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Spyderco Sage
The Spyderco Sage Series takes one folding knife and builds it again around a different lock each time, crediting the maker who invented or popularized it. Sal Glesser conceived it as a history lesson you can carry. The series launched with a pledge of roughly five percent of Sage sales to the Alzheimer's Association's Colorado chapter in Denver. Today's Sage 5 and Sage 6 share a 3 inch full flat ground blade on .118 inch stock, 7.13 inches open and 4.17 closed, with a forefinger choil, nested skeletonized liners, and a deep pocket wire clip that reverses for tip up carry on either side. At around three ounces, they are among the slimmest Compression Lock knives Spyderco builds.
Which Lock Does Each Sage Honor?
The Sage 1 honored Michael Walker's LinerLock, the Sage 2 Chris Reeve's Reeve Integral Lock, the Sage 3 Blackie Collins' Bolt Action Lock, and the Sage 4 Al Mar's mid back lock. The Sage 5 turned inward to Sal Glesser's own Compression Lock, and the Sage 6 recognizes Kevin Smock's button release version of it. Our guide to knife lock types explains how each mechanism works.
Spyderco Sage 5 and Sage 5 Lightweight
Released in 2016, the Sage 5 puts the Compression Lock in the spine, where a press of one finger releases the blade and your fingers never cross the edge on the way closed. It is often mistaken for a LinerLock, but the Compression Lock is substantially stronger. The original wears peel ply carbon fiber and G10 laminate. The Sage 5 Lightweight swaps in Bi-Directional Texture FRN and drops to about 2.7 ounces in S30V, the easiest entry point into the series.
Spyderco Sage 6 Button Compression Lock
The Sage 6 adds a button on the show side scale that drops the Compression Lock without shifting your grip. It makes the Sage one of Spyderco's most fidget friendly folders and a good pick for anyone who finds a spine lock awkward. The standard build keeps S30V and carbon fiber G10 laminate, and the same button lock runs on the larger Smock.
Sage Blade Steels and Salt Models
The Sage 5 Salt pairs black TiCN coated MagnaCut with black or black and yellow G10, and the yellow FRN Lightweight Salt joins the Salt Series for wet work. Collectors can chase CPM SPY27 on cobalt blue, REX 121 on burnt orange across the Sage 5, Lightweight, and Sage 6, Maxamet on grey FRN, and an S90V carbon fiber Sage 6 Sprint Run. REX 121 and Maxamet hold an edge longest but ask for more care in use. Our comparison of every major knife steel covers the tradeoffs.