Spyderco Sage1 vs Sage 5 Knife Comparison

After a couple weeks of using both: Comparing the differences and similarities between the Sage 1 and Sage 5. For both knives being Sages, they are quite different in my eyes, but both awesome! I can only keep one and I explain my reasons why.

[@Greg-bz2bf]

P.S. Your video led me to purchase the Sage 1 (Maxamet). I'm very pleased with my purchase. Thanks.

[@geertjanjanssen5983]

Awesome knife one of the most comfortable knives I’ve ever used.

[@TheKnifeBeater]

Thanks for the video Jon and for helping me make up my mind. I had the Sage 5 first and I didn't keep it for the very same reasons you talked about. I couldn't justify carrying it over the para3. Now I'm gonna try the Sage 1 and see how that goes. Thanks again.

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Hey Jay thanks for watching. I’ve found the Sages to be an inherently bland knife, until you start cutting things and digging into some work with them where they then shine. The Sage 1 has this classic feel and quality to me that the more I handled it, the more I didn’t want to put it down. I just love turning it over and over and admiring it. It doesn’t have a bad angle. The sound the liner lock makes has a musical quality too. It’s just great and has this rich character made up of all these subtle details I didn’t notice until I started carrying it everyday. I think if that is stuff that you appreciate you love the knife! Rock on

[@chs53021]

very good "next-level" compare and contrast video

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

chs53021 thanks!

[@ToxicityAssured]

But what knife has more chooch?

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

Mate that is one of the best knife reviews I have ever heard the company should hire you.i have taken spyderco knives although they are good knives out of my shopping basket because I just think they are over priced.after your review I want a sage one it was a graphic as well as verbal masterclass in describing your thoughts on a knife.atb paddy😀👍☘

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Wow! Thanks for the kind words Paddy! I’m just glad what I was trying to say came across haha. I definitely rambled a bit. Thanks for watching as always dude. Rock on

[@ToxicityAssured]

I only have the Sage 2. It was one of the earlier nice knives in my collection. I have since bought several Sebenza 21's, Benchmades, other Spyders and Microtechs. Despite all those pricier knives, the sage 2 is awesome. I did a stone wash on the scales and it came out great. Some days it 21 left pocket, Sage in the watch pocket. Rocking the Ti frame locks!!! PS: I'm implying that the sage is as good as the fabled sebenza. When holding both, if ignorant of price, one would have a hard time telling the better knife.

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

I have to agree completely! I have a Sage 2 in for review right now that I have fallen head over heels for and I am not even a big fan of titanium and frame locks. It might be the best of the sages, and the Sebenza comparison definitely holds up. I'll never take anything away from the Sebenza, but for me they just don't make me want to dump my wallet out on the table to buy one haha!

[@lenzielenski3276]

I have held the Small 21 and Sage side by side and the Sage 2 wins in both smoothness and ergonomics. Consequenly I bought a second one..in case I ever loose the first one.

[@lindboknifeandtool]

Got a secondhand maxamet sage 1 on its way. $140 because it had some corrosion. I agree with you about the “classiness” of the knife. The Bradley folders, and the veile folders have the same feel IMO. I’m planning on doing a bolster design handle like on the backlock. It’s a knife my grandkids will inherit.

[@PerfectlyNormalBeast]

I bought a standard chaparral and lightweight sage 5 a little over a month ago. Both have a perfect feel while held blade open (I still don't have a para3) That sage5 lightweight really flies open, best opening knife I have. Every time I look at it while closed, it makes me think of a pelican

[@intenseaty2935]

I’m gonna have to wholeheartedly agree with this eval. For a long time the Sage one was my only good knife. Now I have gotten a little out of control & own several Spyderco. I still think the sage is the one that fits me like a glove. That cutout for the lock on the one allows my finger to just fit in a more natural way.

[@matusknives]

Excellent comparison, thank you. But for what it’s worth, slicing magazine paper tells nothing about blade geometry, just that the edge is well sharpened.

[@ccooper8040]

Can't go wrong with either. The ergos of the handles are great.

[@thomaslanders1162]

I've owned a Sage 1 for a long time.. It's easily one of Spydercos best knives.. I've seen 5 or 6 and everyone locks up the same etc.. Just excellent F&F and it really feels like quality.. But, I'm not a big choil guy.. My hands are too big to get a grip behind the choil.. The Sage and the Native are really best used with the choil...I still love the knife.. Something like the Manix 2 is a little better for me ergo wise, I have the choice of using or not using the choil..

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Thanks for the view and commenting! Yeah the Manix has amazing ergos for sure. I am a big time choil guy, I almost cant live without haha. The Sage 1 just has a great timeless feel. Rock on!

[@adamd7956]

To adjust the stiffness just loosen the screws near the blade to your desire.

[@edrader]

the sage 1 has an awesome build but I kept the 5. the sage 1 absolutely shredded my thumb and split my thumbnail on its sharp edges. one thing a knife must be for me is a great fidgeter when I drive. the sage 1 absolutely is not. in the end the compression lock made the difference to me, and I did chamfer the spyder hole on the 5 once I decided to keep it. oh, I actually paid less for the 5 and if you look on ebay the price between the two models is about the same.

[@doctoruttley]

Sage 1 in Maxamet for the win! 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@timtim4525]

true video...great

[@iivv_nn]

Like your video. Do you know if they make scales for the 5 that would expose the liners?

[@rickydo888]

Hi Jon, iWatch this review a year ago and because of your review I started to look for sage 1. Finally I got one a week ago and I just realize that when I close the blade, it has no snap sound, is it yours the same or just mine

[@tj-kv6vr]

ALL spydeco do NOT have leaf blade

[@ronaldren5581]

How is the sage 1 different than the persistence

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Hey Ronald the persistence is a similar size knife but it all other aspects the sage is just going to be a total class above any of the Chinese made models which the persistence is one of. Everything from blade steel, handle materials, feel in hand, sit and finish, Quality of the grind on the blade, ergonomics, etc. all going to be A huge step up from persistence to the sage. Plus the sage is also one of those all-time classic Spyderco models which counts for something too. Now none of this is to say that the persistence is a bad knife, But I generally don’t recommend the Chinese made spydercos to anybody even though I’m a big Spyderco fan. They’re not bad knifes but they don’t always feel like an actual Spyderco to me and I think in the price point you can find much better knives for your money. I also don’t recommend Chinese knives in general at all usually. I’m a big advocate for taking the hit in price and going for USA made (or japan & taiwan for spyderco) because that’s important to me and you get a really nice product. However with that being said sometimes your budget is your budget and I would say there are much better Chinese knives you can find than the Spyderco ones despite my love for the brand. But to get back to your original question between the two while similar in size every other aspect of the knife is just going to be a huge step up in enjoyment and useability and pride of ownership factors. Thanks for watching rock on

[@Greg-bz2bf]

"Spyderco pricing is out of control". 🤔🤔🤔 Premium prices support research and development resulting in better, higher priced knives later. 😂😂 Seriously, I am willing to pay a bit more when the Spyderco Engineering Department is experimenting and bringing into production innovative designs. Like your channel; keep cutting!

[@edrader]

look at how the sage 1 destroyed your thumbnail. that's why I kept the 5 and sold the 1

[@petergalione9687]

If i missed it in the video, I apologize, but does one of them have a stronger detent?

[@dominionn09]

Does the compression lock wear out and allow blade play eventually? I've heard that happens with the PM2

[@dewarner12]

On the Sage 5, you can adjust the compression lock by bending it slightly to allow the blade to drop shut. Also, I have found the sweet spot for the pivot screw adjustment that also seems to help.