Sage 3 thoughts?

N

nlewman

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Dec 26, 2015
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Hey all, I've been considering a sage 3. I'm in utter love with my manix xl, and I honestly did not even know spyderco made a bolt lock until a few days ago. What are your thoughts on this? Any owners have and problems or stories of greatness? Looks like a great little knife.
 
I have the blue G10 version and it's a great knife imo...I've had no issues with mine and think it's a cool choice. I haven't held the Sage 3 in CF but it looks nice as well.
 
If you watch the latest BHQ lock test vid, the Sage 3 is a bloody tank. Wow, was not expecting it to be so strong.
 
kidcongo said:
If you watch the latest BHQ lock test vid, the Sage 3 is a bloody tank. Wow, was not expecting it to be so strong.
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That's actually why I'm thinking about picking on up, haha. I saw that video and was just amazed. My manix is built like a dang tank, so that thing has to be some strong stuff.
 
Ive got the sage 1 and 2 with the 3 on the way. If the first 2 are anything to go by it should be a great knife. Ive seen that video too and am super excited about getting this bad boy.
 
I have one and love it. That level of lock strength means nothing to me, especially in a 3 inch EDC/gents folder. I own dozens of Spydies and it is probably the smoothest of them all. The fit and finish is superb and according to other forumites that is the norm. I own the Sage 2, 3 and 4. They are all great. If you get it you won't be disappointed.
 
I also own several Spydies and find the Sage 3 to be the smoothest opening and closing of them all. The lock was really stiff at first but it has loosened up and operates very well. My only complaint is that the detent is weak. I can flick the knife open without touching the blade or lock. This is not the only Spydie that I can do this with but it is by far the easiest one.
 
Yeah, like remnar mentioned; the detent is a hair weak and can be momentum opened with a wrist flick. I've never had a concern of it actually opening in-pocket, but the detent is noticeably weaker than most other models.

The Sage 3 is also a little wide when closed...

But all that said those are only very small nitpicks on an overall great knife.


Like bear was saying; that (very rudimentary) lock strength test result is great and all, but honestly this knife isn't some tank beater you'll be chucking at trees and batoning through a face cord, so it's kind of a moot point.
 
My detent is also weak. I don't fear it opening though. The detent on the bolt lock is similar to a back lock or a cbbl in that it is progressive. Detents that rely on a ball bearing detent are basically either on or off. The ball is either in the hole or it isn't and once you overcome the detent hole the blade is free to swing. The bolt lock, like a backlock, tries to pull the blade closed for at least a little bit as it opens. I like this. That said, my Sage3 is still my easiest Spydie to open without touching the blade. I tend to carry my knives with the spine against a pocket seem anyway.

What makes this lock awesome is how solid it locks up. Mine has zero play. I can bear paw almost any knife and find play but this thing is very tight. :thumbup:

It is the only Spydie that has cut me when opening. Out of the box the thumb hole split the pad of my thumb open. Nothing major or anything but I had to knock the edge down with the corner of a sharpening stone. I actually really like crisp holes but that one was too crisp.

This is me seriously nitpicking a knife that easily in my top ten.

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The Sage 3 does not have a detent. More like the initial resistance to opening with back locks, except the spring pushing on the bar provides a weaker initial force than the lock bar spring system on a lock back (most lock backs)

I have the original blue one and it is an awesome knife. I've used it quite a bit and hard used it. Mine too was stiff but has gotten looser and will free fall with the lock disregarded. I've had a few minor issues. I somehow got the blade stuck open once, have had rust in the lock area, and damaged the S30V edge many times. I'm not a fan of S30V though. Overall it's an awesome little knife.
 
I love my Sage 3, it's my Church/Dress knife. My family always passes it around when they see I'm carrying it. It got passed around at a recent wedding reception when someone noticed my nephew looking at it. It was hard to keep track of it as it went from one person to the next, even the ladies liked it. To use one of my brother's favorite sayings, "It got slammed more than a screen door". The bride even liked it, and asked if I got a Spydie for her or her new hubby. No dice though, I got her 6 gel mats for her kitchen (she's the type of woman that spends most of her time in the kitchen and loved the mats I got for my Mother). They ran $60 a piece, she forgave me pretty quickly when she opened their gift from me.

Now as far as that pesky weak blade retention when closed, I worried about it when I first got it too. It opens easier than any other folder I have, by a ton really. I got mine through National Knives (my favorite dealer and a site sponsor, he's a one man show small business) and the owner looked at all his examples and they all were the same. Some forum members reassured me that it was normal. That was months ago and even though I've only carried it once a week really it has never opened on its own.

I have Spyderco, Sog, and Cold Steel folders. Nothing I have is as well finished and fitted as that Sage 3. It also has the smoothest operating action and lock of all my folders, honestly it's the smoothest I've ever felt. I've never handled the high end folders by Chris Reeves (or anyone else, he just came to mind), but I can't imagine anybody could make a folder operate smoother? Add to it that the lock is pretty tough (the BladeHQ vid) and the Sage 3 is pretty darn hard to beat at the price it goes for. I even thought about buying a second because I liked it so much that I wanted a backup. I still might;)

I also have a love for my Manix 2s, I had the Satin (my brother guilted it off of me) and still have the black lightweight version and the DLC Manix 2. I like them more than my PM2s. The Sage 3 is still my #1 favorite though. If you like the Manix 2 you'll like the Sage 3.

One last thing, please make more bolt action lock folders Sal!!!
 
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Ditto what everyone else has said. Super smooth, cool construction, low ride wire clip, great slicer. I've had the blue model since it was released and will probably get the cf model as it looks more classy.
 
Now I really want to get my hands on one to see how it deploys. I have a 1 and a 2, and never bought a 3 because I didn't care for the blue. (And the 4 I would only ever buy to finish the set.)

Mind you, I don't suppose I really need two CF Sages, but at least my wife would never notice if I sneaked it in on the side... ;)
 
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