Knew Concepts 5" Mk.III Fret Saw – Lever Tension & Swivel Clamps

Combine greater cutting reach with lightweight handling, fast blade changes, and flexible blade positioning with the Knew Concepts 5" Mk.III Fret Saw with Lever Tension and Swivel Blade Clamps. Designed for jewelers, metalsmiths, model makers, and precision craftspeople, this versatile saw provides a generous 5-inch throat depth while remaining exceptionally light and maneuverable.

The lever-tension system makes repeated blade changes quick and convenient, especially when working on pierced designs with multiple interior cuts. The swivel blade clamps add another level of flexibility by allowing the blade to lock straight ahead, 45° to the left, or 45° to the right. This lets you change the cutting direction relative to the frame, helping keep the back of the saw clear of larger or awkwardly shaped workpieces.

At only 148.3 grams with the blade installed, the 125.005CS combines a deeper 5" frame and swivel functionality without sacrificing the lightweight handling that makes the Mk.III series so appealing.

Features & Benefits

• 5" throat depth provides greater reach for larger workpieces and deeper interior cuts
• Lightweight Mk.III frame for comfortable, responsive handling
• Lever tensioning makes repetitive blade changes fast and convenient
• Excellent for intricate piercing and multiple interior cuts
• Swivel blade clamps provide three indexed blade positions
• Blade locks straight ahead, 45° left, or 45° right
• Reposition the frame without changing the desired cutting direction
• Particularly useful when working with larger sheets or awkwardly shaped pieces
• Helps keep the saw frame clear of magnification equipment during close-up work
• Weighs only 148.3 g with blade
• Uses standard 5-1/8" / 130 mm jeweler's and fret saw blades
• Excellent for jewelry fabrication, metalsmithing, model making, and precision cutting

Specifications

5" Throat for Greater Cutting Reach

The 5-inch throat provides additional working room compared with a compact 3" saw frame.

That extra reach is especially useful for:

• Larger pendants
• Cuffs and bracelets
• Decorative sheet metal
• Larger pierced patterns
• Sculptural jewelry components
• Model-making projects
• Deep interior cuts
• Precision fabrication

The blade can travel farther into the material before the workpiece reaches the back of the frame, making the 5" size a versatile choice for both everyday jewelry work and larger projects.

Swivel Blade Clamps for Greater Freedom

The swivel clamps are the feature that separates the 125.005CS from the 125.005C.

The blade can be locked into three positions:

45° Left — Straight Ahead — 45° Right

The clamps use locking detents at each position so the blade can be returned reliably to straight ahead when needed.

This allows you to change the relationship between the blade and saw frame. Instead of always having the rear of the frame directly behind the blade, you can swing the frame to one side while maintaining your desired cutting direction.

More Flexibility with Larger Sheet Metal

Swivel blade clamps become particularly useful when cutting larger pieces of material.

Rotating the blade gives jewelers and metalsmiths greater flexibility when cutting into and around larger sheets. When cutting along an edge, the system can provide effectively unlimited cutting depth because the frame can be positioned away from the material.

That's an important advantage of this model beyond its physical 5" throat depth.

Keep the Frame Away from Your Magnifier

There's another practical advantage for jewelers who work under magnification.

When using an Optivisor or similar head-mounted magnifier, a conventional saw frame can sometimes contact the magnifier as you work close to the blade. The swivel system allows the saw frame to be moved off to the side while the blade continues cutting straight ahead.

It's a small detail, but for someone who spends hours doing close-up piercing work, it can make the swivel system especially useful.

Lever Tension for Faster Blade Changes

The lever-tension system is particularly valuable for piercing and other projects involving repeated interior cuts.

Instead of manually releasing and recreating blade tension every time you move to another opening, the lever provides a faster way to release and restore tension.

That makes the 125.005CS particularly well suited to:

• Intricate pierced jewelry
• Decorative sheet-metal designs
• Interior cutouts
• Complex patterns
• Filigree-style work
• Detailed model-making projects

Lightweight 5" Frame

Despite combining a deeper frame, lever mechanism, and swivel clamps, the 125.005CS weighs only 148.3 grams with blade.

Here's how the 5" Mk.III family compares:

That means the swivel-clamp version adds only 8.3 grams compared with the fixed-clamp 125.005C.

125.005C vs. 125.005CS

This is probably the most useful comparison for a customer deciding between the two models.

Both models combine a 5" throat with convenient lever tensioning. The 125.005C uses fixed blade clamps, while the 125.005CS adds swivel blade clamps that allow the blade to be positioned straight ahead or 45° to either side.

The swivel system is especially useful when additional frame clearance is needed around larger sheets, awkwardly shaped workpieces, or close-up work under magnification.

Mk.III Swivel Blade System

The Mk.III swivel clamps provide three blade positions: 45° left, straight ahead, and 45° right. This allows the saw frame to be repositioned around the work while maintaining a controlled cutting direction.

The Mk.III system differs from the broader rotational system used on Knew Concepts Mk.IV swivel-clamp saws.

Mk.III CS models:
Blade swivels 45° left or right from straight ahead. The clamps lock at -45°, 0°, and +45°. They do not rotate 360°.

Mk.IV CS models:
Different swivel system with broader rotational capability.

Ideal For

The Knew Concepts 5" Mk.III Lever Tension & Swivel Clamp Fret Saw is an excellent choice for:

• Jewelry making
• Jewelry fabrication
• Intricate piercing
• Metalsmithing
• Silversmithing
• Goldsmithing
• Larger pendants
• Cuffs and bracelets
• Decorative sheet metal
• Interior cutouts
• Larger or awkwardly shaped workpieces
• Model making
• Precision fabrication
• Professional jewelry studios
• Jewelry and metalsmithing students

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Knew Concepts 125.005CS?
It is the 5" Mk.III Fret Saw with Lever Tension and Swivel Blade Clamps. It weighs 148.3 g with the blade installed.

What makes the 125.005CS different from the 125.005C?
Both have a 5" frame and lever tension, but the 125.005CS adds swivel blade clamps for additional frame-positioning flexibility.

How far do the blade clamps swivel?
They swivel 45° to either side of straight ahead and lock at -45°, 0°, and +45°.

Do the blade clamps rotate 360°?
No. The Mk.III swivel system does not make a complete 360° rotation. The clamps lock at 45° left, straight ahead, and 45° right.

Why are swivel clamps useful?
They allow you to reposition the frame relative to the cutting direction, which can provide better clearance around larger sheets, awkward workpieces, and magnification equipment.

Is this saw good for piercing?
Yes. The combination of lever tensioning and adjustable blade direction makes it particularly well suited to intricate designs with repeated interior cuts.

How much does it weigh?
The 125.005CS weighs 148.3 grams with blade.

What length blades does it use?
The standard jeweler's/fret saw blade length is 5-1/8" (130 mm). 

Micro-Tools makes every attempt to provide accurate information for each item. Actual packaging and/or specifications may be slightly different from the information and picture provided.