Blown Away - Sage 5 LW

[M Sea]

I have caught a little well deserved but good natured criticism for my enthusiasm of knives here a few times, and I get it. I do, I love knives, especially Spyderco’s BUT...I am completely blown away how smooth the action is and how perfect the fit/finish is on this new Sage 5 LW that came today. Its absolutely perfect. So happy with this one. I love it.

[benben]

Great pics! I for one enjoy every knife pic you post!

[MFlovejp]

Couldn’t agree more about the Sage 5 LW, it really surprised me. A true sleeper!

[M Sea]

Great pics! I for one enjoy every knife pic you post!

Ha, thanks. So Warstein’s enthusiasm for the Chap had me take a chance on it. He was right about all of it, 100%. I liked the Chap alot, especially the blade shape. I was impressed how it went through the weekly cardboard pile so easily so I ordered the Sage 5 LW and am even more impressed and the fidget factor is off the charts with the compression lock and how smooth it is. Spydie flicks like a dream!

[M Sea]

Couldn’t agree more about the Sage 5 LW, it really surprised me. A true sleeper!

Absolutely!! It’s already up there with the Military and the Chef as a favorite Spyderco. How this knife flies a little below the radar is beyond me. Wow, its just that good.

[JMM]

It's my favourite LW model from any series, I put Micarta scales on mine and I like it even more. :)

[curlyhairedboy]

Definitely a fantastic contender for the title of best EDC all arounder!

[M Sea]

It's my favourite LW model from any series, I put Micarta scales on mine and I like it even more. :)

Oh wow, bet thats sweet!!

[M Sea]

Definitely a fantastic contender for the title of best EDC all arounder!

Agreed!!!

[Wartstein]

Ha, thanks. So Warstein’s enthusiasm for the Chap had me take a chance on it. He was right about all of it, 100%. I liked the Chap alot, especially the blade shape. I was impressed how it went through the weekly cardboard pile so easily so I ordered the Sage 5 LW and am even more impressed and the fidget factor is off the charts with the compression lock and how smooth it is. Spydie flicks like a dream!

Glad I was not wrong and you obviously like the Chap as much as I do (or almost as much, since I R E A L L Y like it )

Now the Sage 5 LW has a similar shape as the Chap, but is still in many aspects a very different knife for me (blade stock thickness, lock...) - but what indeed IS similar to the Chap: The Sage 5 also is a prime example for a spyderco-ish perfectly designed folder that totally makes sense. Said it often before: In the small comp.lock knife arena the Sage 5 for me is the "clearly better Para 3", and I so hope that in the future the former will get all the variants instead of the latter.

Some aspects why I think the Sage 5 is so perfectly thought through for a small folder:

1.) Ergos: In the Sage the downside of the handle (where the fingers sit) is made as long as possible, with no hook or other space restricting features at the handle end. Important in small knives imho, so one can still get a good four finger grip behind the choil in order to offer two good grip options.
2.) Bladestock: Really sturdy (3mm, like for example in the much larger Endura) but not overly and unnecessarily thick for a small folder (2.5 mm would be even better though)
3.) Leaf shaped blade: This is totally subjective, but for me the leaf shape and by that a bit taller blade is great in small folders

[M Sea]

Ha, thanks. So Warstein’s enthusiasm for the Chap had me take a chance on it. He was right about all of it, 100%. I liked the Chap alot, especially the blade shape. I was impressed how it went through the weekly cardboard pile so easily so I ordered the Sage 5 LW and am even more impressed and the fidget factor is off the charts with the compression lock and how smooth it is. Spydie flicks like a dream!

Glad I was not wrong and you obviously like the Chap as much as I do (or almost as much, since I R E A L L Y like it )

Now the Sage 5 LW has a similar shape as the Chap, but is still in many aspects a very different knife for me (blade stock thickness, lock...) - but what indeed IS similar to the Chap: The Sage 5 also is a prime example for a spyderco-ish perfectly designed folder that totally makes sense. Said it often before: In the small comp.lock knife arena the Sage 5 for me is the "clearly better Para 3", and I so hope that in the future the former will get all the variants instead of the latter.

Some aspects why I think the Sage 5 is so perfectly thought through for a small folder:

1.) Ergos: In the Sage the downside of the handle (where the fingers sit) is made as long as possible, with no hook or other space restricting features at the handle end. Important in small knives imho, so one can still get a good four finger grip behind the choil in order to offer two good grip options.
2.) Bladestock: Really sturdy (3mm, like for example in the much larger Endura) but not overly and unnecessarily thick for a small folder (2.5 mm would be even better though)
3.) Leaf shaped blade: This is totally subjective, but for me the leaf shape and by that a bit taller blade is great in small folders

All great points. A little bit thinner blade stock would be even better!! The thing that impressed the most about this one was just how perfect/smooth the action is. Its my smoothest Spydie.

[Signalman1]

I can understand where your coming from my Sage 5 LW was my second Spyderco and today I have the sage 5 and picked up a Sage 1 because of the liner lock style which works better for me. Nice job :D
in order they were bought from L > R


Signalman :mad: :) :D

[M Sea]

I can understand where your coming from my Sage 5 LW was my second Spyderco and today I have the sage 5 and picked up a Sage 1 because of the liner lock style which works better for me. Nice job :D
in order they were bought from L > R


Signalman :mad: :) :D

Oh wow, that’s very cool!

[JMM]

It's my favourite LW model from any series, I put Micarta scales on mine and I like it even more. :)

Oh wow, bet thats sweet!!

.
Added a bronzed wire clip as well, but I'm too lazy atm to take a new pic, it really looks slick IMO


.
:)

[M Sea]

It's my favourite LW model from any series, I put Micarta scales on mine and I like it even more. :)

Oh wow, bet thats sweet!!

.
Added a bronzed wire clip as well, but I'm too lazy atm to take a new pic, it really looks slick IMO


.
:)

Nice, I didnt even know they had bronze wire clips. Where did you find that? Thanks.

[Matus]

Sage 5 is IMO one of the best Spyderco designs. I would love to see it with a button-lock and more options on handle and steel materials.

[JMM]

It's my favourite LW model from any series, I put Micarta scales on mine and I like it even more. :)

Oh wow, bet thats sweet!!

.
Added a bronzed wire clip as well, but I'm too lazy atm to take a new pic, it really looks slick IMO


.
:)

Nice, I didnt even know they had bronze wire clips. Where did you find that? Thanks.

Heat treat

[M Sea]

Got it, thanks.

[swigert]

It’s always on my short list but I’ve still never grabbed one.

[Gamecock]

The Sage 5 LW is fantastic...to the point I’ll probably sell my Para 3 LW because the Sage is better in every way except the steel.