C123 Sage
The C123 Sage is a project model with several variations using the same pattern and blade steel, but featuring different locking mechanisms and handle materials. The Sage lineup is part of the Prestige series.
Appearance in catalogs
The C123 Sage appeared in the following catalogs (older, newer):
- 2008 Spyderco Mid-Year Supplement (C123CFP)
- 2009 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP)
- 2009 Spyderco Mid-Year Supplement (C123TIP)
- 2010 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP)
- 2011 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123GBL)
- 2012 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123GBL, C123WDP)
- 2013 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123GBL, C123WDP)
- 2014 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123CFBAP, C123WDP)
- 2015 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123CFBAP)
- 2016 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123CFBAP)
- 2016 Spyderco Mid-Year Supplement (C123CFPCL)
- 2017 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123CFBAP, C123CFPCL)
- 2018 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123TIP, C123CFPCL)
- 2019 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFP, C123CFPCL, C123PBK)
- 2020 Spyderco Product Guide(C123CFPCL, C123PBK, C123GPGY)
- 2021 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFPCL, C123PBK, C123GPGY)
- 2022 Spyderco Product Guide(C123CFPCL, C123PBK, C123GPGY)
- 2023 Spyderco Product Guide (C123CFPCL, C123PBK, C123GPGY, C123GY)
- 2024 Spyderco Product Guide (C123PBK, C123GPGY)
Designer
Spyderco
Lock variations:
- Michael Walker (Walker Liner Lock)
- Chris Reeve (Integral Lock)
- Blackie Collins (Bolt Action Lock)
- Al Mar (Mid-Back Lock)
- Spyderco (Compression Lock)
History, mentionings etc. from the forums
- Early information about the Sage project posted by "Sal" on the Spyderco forums.
- "What makes a Sage tick:" post by "gull wing" on the Spyderco forums. An inside look at the Walker Liner Lock Sage.
- First pictures by "The Deacon" and initial information about the Sage RIL "Reeve" Integral Lock in a Spyderco forum thread.
Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web
C123CFP Walker Liner Lock:
"A Sage is someone wise in judgment and experience. It’s reasonable assuming they achieved that title through trial, error and extending their best effort at every opportunity. If that definition can be applied to something tangible it would be an item created from experience and striving for quality and performance at the highest level. If said item were a pocketknife we could call it a Sage.
The C123 Sage represents Spyderco’s 30-year pledge to knife crafting and learning to make better knives at every available opportunity. The plan is to offer an ongoing series of Sage Folders with many of the different and ingenuous locking devices and mechanisms the knife industry has to offer.
This model is in recognition of knifemaker Michael Walker’s contribution to the knife industry with his creation of the LinerLock® and ball bearing detent method of locking open a folding knife. While the knife is made in Taiwan, the flat-ground blade is produced with USA made CPM-S30V. It is paired with a twill-woven carbon fiber handle and LinerLock. Categorized as a mid-sized folder, the blade is flat-ground and PlainEdged. Designed for comfort and in-the-hand-ergonomics, the carbon fiber handle is vibrant with multi-colored fibers bonded together when manufacturing the carbon fiber. The weaving runs deep, making ridges and textures for the palm to adhere to while gripping and cutting. A silhouette wire pocket clip adjusts for left- or right-hand carry."[1]
Variations
The C123 Sage is made in Taiwan.
SKU | Handle | Locks | Edge(s) | Steel | From/To | MSRP | Note | Number made | Grind | Clip | Clip positions | Collectors club |
C123CFP | Black twill CF/G-10 laminate | Walker Liner Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | Apr. 2008-Sept. 2019 | $179.95 (2009), $209.95 (2016), $225.00 (2019) | Sage 1 | Regular production | Full Flat | Black Wire | LH/RH, TU | Main |
C123TIP | Ti | Reeve Integral Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | June 2009-Oct. 2018 | $264.95 (2009), $309.95 (2018) | Sage 2 | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant |
C123GBL | Blue G-10 | Blackie Collins Bolt Action Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | Jan. 2011-end 2013 | $199.95 (2011) | Sage 3 (version 1). Blue G-10 version discontinued at the end of 2013, but replaced by C123CFBAP | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver Wire | LH/RH, TU | Main |
C123CFBAP | Black cubic check CF/G-10 laminate | Blackie Collins Bolt Action Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | Jan 2014-Nov 2016 | $249.95 (2014) | Sage 3 (version 2). Black cubic check CF version replaces C123GBL | Regular production | Full Flat | Black Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant |
C123WDP | Ti bolsters/Arizona Ironwood | Al Mar Mid-Back Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | Jan. 2012-end 2014 | $299.95 (2012) | Sage 4 | Regular production | Full Flat | Black Wire | LH/RH, TU | Main |
