I think I'm turning into a collector, looking at getting a medium priced Spydie?

M

mastiffhound

Joined
Dec 27, 2013
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I've become quite smitten with Spyderco, and yes I'm looking at ordering another Spyderco this week. No wife + No kids= Disposable income. I don't eat out at fancy places. I'm not really a drinker either. The only project I have right now is fixing up a police interceptor that belonged to my departed brother, it's just too cold for that right now though. So I've come to collecting Spyderco's, it could be worse.

I'm going to state this right off, I have no love for slick on one side frame locks or any knife that comes half (or completely) smooth. I consider them half dangerous or half safe, either way my hands earn my money and that simply won't do. I wan't traction, plain and simple. A finger guard isn't a bad thing either. I wan't something a little nicer this time though. So here's what I'm looking at:

Sage 3 Carbon Fiber/G-10 Laminate- How much traction do they have compared to say the G-10 on the PM2 or Manix 2? The grip length looks close to the Delica but wider from spine to front at the top of the grip, which would solve the one problem I have with the Delica. My pointer finger just doesn't curl enough to get good purchase on the thin part of the scale. Is this correct? I've seen people here liken the lock to the Manix 2 which I like a whole lot, is this true? The one big upside that I keep reading is that Taiwan made Spydies are the best for fit and finish, is this true?

Dialex Junior- It has the Compression Lock which I love! Even though the handle depth from spine to front looks the same as the Delica the extreme finger guard would keep any forward movement from happening. The thing that's holding me back is the perceived quality. It's made in Japan, like a whole bunch of other lower priced Spydies. Not that it's a bad thing, but Taiwan and USA made folders are thought of as being better here it seems. It also has VG10 steel, (a good steel no doubt) it's just not viewed by most here as being as good as S30V from what I've gathered. The Junior also costs more than a PM2 and Manix 2, which seems to be a benchmark for what most people here think is a good or even great user/EDC folder. Am I missing something about the Junior?

Sage 1 Carbon Fiber- Same as the Sage 3 but with the Liner Lock. Are the carbon fiber scales textured or are they smooth, I just can't tell. The Liner Lock is the only thing about the Sage 1 that I don't like, but it's not a deal breaker. It's also made in Taiwan, which I went over on the Sage 3. I like the look and overall size, the Sage series seems to have something for everyone.

I'd like to hear your experience if you have or had one of the above Spydies. Do you use it/carry it regularly? Do you still like it as much as when you got it? Would you buy it again? Right now the Sage 3 is the front runner, it just calls to me. I really like the Junior a lot, I'm just not sure it's worth it. It costs very close to what the Sage 3 costs. It seems to be less bang for your buck than the Sage series? The Sage 1 is very nice, you get a lot for money. The Liner Lock is the one thing that I'm not stoked about. The other two have lock systems that I just like much more. As always, thanks for the input and help!
 
Only one out of those I have is sage 1. It is an awesome edc and I carry it quite often. The scales are lightly textured and feel like weave carbon fiber.
 
I've now ruled out the Junior. I can't justify it to myself no matter how hard I try. Paying around the same price as the other two for what most consider lesser materials just doesn't make sense to me. After reading all I can here I've come to the conclusion that the Sage 1 and 3 are just better. I wish they made more folders with the Compression Lock. I saw somewhere that a Sage with the Compression Lock is in the works, if that happens I'm in.

As I was typing this I've come to the decision to get the Sage 3 and just ordered it. It will be a great companion to both my Manix 2s. National Knives has a crackin' good price on them right now at $124.99. Plus they ship out faster, use shipping that costs the same as everyone else but is able to be tracked the whole way (instead of the worry that your order has been stolen because you haven't seen an update for days), and it's a small business to boot! I'm going to be very unhappy if it beats the Stretch I ordered last week to my mailbox, if that happens it might keep me away from that particular retailer. Thanks for all your help guys!

P.S.- I think I might be done for awhile, nothing else really catches my fancy. A Compression Lock Sage or a smaller PM2 (I still think "Spyderco Militia" has a nice ring) would be next but who knows when that might happen. I remember to post some pics when I get it in.
 
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I love my Dialex Junior. Disappears into pocket and has quite a bit of blade for its overall size and weight. The fact that you can cut on surfaces without finger interference is nice too (feels a bit like a small kitchen knife). But, the small girth of the grip can create slightly odd holding angle, but I get used to it easily. It is not for everyone... but has grown on me.

Fit and finish is nothing to worry about! I'm surprised you were concerned...
Many of the Japanese produced Spydercos are classics and have been around a long time, some of which are my favorites.

