Thoughts on the Sage 4?

M

MassMatt

Joined
Apr 2, 2006
Messages
741
this one honors Al Mar, whose knives I admired in magazines back in the 80's but could never afford as a poor student.

Checked the past several pages, didn't see any threads on this--what do people think of the design? I hope people will post pics and reviews once they get them.
 
It's funny you say this. I have all three of the others but haven't really heard much hype around the fourth iteration of the series. It's not that I don't want it, but it's hard justifying the cost of a decent, not great knife at that price. I'm looking forward to see what people have to say; good thread.
 
The Sage4 is a great knife, it's a classy gentleman's folder that incorporates a lot of current knife tech. I have all 4 Sages (so far) and the Sage1 & Sage4 are the two I pick from for dressy occasions. Mine is very solid feeling with no blade play even after it has broken in a bit. Out of the box is was very stiff and hard to open but slowly it has loosened up. The titanium bolsters scratch very easily but I find this adds character. As other people have found the liners are on the sharp side but I haven't bothered to do anything about it. The Sage3 is my favourite of the series but the Sage1 & Sage4 fight it out for 2nd place.

DSCN4438resized-L.jpg


DSCN4311resized-L.jpg


DSCN4348resized-L.jpg


DSCN4302resized-L.jpg


DSCN4341resized-L.jpg


DSCN4361resized-L.jpg
 
Thanks for the great pix--I didn't even know they'd been released yet. This does seem to be generating less buzz than the previous Sage releases but maybe it will build.

I am kind of a completist so it will be hard for me to resist getting. Interesting they went w/ wood on this generation. I always associated Al Mar with micarta, which I remember articles discussing as kind of novel back in the day though I'm sure it goes back further than that.
 
nothing beats the warm feel of wood. i "wood" have wanted more wood and less cold metal bolsters to grip but that wood:metal ratio is just about al mar-ish.
 
I'm sure I'll pick one up eventually. The Mar/McBurnette front lock was the one I was looking forward to the most out the whole series, until I saw the initial pictures. Titanium bolsters? Why? Just to make it more expensive? And that row of screws right down the centerline of the handle, I suspect Al is rolling over in his grave over that. I suspect this one will see as much pocket time as my Sage 2, which is zip.
 
At first the 4 didnt do much for me. But now its growing on me. I may have to get one. :D
 
computernut said:
The Sage4 is a great knife, it's a classy gentleman's folder that incorporates a lot of current knife tech. I have all 4 Sages (so far) and the Sage1 & Sage4 are the two I pick from for dressy occasions. Mine is very solid feeling with no blade play even after it has broken in a bit. Out of the box is was very stiff and hard to open but slowly it has loosened up. The titanium bolsters scratch very easily but I find this adds character. As other people have found the liners are on the sharp side but I haven't bothered to do anything about it. The Sage3 is my favourite of the series but the Sage1 & Sage4 fight it out for 2nd place.
Click to expand...

Interesting - this leaves the Sage2 dead last? Kinda funny - for all the talk about the sage2 being an affordable CRK - it is also my least favorite. But its not that bad, since I still have one :thumbup:
 
too bad they didn't make the sage 2 with a stainless steel insert on the lock bar. otherwise, i would add it to my total titanium poundage. it's trying to match the titanium reserves of a small country. :D
 
Here's mine...

Sage4_left.JPG

... have to admit that I have seriously mixed emotions about it. On the one hand, it's yet another example of the excellent craftsmanship the folks in Taichung have come to be known for. It's also the only one of the Sage series that I'll carry. The first two were wrong handed and blue G-10 just doesn't appeal to me while the midlock is my favorite lock. On the other hand, it's one of the most frustratingly, infuriatingly, "if only" knives that I own because it would have been a truly beautiful knife "if only" the bolsters were not disfigured by screw heads and the scales buggered up with clip mounting gouges.
 
I finially aquired a Sage 4. Big fan of mid-locks and have wanted one of these since they came out...price finially got right for a NIB one.
Isn't she nice?
Sage4.jpgSage4a.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top