Received my Sage 3 and Super Leaf

I waited pretty much since I got my Superhawk for the Superleaf, and I was not disappointed when I get my Superleaf last week. As described above it is very smooth with extremely good ergos and top notch fit and finish. The G-10 is quite grippy, the comp lock extremely solid with excellent blade retention and not a hint of play, and unlike the 'hawk it comes with a low ride wire clip rather than the stiffer but high riding wire clip. The blade is quite thick stock, but the edge is about .023"-.025" at the top of the bevel so it still cuts good for a very heavy duty knife. For me the ergos are the best of any folder I've tried (same as it's Superhawk brother), the knife just feels like it was made for my hand. Also, I've carried this knife with my original Manix as well as the Manix 2 and Benchmade Onslaught, and the Superleaf may end up being my best hard use folder I own. The comfort of the handle is tremendous no matter what grip I try and in some preliminary cutting on a piece of wood shows the clip won't hot spot your hand like my Manix and Manix 2, though it does move around a bit. The comp lock is one of my favorites as it combines great strength and reliability with tremendous smoothness. I compared it a bit with my onslaught and it is every bit as smooth as the Axis lock, if not smoother, with more blade retention and the blade actually swings more freely than the Onslaught when the lockbar is held open. I have tremendous confidence in the comp lock and can't see any knife related task that I would ever do hurting it. The only real gripe I can see with the Superleaf is the relatively short cutting edge, but in use I don't really picture that being too much of an issue, and I really wouldn't want to give up the choil and the excellent control it offers for more precise cutting. I am really liking the Superleaf so far, which I pretty much expected due to my like of the Superhawk, and I think I may have finally found a new go to HD knife that will displace my Manix for tough cutting most of the time. It really is a tremendous knife that builds on the Superhawk and gives people who dislike hawkbills a chance to experience one of the most ergonomic handles ever put on a folder. The cost may seem high for a VG-10 folder, but with the dollar so weak to the yen coupled with the tremendous fit and finish and quality of the knife the price is more than fair IMO. Plus, VG-10 and Spyderco's G-10 are excellent materials, I think people, including myself, sometimes get a little too caught up in the latest and greatest steels and handle materials and lose sight of the just how good VG-10 is for all around performance and ease of maintenance. I really am happy I pre ordered the Superleaf and I am surprised just how much I like it with my preference for thin blades made of fancy steels. I have a feeling that this will be in one of my pockets for a long time as my hard use folder of choice.

Mike
 
I thought about that but I felt compelled to make the statement anyway :)

RevDevil said:
The only thing being a potential issue (an a pattern if one looks at it in that way) is that Spyderco would probably not use an American steel on a knife built entirely in Japan. The cost of importing the steel and CF into that country would amp the price up and not make it worthwhile. Add to that the cost of machining the steel (CPM-S90V is an assassin on most grinding equipment).
They could however, offer the knife is say Aogami Super Blue or in ZDP-189. That would be more likely I would think.
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Correct.

JNewell said:
Just for clarity, you're comparing the SuperLeaf to the Para 2, not to the SuperHawk?





The thing, IMO/FWIW/YMMV, about the SuperLeaf (and the SuperHawk) as EDCs is that they are very big in just about every dimension. It's not only lonnnnng and thick, but "tall." It makes the Military look svelte. ;)
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The shade looks the same to me. Basic Smurf Blue, but there seems to be a semi-transparency to this iteration (ala G11) that I didn't see in the Manix 2. I'm not sure if it's the same material or not.

flash900 said:
Great photos and comparisons -- thanks!