I was going to email you, but you have it disabled... the Junior can be had for $96 new on a trading post website from Cheyenne, WY with coupon codes...


The Sage series is Spydercos platform to showcase all of their different locks, so there will be many to come I would guess. Although sounds like compression lock version is like 2 away at earliest. But, might see a new lil Temp, and maybe a smaller PM2...?

You also just missed out on the $100 Yojimbo 2's on KW... which is a must have if you like Compression lock and is pretty much the definition of ergonomics.



Pretty drastic differences in knife criteria you're looking at though, between Junior and Sages.
Maybe look at a Domino if you want Taiwan build next, and I've seen you writing about how much you like your Manix 2....
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
I'm a die hard Sage 1 fan. However, Surf hit it right. You need to consider the GB. It's got what you want.
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If you want HEFT and BEEF, it's got all of that, clad in a bit of CF too, lol. :D
Again, drastically different category of knife though!
But that said, I doubt mastiffhound would be disappointed. Everyone should have one.
 
I own the Sage 3 and it's a little larger in the handle then the sage 1. I have grown to love the Bolt action lock. You will love this knife. Great choice IMO.
 
Here's my PM2 with honey comb scales and deep pocket titanium clip. I carry it in a custom made right hand cross draw sheath. Good grip, fast deployment easy retraction.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424323234.335972.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424323262.938787.jpg
 
I'll second the GB praise. Easily my top knife. And it got that spot the second I took it out of the box. It's a tough mo'suckra with gorgeous ergos for all sorts of grip positions. The blade is a full belly beast, and it carries super well for a knife its size. And the M4 steel is nothing short of impressive.

I didn't WANT to like it. But I do. And it goes fifty-fifty with all my other knives combined for pocket time.

In my opinion, it's THE Spyderco.

EpHX83G.jpg
 
Screwloose said:
I own the Sage 3 and it's a little larger in the handle then the sage 1. I have grown to love the Bolt action lock. You will love this knife. Great choice IMO.
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EyeDog said:
Here's my PM2 with honey comb scales and deep pocket titanium clip. I carry it in a custom made right hand cross draw sheath. Good grip, fast deployment easy retraction.
View attachment 516597
View attachment 516598
Click to expand...

I ended picking the Sage 3 because the handle was a little larger, I like a full grip.

I have the PM2 already, it was my second purchase after the Delica. Here's the list of what I have in the order of purchase:

Delica 4
Para Military 2
Tenacious
Manix 2 G-10 Satin finish
Manix 2 G-10 Black DLC blade
Stretch FRN VG10 (in the mail!)
Sage 3 Carbon Fiber (in the mail)
Sharpmaker(also in the mail)

I looked at the Bradley but the lack of protection to keep my pointer finger from sliding forward is kind of a no go for a folder I might use. I might still end up with it though, but only as a collector knife. I'll get a couple pics up when the Stretch and Sage 3 come in with the rest of the gang for sure. The only knife left that I have a slight interest in is the Yojimbo 2. I probably won't buy anything else till march or the mid year catalog update, that's only if something new comes out that I just gotta have. If nothing strikes my fancy by then a Sage 1, Bradley, or Yo2 will probably be what I get next. They are recommended so often that I might have to try them.
 
I'm not sure that the GB lacks that kind of protection for your lead finger. The choil isn't any shallower than the 50/50 choil on the PM2. But I suppose if you would never feel comfortable using the 50/50 choil on the Manix or the PM2, you're not going to feel comfortable using the GB.

But to be fair to the designer, he made it to be a hard use knife, so I trust the design. :)
 
Yeah the GB is definitely meant for doing work, not "collecting" dust.
Sounds like you need to hang on to one. It will feel much more significant in your hand than any Sage. I was amazed at first. The proud liners actually add a bit more grip over flush ones. And I haven't weighed it, but I think the GB is quite a bit heavier than my old hefty Manix 2 with the non-skeletonized liners and saber ground 154 blade. I do slightly prefer lighter to mid-weight knives for EDC, so I don't carry my old Manix 2 or this GB often now unless I'm working outdoors or wearing my carhartt overalls or something.

All that said, there are SO many options in the Spyderco line-up that are just incredibly hard to judge until you actually see it in person and hold it and use it, before you can really grasp how it will work in your particular line-up.
If you were closer to my area I'd say let's meet up and you can get a look at some I might have that you were interested in so you can try before you buy... unless maybe you have a decent brick & mortar shop around you that deals with Spyderco.
 
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