The Sage 5 Lightweight uses Spyderco's own Compression Lock, built into the nested, skeletonized stainless steel liners. When the knife is open, a leaf spring in the liner wedges between the blade tang and the stop pin. You release it from the spine side of the handle with one hand, which keeps your fingers out of the blade's path as it closes.

Micro-Melt Maxamet is a tool steel from Carpenter Technology, originally formulated to roll red-hot steel billets in Carpenter's steel mills. It is known for extreme hardness and wear resistance, so it holds a working edge far longer than most knife steels. Spyderco says it is the only knife company to have mastered Maxamet well enough to feature it prominently in production knives, and it marks its Maxamet knives with a gray handle color.

Micro-Melt Maxamet is not a stainless steel, so it can rust or stain if left wet or dirty. Wipe the blade clean and dry after use, especially after cutting food or handling it with sweaty hands, and keep a light coat of oil on it. Because it is so hard and wear resistant, it is slow to sharpen on conventional stones, so diamond or CBN abrasives work best.

Spyderco created the Sage Series to showcase folding-knife lock mechanisms and their inventors, and the Sage 5 highlights Spyderco's own Compression Lock. Spyderco says it donates approximately 5 percent of sales of the Sage line to the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter, which supports care, support, and research for families affected by Alzheimer's disease.

The C123PGY ships as a knife with its reversible deep-pocket wire clip installed. It is knife only, with no sheath included. Packaging and included items are set by Spyderco and are subject to change.

This Sage 5 Lightweight is made in Taiwan. Spyderco warrants that its genuine products are free from defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. The warranty does not cover loss, theft, accidents, abuse, misuse, improper sharpening, normal wear and tear, or alterations, and broken, lost, or bent metal clips are typically not covered. Shipping to and from Spyderco is the owner's responsibility. Contact Spyderco directly and include the Spyderco Warranty & Repair Form with any return. Knifeworks does not warranty this product independently.