The Spyderco Sage 5 Lightweight: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

Today, we'll take a look at a knife that's really excellent, but also a bit lost among many great options, the Spyderco Sage 5 Lightweight.

[eckyeckypikang]

I think one way to look at it is this: Spyderco gives you many ways to own a gem and has accommodated a wide variety of personal preferences. Not a bad problem to have...

[Skipper_Jimmy]

Good review (knife puppets aside). The reason that I bought the Sage 5 LW is that I greatly prefer the looks of the leaf-shaped blade to the Para 3 blades. The Para 3 always seemed too “triangular” to me.

[justindehghan]

I have been contemplating for several months between the Sage 5 LW, Chaparral, and PM3 LW. Here are the ultimate reasons for why I chose to hold out for the Sage:
1. Fidget-able locking mechanism (unlike the Chaparral’s back-lock)
2. Thinner blade stock than the PM3 (LW)
3. S30V for $30 more over the PM3’s BD1N
4. PM3 only has a half liner

The Chaparral has a very appealing blade stock and is the best bang-for-buck since you get CTS-XHP for $95, but the back-lock really turns me off. The PM3 is a good value but I couldn’t get over the blade stock and liner situation. Therefore, the Sage, which catered to all my interests, won.

[anthonysarris]

"Theres my sage advice" Nick you are a fricken gem

[chrishall]

The sage 5 lw is for folks that want a para 3 lw that doesn't feel as cheap and bendy with a great action that doesn't sacrifice centering and blade play and like the leaf blade. They get all of this plus the pivot bushing for 30 bucks less than the sage 5.

[machtmer]

Nick, I think it’s somewhat clear where the Sage 5 fits: it’s a compression lock Native 5 with the improved action. Maybe not a huge market, but if you are recommending to someone wanting a Native with c-lock, there you go. 👍

[pauljosephbuggle]

In my humble opinion, the Chaparral frn is the best Spyderco knife around for the average urban type. It's a bit stiff on the back lock at the start but that goes away. It's not as flicky as the Sage but it's a knife you carry and use, light, sharp, strong and very well made. Flicky, fun, phallic knives are not really much use off the sofa or out of the outback.
Where all Spydercos are stiff is when it comes to the prices but the Chaparral frn could one of the better values.

[reidnmiller]

the sage 5 lightweight is the best option for someone who wants a slicy compression lock folder under 3 oz (that you can also spydie flick). Sage 5 is barely too heavy and Sage 5 lightweight is barely light enough. Paramilitary options all have blade stock that is too thick. The Ikuchi has thin blade stock but cant be spydie flicked and the compression lock finger space is limited. The kapara is too long a blade for edc and too heavy. I finally can sell my PM2 and replace it with the sage 5 lightweight to keep one compression lock knife in my collection. The wire clip mixed with lightweight is perfect to slide into my gym pants side pockets that have zippers.

[tonyhutton]

I'd love to see it done in colors other than black.

[TheOfficialCaseMade]

I ended up getting the Sage 5 LW for my first real Spyderco and I couldn't be happier. It just ticks all the boxes for me and has easily become my most heavily used carry knife, except for my hiking knife Mora.

It also gives me an excuse to buy a PM3 to make sure I made the right decision 😉

[davidharvey]

The leaf style blades are so useful though. Just the right amount of belly but you still get a fine point.

[minihead]

Well that was confusing...🤔
I ordered the sage5 this morning. Can't help it, I love the compression lock.
Have to give higher fidget points to the C lock. Can't stop playing with my para3.
Great video Nick.

[dantem]

I understand why Spyderco made this, but i don't agree. The sage line was originally designed to show off different locking mechanisms using a one design knife. The compression lock exists with the sage 5. If they actually made it lightweight like the para 3 lw, sure why not. But they could have easily incorporated a button lock or a scorpion lock or SOMETHING new for the line and made a sage 6.

[scottyh]

Having steel liners in your knife handle is important, right? Having a lock mechanism you enjoy is important too, right? This is why the Sage 5 LW is "better" than both the Chapparal and the Para 3 LW

[crispyhoneybun]

The main reason why I bought a Sage 5 lightweight is because I am able to make my own custom scales, since it has steel liners.
I was going to buy a para 3 lightweight but you can’t customize it without running into problems. Same with the manix 2 lightweight and the Dragonfly 2. Customization is a big deal. 👍

[itsmedravfrom]

I want this on OD green or brown with lc200n...

[chestrockwell]

This review may be flawed based on the previous review the presenter did on the Spyderco Para 3 LW. The Sage 5 is clearly the superior knife in terms of fit and finish. The weight difference between the two is negligible. I found the main issues with the Para 3 LW are the sacrifices made in construction to save weight. The Para 3 only uses one washer and half of a compression lock. As a result, the knife is not easily centered without greatly affecting blade play which becomes excessive. For $122, the Sage 5 LW is only marginally more expensive than the Para 3 black blade and has the superior fit and finish and quality of it's little brother, the Chaparral LW.

[RobertOrtiz]

I am going with the Sage 5! I love the full linners and shape better than para 3.

[LoveLife-xyir]

Its the full liners that make the weight more compared to the pm3

[daeholm]

I view this range of knives by Spyderco basically as variations on the Delica. The Delica is such a popular and enduring knife that it makes sense to offer it in a variety of iterations. I love my Delica but I don't want to carry the same thing every day so something that checks the same boxes but is different enough to feel novel is great.
Spyderco really understand the collector's mindset and they capitalize on it.