Spyderco byte September 2024 - Featured Product Sage™ 5 CPM® REX® 121®

Spyderco byte September 2024 - Featured Product Sage™ 5 CPM® REX® 121®​

C123GBORP / C123BORP

Tech Specs​

• Closed Length: 4.17 in / 106 mm
• Overall Length: 7.13 in / 181 mm
• Blade Length: 3.00 in / 76 mm
• Edge Length: 2.64 in / 67 mm
• Blade Thickness: 0.118 in / 3.0 mm
• Weight: 3.0-3.1 oz / 83-88 g
• Blade Steel: CPM Rex 121
• Edge Type: PlainEdge
• Blade Grind: Hollow
• Handle Material: G-10 or FRN
• Lock Mechanism: Compression Lock
• Carry Option: Left/Right Tip-Up
• MSRP: $340.00 - $400.00
• Origin: Taiwan

As one of man’s oldest tools, the knife is also a vivid reflection of mankind’s relentless commitment to innovation. In modern folding knives, that innovative spirit has been manifested through a broad range of mechanisms designed to lock the blade securely open during use. In many ways, these lock mechanisms have become the defining features of folding knife types and milestones in its evolution. To truly understand knife history and the choices available to us today, the knife enthusiast must therefore appreciate folding knife locks and the inventors who created them.

Originally introduced in mid-2008, Spyderco’s aptly named Sage Series is an ongoing project originally conceived with that goal in mind. In simple terms, the Sage Series pays tribute to the groundbreaking innovations that have shaped the knife industry and gives credit to the influential designers who created or popularized them. Every knife in the Sage Series features the same basic design parameters—a full-flat-ground, leaf-shaped blade, an ergonomic handle design with a textured forefinger choil and thumb ramp, and a reversible deep-pocket wire clip configured for tip-up carry. What makes each model unique, however, is the fact that it showcases a specific lock mechanism and acknowledges the trendsetting knifemaker or designer behind it.

Early Sage Models​

The first Sage model, the Sage 1, launched the project by giving proper credit to knifemaker Michael Walker for his revolutionary LinerLock mechanism. Although never formally patented, this elegantly simple lock is now one of the most ubiquitous mechanisms in the knife industry. Walker’s later innovation, the ball bearing detent to keep the blade safely closed when not in use, is also widely used, but without attribution. The Sage 1 “gave credit where credit was due,” highlighting both of these innovations in stunning form by couching them between beautifully finished twill carbon fiber scales.

In 2009, the Sage 2 followed suit by showcasing the “Reeve Integral Lock” (R.I.L.), or “frame lock” mechanism. Although some knife historians credit Michael Walker as the first to use this lock design as a variant of his LinerLock, its popularity can rightfully be attributed to custom knifemaker Chris Reeve and his iconic Sebenza design. Operationally identical to a LinerLock, as its name implies, the R.I.L. is machined from the knife’s solid metal scale and therefore “integral” to it. This enhances the lock’s strength and allows the user’s grip to reinforce its engagement during use.

The Sage 2 incorporated the R.I.L. into its precision-machined solid titanium scales. Like the Sage 1, it also featured a full-flat-ground, satin-finished blade crafted from CPM® S30V® stainless steel.

The next member of the series recognized legendary knife designer Blackie Collins and his underappreciated Bolt Action Lock. Robust, reliable, and incredibly strong, the early factory expressions of this mechanism did not do it justice. The Sage 3, however, showcased it proudly by adding easy-to-operate ambidextrous release buttons. Introduced in 2011, the first version of the Sage 3 featured bright blue peel-ply-textured G-10 scales. In 2014, it was replaced by a second version with a handle machined from black cubic check carbon fiber.

The fourth Sage Series model paid tribute to the late Al Mar and his commercial use of the “front lock” or “mid back lock” mechanism. According to modern knife lore, this lock was created by custom knifemakers and co-workers Harvey McBurnette, Dick Dorough, and W.T. Fuller after Fuller tragically lost one of his hands in an industrial accident. Mar, drawing heavy design influence from McBurnette’s custom folders, later incorporated this feature as a signature element of his distinctive designs. In turn, Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser, with Mar’s blessing, made it a defining characteristic of our one-hand folding knife designs.

Historically, mid-back-lock folding knives existed at least a century before McBurnette and his friends independently developed theirs. Like the R.I.L., however, credit for popularizing the design in the modern knife market can be rightfully attributed to Al Mar. Once again, the Sage 4 honored that contribution in style, incorporating that lock into a meticulously crafted handle featuring satin-finished titanium bolsters and polished Arizona ironwood scales.

