functions and do your math and have the chance to try K390 on a very low profile plateform.
I have since mounted Cuscadi Carbon Fibers on this little gem.