Does the sage 5 have a new identity?
Re: Does the sage 5 have a new identity?
@Wallach I understand your mental dilemma. I have multiple sets of custom scales for the Sage 5. I often go right back to the FRN. I think it is the best looking and best feel in hand FRN that Spyderco makes. I still like the feel of the chalky Seki City FRN, but overall the pattern on the Sage and Chaparral are a great combo of grippy but not overly done and ultimately feel best in hand. And did I mention it looks great!
- Jeff
May your feet be warm and dry and your throat warm with whiskey. A knife in hand or in the sock band.
MNOSD Member #0005
May your feet be warm and dry and your throat warm with whiskey. A knife in hand or in the sock band.
MNOSD Member #0005
Re: Does the sage 5 have a new identity?
This Sage 5 LW in Spy27 hasn't left my pocket since arriving this past Saturday. I posted about it in the "in your pocket" thread one day, but will share my thoughts here.
I've handled a lot of Spyderco knives over the past 8 years, I'd guess around 70?? At this time I've been in a bit of a knife funk since my job change really hindered my usage, which stole a lot of the fun for me. This knife was actually my first brand new knife purchase in almost 2 years.
I'd like to think its not a honeymoon phase, I've got quite a bit of experience, and it's not some rare and crazy design, but this knife already finds itself in my top 3-5 knives I own.
I'm not an "action of the knife" person. I typically roll my eyes when people blather on about flicking and action. But, right out of the box, this is probably the smoothest knife I've ever handled. No blade play either, never had to touch the pivot. The bevels are dang near perfect on both sides, sticky sharp. As others have mentioned, the finish on the blade is beautiful, a bit unique. The color of the scales is the blue I had always hoped the K390 knives had. I love it...when I'm at work I just leave it out on my desk and look at it throughout the day.
I plan on finding some time to test out this Spy27 steel, as I've never had it in the past when I was working in the warehouse...which is less than a mile from Crucible steel, how about that!? Pretty cool, but now a sad story for our local area and who knows for the knife industry in the future.
I might try one of my old reviews, nothing scientific.. just a dude doing real life warehouse work and cutting materials with his knives. I miss this kind of stuff and am excited to give it a try again!
viewtopic.php?t=86207&hilit=TkoK83Spy+review
To the Spyderco crew...had this been my 1st ever Spyderco purchase, I would have instantly become a lifelong fan (even as a normal knife person that's not quite like all of us) This is a fantastic knife in every way I look for in a knife and can't wait to test this steel a bit!! Great job.
I've handled a lot of Spyderco knives over the past 8 years, I'd guess around 70?? At this time I've been in a bit of a knife funk since my job change really hindered my usage, which stole a lot of the fun for me. This knife was actually my first brand new knife purchase in almost 2 years.
I'd like to think its not a honeymoon phase, I've got quite a bit of experience, and it's not some rare and crazy design, but this knife already finds itself in my top 3-5 knives I own.
I'm not an "action of the knife" person. I typically roll my eyes when people blather on about flicking and action. But, right out of the box, this is probably the smoothest knife I've ever handled. No blade play either, never had to touch the pivot. The bevels are dang near perfect on both sides, sticky sharp. As others have mentioned, the finish on the blade is beautiful, a bit unique. The color of the scales is the blue I had always hoped the K390 knives had. I love it...when I'm at work I just leave it out on my desk and look at it throughout the day.
I plan on finding some time to test out this Spy27 steel, as I've never had it in the past when I was working in the warehouse...which is less than a mile from Crucible steel, how about that!? Pretty cool, but now a sad story for our local area and who knows for the knife industry in the future.
I might try one of my old reviews, nothing scientific.. just a dude doing real life warehouse work and cutting materials with his knives. I miss this kind of stuff and am excited to give it a try again!
viewtopic.php?t=86207&hilit=TkoK83Spy+review
To the Spyderco crew...had this been my 1st ever Spyderco purchase, I would have instantly become a lifelong fan (even as a normal knife person that's not quite like all of us) This is a fantastic knife in every way I look for in a knife and can't wait to test this steel a bit!! Great job.
-Rick
Re: Does the sage 5 have a new identity?
Thanx Rick.