The Sage 5​

After recognizing the groundbreaking contributions of others—and based on popular customer demand—Spyderco decided to “look inward” for the fifth member of the Sage Series and chose the Sal Glesser-designed Compression Lock® mechanism. Although often misunderstood as a “LinerLock on the back of the handle,” the Compression Lock mechanism is much more. Like a Linerlock, it uses a split metal liner to create a lock bar that moves laterally under spring tension to engage a ramped surface on the blade’s tang. However, unlike a LinerLock ramp that faces toward the butt of the open knife, in a Compression Lock knife, the ramp faces upward—toward the spine of the handle and the knife’s stop pin.

When the blade is opened and the lock bar moves laterally, it is wedged between the tang ramp and the stop pin. If pressure is applied to the back of the blade, rather than trying to push the lock bar off the ramp (as in a LinerLock), it literally tries to crush or “compress” the bar between the blade ramp and the stop pin. This geometry is far stronger than a LinerLock and was recognized by a U.S. utility patent. Because the lock is located on the handle spine, it also makes unintentional lock release much less likely and allows the knife to be safely closed with one hand without ever placing your fingers in the path of the edge.

Released in 2016, the initial expression of the Sage 5 featured skeletonized stainless steel liners and textured carbon fiber/G-10 laminate scales. Its thin, open-backed construction kept weight to a minimum, while capitalizing on the strength and ease of operation of its lock. This unique combination of features quickly established the Sage 5 as the most popular member of the series. As its following grew, it also inspired demand for a more economical, everyday-carry expression of the design and enhanced versions featuring blade steels other than CPM S30V.

Sage 5 Lightweight​

The response to the first calling is the Sage 5 Lightweight. It faithfully retains all the defining features of the original, but replaces the machined carbon fiber/G-10 laminate with scales injection molded from fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN). These tough, lightweight scales reduce the cost of production and provide a platform for our signature Bi-Directional Texture™ pattern. For serious end users, the result is a lightweight, high-performance knife that offers an ultra-secure grip at a more affordable price than its progenitor.

Elite Steel Choices​

For steel aficionados looking for extreme edge retention and toughness, in 2020 Spyderco resurrected the discontinued Sage 1 and supercharged it with a blade crafted from Carpenter® Technology’s Micro-Melt® Maxamet®—an extraordinary tool steel that was specially formulated to roll red-hot steel billets in Carpenter’s steel mills. In keeping with the theme of Spyderco’s Maxamet-bladed knives, it featured peel-ply-textured G-10 scales in a signature “cool gray” color. In 2023, the Sage 5 Lightweight received the same treatment, upgrading its blade steel to Maxamet and rendering its FRN handles in a signature gray color.

In mid-2024, we announced plans for two other expressions of both the Sage 5 and the Sage 5 Lightweight supercharged with high-performance blade steels—specifically, our proprietary CPM® SPY27® powder metallurgy stainless steel and Crucible® Industries’ remarkable CPM® Rex® 121®. We are extremely excited to announce that the first production runs of the CPM Rex 121 knives have been received and are now shipping!

CPM Rex 121 is a high-vanadium, cobalt-bearing tool steel specifically formulated to offer exceptional sharpness and unequalled edge retention. As an elite tool steel, we chose to pair it with handles boasting the distinctive “burnt orange” color we have used on similarly themed knives—like those that have featured high-performance tool steels like HAP-40 and CPM Rex 45. The G-10-handled Sage 5 in Rex 121 features precision-machined peel-ply-textured scales. The Rex 121 Sage 5 Lightweight features injection-molded FRN scales with a non-slip Bi-Directional Texture™ pattern. Both faithfully include all the tried-and-true features of the Sage 5 platform, including full-flat-ground leaf-shaped blades, nested, skeletonized stainless steel liners, a high-strength Compression Lock mechanism, and a deep-pocket wire clip that is reversible for left or right-side tip-up carry.

The Sage 5 and Sage 5 Lightweight in CPM Rex 121 are two of the most remarkable factory-made knives ever produced and are sure to deliver phenomenal edge retention. Not surprisingly, these models are also among the most heavily backordered knives we have ever manufactured. The majority of our first production run of each is being shipped to our dealers and distributors in accordance with our established allotment policies. A fixed number of knives will also be allotted to the Spyderco Factory Outlet (SFO) for sale through Spyderco.com and our retail location. Although a second production run is expected soon, initial demand for these elite knives is extremely high and we anticipate that market availability will be competitive. Fortunately, both Rex 121 Sage 5 models are full-line Spyderco products, not limited editions, so availability will definitely improve over time. No matter when you get yours, we are confident you will find it to have been very worth the wait.

The Sage Series: A Noble Cause​

One other important fact you should know about the Spyderco Sage Series is that, since its inception, a portion of the sale of every Sage Series folder has been donated to the Alzheimer’s Association, Colorado Chapter. This remains the case with all current and future models in the series. To date, your passion for this remarkable family of knives has helped us donate more than $250,000.00 to this incredibly worthy cause. Thank you for helping us do our part to provide Alzheimer's care and support and to accelerate research to find a cure for this disease.

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