Sage vs. Sebenza redux - who's got both

M

Mr. Clean

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Apr 26, 2007
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I've already got a Sebenza but need to have another Spyderco knife in rotation and would prefer to stay with framelock knives for now. Plus, the Sage knives ride low and are a bit smaller for different carry.
Does the Sage II have a similar F&F to the Sebenza? Does it have the same lock up 'snap' and strength? The washers are plastic in the Sage II correct?
Heh - too bad the Bradley doesn't have the wire clip, this would be an easy decision :D
 
The Sage II does not have the same heft or solid feeling that the large Sebenza does, at least IMO. The Sage II is well designed and aesthetically appealling, but I regard it more as a light or medium duty slicer. Its not flimsy by any means (think Lum Chinese as being on the light end of the strength scale for example), but it seems to be a notch weaker than the Sebenza when it comes to apparent strength. JMO.

Maybe get yourself a Ti Military if you want a framelock. Mine arrives tomorrow. :)
 
I don't have my Sage 2 on me but I have the Sage 1 in my pocket and the washers are PB. I've never seen a plastic or nylon washer on a Spyderco in my life but I believe they may have used them years ago.

As for the F&F on the Sage 2, I will be the first to say the F&F is top of the line. I have two and both were flawless out of the box


Where the difference "MAY" be are in tolerances and pivot design. But how much, if any, would have to be measured.

I would never try to compare the CRK to the Sage 2 apples for apples but it's my personal opinion that the Sage 2 is a qualified contender when you consider the cost difference. I LOVE my Sage 2!

Both of my Sage 2's open super smoothly and lock up rock solid with a loud clack. I'm a righty but when I open mine left handed the clack is super loud because of how the hand cups around it in the left hand.
 
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Great info guys, thanks. The search continues for a good priced Sage II then.

The military is too large unfortunately. I'm holding out for a Ti framelock paramilitary :D
 
What they wrote. I love my Sage II. It is not a Sebenza, but it is a very well-made knife, constructed from the same materials as the Sebenza, and doesn't give me small heart attacks when I misplace it. :D
 
powernoodle is right on!
I have Large & Small Sebs and the Sage II. I love my Large Regular, nothing can replace it. Sage on the other hand is a smaller knife, but fits my hand much better than any other knife, plus it's much easier to open and close.
I must say I carry the Sage more.
Two knives that fit a notch, each in their own little world:D and are :thumbup:.
 
I actually ended up getting both the I and II thanks to a couple great deals on the exchange. The Sage I came today and I'm completely impressed. Light weight, low riding clip, grippy CF, great steel, solid lock up. I think I may even prefer it, solely on a practical level, to my ex Caly 3 CFZDP blade. Which to me, says a LOT!
Great, great knife, defnitely a keeper.
 
I got a small Sebe and a Sage 2 in a multi knife trade a few weeks ago, and since the trade it is the Sebe that is my go too knife. I do like the Sage 2, FF is fantastic, with great ergo's, but in the end the small Sebe is my primary EDC, and I've yet too EDC the Sage2:eek:

Dave
 
Just got my Sage II today and while it is finished beautifully and looks like it will be a great slicer the opening action/lockup is not quite up to a Sebbie. It's very smooth and easy but doesn't deliver that bank vault lock-up like the Sebbies. Excellent quality on the Sage II but when you open a Sebbie....you know why they are THE standard.
 
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I like the super smooth and easy opening on my SageII more than my sebbies.
If anything it opens a bit to easy. Mine also had crisp to sharp edges on blade spine, so I smoothed that out with a med spyderco rod.
I think it may be the best value out there for a Ti framelock with s30v.

I carry it as much, or more than my small sebenza. It fits in between the two sebbies in size, and that is another thing I love about it.

I have a side by side, and in hand pic of the two. I'll find it and post.
IMG_3713.jpg


Blurry, but you can tell how the SageII fits hand better than small sebbie.
IMG_3715.jpg

IMG_3716.jpg
 
NDJeep said:
Just got my Sage II today and while it is finished beautifully and looks like it will be a great slicer the opening action/lockup is not quite up to a Sebbie. It's very smooth and easy but doesn't deliver that bank vault lock-up like the Sebbies. Excellent quality on the Sage II but when you open a Sebbie....you know why they are THE standard.
Click to expand...

I'm not disagreeing at all, but you can't ignore the huge difference in street price. The Sage II is a great value for an excellent knife. :thumbup:
 
The Sage 2 is a outstanding knife with oustanding f&f. I doubt there's very many $150 knives on the same level as the Sage 2. None that I have seem so far. Great materials and great f&f make for a incredible knife.
 
Ken44 said:
I like the super smooth and easy opening on my SageII more than my sebbies.
If anything it opens a bit to easy. Mine also had crisp to sharp edges on blade spine, so I smoothed that out with a med spyderco rod.
I think it may be the best value out there for a Ti framelock with s30v.
I carry it as much, or more than my small sebenza. It fits in between the two sebbies in size, and that is another thing I love about it.
I have a side by side, and in hand pic of the two. I'll find it and post.
Blurry, but you can tell how the SageII fits hand better than small sebbie.
Click to expand...

These pictures speak volumes. I love my Sebenza, it's my first 'custom-production' folder and I don't foresee ever getting rid of it. The fit and finish is 10 out of 10. The lock up, blade centering, everything is just perfect.
But -
The small Sebenza is just too small in the hand! I don't mind a smaller blade but a smaller handle just doesn't feel right.
The Sage's are well made enough to the point where you really have to start nitpicking the knife (sharp spine, sharp spyder hole, uneven grinds on the blade) and looking close. At this point you'll see what it takes to make a 9 out of 10 knife a 10 out of 10.
I've owned a few production framelocks and the Sebenza is the best, but overall value for the dollar goes to Spyderco, followed very closely by the ZT030X series knives.
I had actually sold off all my other knives, spydercos and benchmades primarily, and just EDC'd my Sebenza and Strider but the Sage brought me back to the web. You just can't deny the Spyderco value and overall product. They're just damn good knives. Which sucks in a way as I foresee a Gayle Bradley, another ParaMilitary, the Para II all in my future which adds up :D
Another thing I'd like to add is that the quality, fit and finish of these two knives (Sage I and Sage II) don't show up in pictures. I'm going to try and rectify that this weekend but they're better than the pictures show.
 
To me, and I own and like (among others) Benchmade, Chris Reeve and Emerson knives, Spyderco is arguably the industry leader in terms of both value and innovation. A Sage II will never be a Sebenza, but look at the range of locks, steels, blades, etc. that Sal & Co. offer us each year.
 
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