C123CFPCL | Black peel-ply CF/G-10 laminate | Compression Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | Sept. 2016-2023 | $219.95 (2016), $229.95 (2018) | Sage 5. Has a lanyard hole. | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver Wire | LH/RH, TU | Main |
C123PBK | Black bi-directional FRN | Compression Lock | PE | CPM-S30V | 2019 - | $175.00 (2019) | Sage 5 lightweight. Has a lanyard hole. Uses a newer, hexagonal patterned bi-directional FRN. | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Main |
C123GPGY | Gray G-10 | Walker Liner Lock | PE | Maxamet | 2020-2023 | $295.00 (2021) | Known as the 'Sage 1 Cool Gray Maxamet' | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant |
C123PGRM4 | Mint green FRN | Compression Lock | PE | CPM-M4 | Nov. 2021 | $220.00 (2021, MSRP), $154.00 (2021, street price) | Blade HQ dealer exclusive | Limited | Full Flat | Silver deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant |
C123GRM4BK | Mint green FRN | Compression Lock | PE | Black TiCN-coated CPM-M4 | Nov. 2021 | $220.00 (2021, MSRP), $154.00 (2021, street price) | Blade HQ dealer exclusive. | Limited | Full Flat | Black deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant
|
C123GY | Gray FRN | Compression Lock | PE | Maxamet | 2023 - | $328.00 | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant | |
C123GCBL | Cobalt blue G-10 | Compression Lock | PE | CPM SPY27 | 2024 - | $305.00 | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant | |
C123CBL | Cobalt blue FRN | Compression Lock | PE | CPM SPY27 | 2024 - | $245.00 (2024) | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant | |
C123GBOR | Burnt-orange G-10 | Compression Lock | PE | CPM REX 121 | 2024 - | $400.00 (2024) | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant | |
C123BOR | Burnt-orange FRN | Compression Lock | PE | CPM REX 121 | 2024 - | $340.00 (2024) | Regular production | Full Flat | Silver, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant | |
C123YL | Yellow FRN | Compression Lock | PE | CPM MagnaCut | 2024 - | $235.00 (2024) | The C123YL is part of Spyderco's Salt series of knives | Regular production | Full Flat | Black, deep pocket Wire | LH/RH, TU | Variant |
Most collectible variation
Questions regarding collecting the C123
Some interesting questions we are looking for an answer to:
Questions with an answer:
Q: Why is the Sage 2 the only Variant in the Collector's club?
A: The CF Sage 1 was the first Sage, and therefore the Main model. When the next Sage (the Ti Sage 2) came out in early 2009, it was a variant of the Sage lineup. Later that year, the collector's club was reorganized. As part of this reorganization, it was decided that the each new Sage release would be considered as a Main model and would not have a "V" after the collector's number. The rest of the Sages were released after this change, so that is why only the Ti Sage 2 has a "V" after the number. (note: with the release of the CF Sage 3, a true variant of the bolt-lock design version, the Sage series now has two variants. I'd expect that any new lock implementations would continue to receive the "Main" designation while any changes to handle material within each lock design would constitute a "Variant" designation.)
Technical information
Measurements (mm and grams) of the C123 Sage:
Variation | Length overall | Length closed | Length blade | Length edge | Hole Ø | Blade thickness | Weight |
C123CF Walker Liner Lock | 181mm | 106mm | 76mm | 67mm | 13mm | 3mm | 91g |
C123TI Reeve Integral Lock | 181mm | 106mm | 76mm | 67mm | 13mm | 3mm | 99g |
C123GBL G-10 Bolt Action Lock | 184mm | 110mm | 76mm | 70mm | 13mm | 3mm | 100g |
C123CFBAL CF Bolt Action Lock | 188mm | 112mm | 76mm | 70mm | 13mm | 3mm | 105g |
C123WD Mid-Back Lock | 184mm | 106mm | 76mm | 67mm | 13mm | 3mm | 120g |
C123CFPCL Compression Lock | 183mm | 106mm | 77mm | 67mm | 13mm | 3mm | 91g |
C123PBK FRN Compression Lock | 181mm | 106mm | 76mm | 67mm | 13mm | 3mm | 77g |
Measurements (inches and ounces) of the C123 Sage:
Variation | Length overall | Length closed | Length blade | Length edge | Hole Ø | Blade thickness | Weight |
C123CF Walker Liner Lock | 7.19" | 4.19" | 3" | 2.63" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 3.2oz |
C123TI Reeve Integral Lock | 7.19" | 4.19" | 3" | 2.63" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 3.5oz |
C123GBL G-10 Bolt Action Lock | 7.25" | 4.19" | 3" | 2.75" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 3.5oz |
C123CFBAL CF Bolt Action Lock | 7.30" | 4.30" | 3" | 2.74" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 3.7oz |
C123WD Mid-Back Lock | 7.19" | 4.19" | 3" | 2.63" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 4.2oz |
C123CFPCL Compression Lock | 7.20" | 4.17" | 3.03" | 2.64" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 3.2oz |
C123PBK FRN Compression Lock | 7.13" | 4.17" | 3.00" | 2.64" | 0.51" | 0.118" | 2.7oz |
References
- ↑ The C123 Sage Walker Liner Lock in Spyderco's online catalog
Pictures
See e.g. this thread on the Spyderco forums.