- Joined
- Apr 23, 2008
- Messages
- 154
I haven't found a whole lot of reviews on the Sage, so I thought I'd share my initial thoughts after about a week of carry time.
I overcame my fear of products made outside the USA, and decided I would give the Sage a chance, since I'm a huge fan of the Tenacious, and I like the way Spyderco does liner locks. Before the Sage, I had a Paramilitary, but there was considerable play in the lock so I sent it back. Then I ordered a BM Rift, and even with the Axis lock, there was still blade play (plus, it was a little too big, and a little too tactical for my liking). So, I sent that back. After comparing the Caly3 and the Sage, I decided on the Sage because it had a liner lock and open back, screw construction, plus, I thought it would be cool to give carbon fiber a shot.
Well, I must say so far I am very impressed. The CPM S30V is almost comically sharp. After a couple hours of battling cardboard boxes at home, I was still able slice paper with ease. The weaved carbon fiber handles, despite my fear of them being "gimmicky", are actually very nice, have good grip even after getting a little sweaty, and are a pleasure to handle at length. In the open position, the blade and the handle play off of each other very well, offering comfortable finger positions for a sabre grip, and for choking up on the blade.
As for the lock, there is a generous portion of the handle cut out to disengage the liner lock, which means your thumb won't get chewed up after a couple of open-close cycles. In a white knuckle test, the liner was able to be moved only slightly, and only under the most extreme pressure. The Sage also held up well in a moderate spine tap test. There is no play in the lock in any direction (I am very particular about blade play.. if I can feel even the slightest movement, and I can't get rid of it by adjusting the pivot, I'll send the knife back... to this day, Knifecenter has probably received twice as many knives from me in the form of returns than I have received from them. It's like a disease.).
Also, in case it isn't common knowledge, Sal is planning on rolling out a couple different lock variations with the Sage, and rumor has it that an integrated frame lock is next in line.
All that, and it's just a beautiful knife. Really though. I'm sort of surprised not to see more reviews on the Sage, I know that there are a lot of people out there that don't really like liner locks, but I think Spyderco does a nice job with theirs, and the carbon fiber and S30V really puts this knife over the top, in my opinion.
Let me know if you guys have any questions! Oh, and I'll try to post some pictures when I get home from work.
I overcame my fear of products made outside the USA, and decided I would give the Sage a chance, since I'm a huge fan of the Tenacious, and I like the way Spyderco does liner locks. Before the Sage, I had a Paramilitary, but there was considerable play in the lock so I sent it back. Then I ordered a BM Rift, and even with the Axis lock, there was still blade play (plus, it was a little too big, and a little too tactical for my liking). So, I sent that back. After comparing the Caly3 and the Sage, I decided on the Sage because it had a liner lock and open back, screw construction, plus, I thought it would be cool to give carbon fiber a shot.
Well, I must say so far I am very impressed. The CPM S30V is almost comically sharp. After a couple hours of battling cardboard boxes at home, I was still able slice paper with ease. The weaved carbon fiber handles, despite my fear of them being "gimmicky", are actually very nice, have good grip even after getting a little sweaty, and are a pleasure to handle at length. In the open position, the blade and the handle play off of each other very well, offering comfortable finger positions for a sabre grip, and for choking up on the blade.
As for the lock, there is a generous portion of the handle cut out to disengage the liner lock, which means your thumb won't get chewed up after a couple of open-close cycles. In a white knuckle test, the liner was able to be moved only slightly, and only under the most extreme pressure. The Sage also held up well in a moderate spine tap test. There is no play in the lock in any direction (I am very particular about blade play.. if I can feel even the slightest movement, and I can't get rid of it by adjusting the pivot, I'll send the knife back... to this day, Knifecenter has probably received twice as many knives from me in the form of returns than I have received from them. It's like a disease.).
Also, in case it isn't common knowledge, Sal is planning on rolling out a couple different lock variations with the Sage, and rumor has it that an integrated frame lock is next in line.
All that, and it's just a beautiful knife. Really though. I'm sort of surprised not to see more reviews on the Sage, I know that there are a lot of people out there that don't really like liner locks, but I think Spyderco does a nice job with theirs, and the carbon fiber and S30V really puts this knife over the top, in my opinion.
Let me know if you guys have any questions! Oh, and I'll try to post some pictures when I get home from work.