Question: how close is the blue to that of the Blue Manix and blue Delica?
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Well stated and I agree with you.

gunmike1 said:
I waited pretty much since I got my Superhawk for the Superleaf, and I was not disappointed when I get my Superleaf last week. As described above it is very smooth with extremely good ergos and top notch fit and finish. The G-10 is quite grippy, the comp lock extremely solid with excellent blade retention and not a hint of play, and unlike the 'hawk it comes with a low ride wire clip rather than the stiffer but high riding wire clip. The blade is quite thick stock, but the edge is about .023"-.025" at the top of the bevel so it still cuts good for a very heavy duty knife. For me the ergos are the best of any folder I've tried (same as it's Superhawk brother), the knife just feels like it was made for my hand. Also, I've carried this knife with my original Manix as well as the Manix 2 and Benchmade Onslaught, and the Superleaf may end up being my best hard use folder I own. The comfort of the handle is tremendous no matter what grip I try and in some preliminary cutting on a piece of wood shows the clip won't hot spot your hand like my Manix and Manix 2, though it does move around a bit. The comp lock is one of my favorites as it combines great strength and reliability with tremendous smoothness. I compared it a bit with my onslaught and it is every bit as smooth as the Axis lock, if not smoother, with more blade retention and the blade actually swings more freely than the Onslaught when the lockbar is held open. I have tremendous confidence in the comp lock and can't see any knife related task that I would ever do hurting it. The only real gripe I can see with the Superleaf is the relatively short cutting edge, but in use I don't really picture that being too much of an issue, and I really wouldn't want to give up the choil and the excellent control it offers for more precise cutting. I am really liking the Superleaf so far, which I pretty much expected due to my like of the Superhawk, and I think I may have finally found a new go to HD knife that will displace my Manix for tough cutting most of the time. It really is a tremendous knife that builds on the Superhawk and gives people who dislike hawkbills a chance to experience one of the most ergonomic handles ever put on a folder. The cost may seem high for a VG-10 folder, but with the dollar so weak to the yen coupled with the tremendous fit and finish and quality of the knife the price is more than fair IMO. Plus, VG-10 and Spyderco's G-10 are excellent materials, I think people, including myself, sometimes get a little too caught up in the latest and greatest steels and handle materials and lose sight of the just how good VG-10 is for all around performance and ease of maintenance. I really am happy I pre ordered the Superleaf and I am surprised just how much I like it with my preference for thin blades made of fancy steels. I have a feeling that this will be in one of my pockets for a long time as my hard use folder of choice.

Mike
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Thanks, Gramps and to all the others.

I've never handled a SuperHawk so this is a new one for me and the SuperLeaf has pleasantly surprised me a great deal. This one caught me off guard as far as how much I like it.

Gramps said:
Very nice Rick !

- regards
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Great pics and details, thanks! I want both of these soon, but just ordered a Persian 2 so that will have to hold me for a few days;)
 
Well these reviews and pictures of the Superleaf kinda ruin it for me but in a good way. I have one inbound that should be here within the week. Can't wait till it gets here especially now after this post.
 
OK, I've carried the SuperLeaf for two days now and it carries as well as it functions. Fantastic! The Spyderco wire pocket clip rocks as always and the knife carries DEEP. Nice ;) Sliding your hand into the pocket for something besides the knife encounters nothing but smooth. No blood drawn at all nor any snags.
 
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Reeek said:
Thanks, Gramps and to all the others.

I've never handled a SuperHawk so this is a new one for me and the SuperLeaf has pleasantly surprised me a great deal. This one caught me off guard as far as how much I like it.
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Next, to figure out whether the CF scales from the SH will fit the SL! :cool:
 
Thank you for the photos, they are great.

On the SageIII - How is your bolt lock? Is it one finger easy, like the Axis? Or two finger?
 
It is much easier to disengage that the CBL. Yes, it can be opened one fingered. Just a tad more tension than the Axis but easily doable. I did it several times. It bound just a hair one-fingered but a tiny bit of Mil Tec 1 or just some good old fashioned break in will likely resolve that just fine. It works.

I like the lock more than the CBL but I'm not versed on the difference in reliability between each.

It also took a little getting used to pulling straight back rather than down at an angle compared to the CBL.

It works great with the thumb and index finger though.
 
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