Though I must admit to bias. I designed the model, invented the lock and created the steel with Crucible's Metallurgist's help.
sal
Though I must admit to bias. I designed the model, invented the lock and created the steel with Crucible's Metallurgist's help.
sal
Re: Does the sage 5 have a new identity?
it's hard not to love that taichung quality. the sage is a great knife and would absolutely be my number one if i wasn't able to carry a manix. i don't currently own any, but i've handled them and liked them a lot. i'd really like to get the salt now that it's out. or maybe spy27 is the right choice since i don't have any in that steel yet.TkoK83Spy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 5:39 pmThis Sage 5 LW in Spy27 hasn't left my pocket since arriving this past Saturday. I posted about it in the "in your pocket" thread one day, but will share my thoughts here.
I've handled a lot of Spyderco knives over the past 8 years, I'd guess around 70?? At this time I've been in a bit of a knife funk since my job change really hindered my usage, which stole a lot of the fun for me. This knife was actually my first brand new knife purchase in almost 2 years.
I'd like to think its not a honeymoon phase, I've got quite a bit of experience, and it's not some rare and crazy design, but this knife already finds itself in my top 3-5 knives I own.
I'm not an "action of the knife" person. I typically roll my eyes when people blather on about flicking and action. But, right out of the box, this is probably the smoothest knife I've ever handled. No blade play either, never had to touch the pivot. The bevels are dang near perfect on both sides, sticky sharp. As others have mentioned, the finish on the blade is beautiful, a bit unique. The color of the scales is the blue I had always hoped the K390 knives had. I love it...when I'm at work I just leave it out on my desk and look at it throughout the day.
I plan on finding some time to test out this Spy27 steel, as I've never had it in the past when I was working in the warehouse...which is less than a mile from Crucible steel, how about that!? Pretty cool, but now a sad story for our local area and who knows for the knife industry in the future.
I might try one of my old reviews, nothing scientific.. just a dude doing real life warehouse work and cutting materials with his knives. I miss this kind of stuff and am excited to give it a try again!
viewtopic.php?t=86207&hilit=TkoK83Spy+review
To the Spyderco crew...had this been my 1st ever Spyderco purchase, I would have instantly become a lifelong fan (even as a normal knife person that's not quite like all of us) This is a fantastic knife in every way I look for in a knife and can't wait to test this steel a bit!! Great job.
keep your knife sharp and your focus sharper.
current collection:
C191GP, C36GMCBK2, C11ZFRDBBK, C267BK, C36MCW2, C258YL, C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, K08BK, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
M398, H2, CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C, MBS-26
current collection:
C191GP, C36GMCBK2, C11ZFRDBBK, C267BK, C36MCW2, C258YL, C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, K08BK, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
M398, H2, CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C, MBS-26
Re: Does the sage 5 have a new identity?
I also have to say I've been really impressed with the SPY27 Sage this past week. I think it actually bumped the Native 5 out of the top 3 Spydercos for me, which is funny because I can't really think of any flaws with that knife. The thing is, I can't rightly think of any with the Sage so far either. The worst thing about it I suppose is the overall cutting edge length, but that isn't really a flaw as much as part of the design, and really there aren't a lot of tasks it comes up short in practice. Since the Native 5 and the Sage 5 share so much in common, I haven't really had much reason to pick up the Native 5 since I purchased the Sage 5.
That said, the Native Chief is a different animal and I think still occupies the overall top spot for me. I feel a lot better about taking the Sage 5 to work, though, as it is a pretty unassuming knife and I don't feel like there's much to worry about between the simple wire clip and the FRN scales back on it. It'll definitely be one of my main users at work.
The SPY27 has done so well for me thus far, I feel pretty content in skipping the Salt and waiting for the Sage 6 models to hit the stores. I do like my MagnaCut Native 5, but honestly they feel so similar in performance it doesn't make sense to me to grab another Sage LW (especially one that aesthetically is a pretty big downgrade in my opinion). I'm still looking forward to trying both the upcoming Sage 6 models though, and between those and the CruCarta Chief I have plenty of Spydies to look forward to still this year.
That said, the Native Chief is a different animal and I think still occupies the overall top spot for me. I feel a lot better about taking the Sage 5 to work, though, as it is a pretty unassuming knife and I don't feel like there's much to worry about between the simple wire clip and the FRN scales back on it. It'll definitely be one of my main users at work.
The SPY27 has done so well for me thus far, I feel pretty content in skipping the Salt and waiting for the Sage 6 models to hit the stores. I do like my MagnaCut Native 5, but honestly they feel so similar in performance it doesn't make sense to me to grab another Sage LW (especially one that aesthetically is a pretty big downgrade in my opinion). I'm still looking forward to trying both the upcoming Sage 6 models though, and between those and the CruCarta Chief I have plenty of Spydies to look forward to still this year.