I think I found my "If I had to choose one" folder..!!!

L

LJTanzer

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Aug 4, 2013
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I've been handling it for a couple days now, and the fit, feel, action and ergonomics are top notch.
Its small enough for EDC, yet robust enough for hiking, camping, protection. Absolutely wonderful knife.
It's the plain edged G10 handled Spyderco Shaman.
 
I liked mine. I reground it to remove the choil (and the kick that invades the lockbar cut out when you close the knife). I filed a detent ramp making it better suited to left handed use, which was maybe 20-30% of my use of the knife. I give it a full length cutting edge all the way back to the handle scales with (in my opinion) better lines, and anzo textured the scales to give it better grip. I even ground into the handle scales a bit to bring the grip closer to the edge for improved cutting leverage with a full handle grip, but still the handle was just too small for me. I traded it for three Tenaciouses (including a blue G10 one, which was not available anywhere at the time), all of which I prefer to the Shaman, because they just feel right for me. The Shaman never felt right in my hands, even after my mods. I liked it, but I couldn't get it to fit.

LJTanzer said:
I've been handling it for a couple days now, and the fit, feel, action and ergonomics are top notch.
Its small enough for EDC, yet robust enough for hiking, camping, protection. Absolutely wonderful knife.
It's the plain edged G10 handled Spyderco Shaman.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Great choice. Very tough Spyderco knife with decent geometry and a strong, fun lock. May it serve you well, and the next generation, too!
 
The one that did it for me was the Al Mar Sere 2K. Kicked everything else out of my pocket for nearly 20 years.

She’s semi-retired now, and that role has been filled by a BM Presidio, but I’ve come to realize it isn’t the be all end all. It’s a good all rounder, but I’ve finally accepted that there’s no shame in carrying different knives for different uses instead of the same one every day for everything.

I’d gone through hundreds of knives looking for “the one” before I found what I liked in that Sere. For some reason I had always just “carried A knife” so I was looking for that perfect one.

Now I carry whatever I feel like carrying on any given day and know for sure that no perfect ONE knife exists. Nothing will beat whatever you choose to slip in your pocket for whatever you have planned for the day, and that takes more than one.

Good luck sticking with that Shaman. I truly hope you do. Sticking to the same knife forms a bond. It creates a lifelong friend that gains lots of character.
 
The Aflac Duck said:
Almost everyday I have a new favorite.
Click to expand...
I have my favorite knives to look at, favorite knives to mess/fiddle with, and favorites to actually use. Even though I use them all. My happy middle ground is my customized Manix 2. Just enough fidget factor, beautiful ironwood scales, and can handle most tasks.

However, my new ZT 0470 may supplant it.
 
I can't pick just one. I tried picking a top three and failed at that too. :) Instead, here is a list of folders I would be happy to carry as my only ones:


Fluted Ti Millie
Fluted Ti Native
Native Chief CF S90V
PJ Inkosi Insingo
Small PJ Sebenza
Buck/Mayo TNT
Farmer X
 
I would like to clarify something...
I DO have favorite knife; but I'd never carry it.
In fact: this is the first that it's been opened up since 1982... The year that I got it.
It was my Grampa Denman's hunting knife. I've never seen one so thin...
He probably got it back in the 1930's.
I have no idea what brand it is, or where it came from...
Opening it up today brought back a flood of memories, and UI'm having a tought time dealing with all of them
But this is the one knife that won't go anywhere!!
 

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That's why I carried a Spyderco dlc coated police for 30 years. I carry it once in a while because it's so thin like mentioned in the above post. Just so many knives to choose from and to carry these days.
 
The Shaman is also my "If I could only have ONE" folder. The hard part is, which of the 4 that I own do I choose?

I don't carry a Shaman every day, I have so many now that I like to switch things up. But, if I'm ever conflicted about what I want to carry for the day, I grab a Shaman because I love it. Right now I have an AD15 Lite in my pocket. Actually ordered another one because, why not, especially at $80 a piece. Now if Shamans were $80 a piece I'd have a couple dozen...

Also enjoy the new Benchmade Adamas...and the Saddle Mountain Skinner I picked up...and my s90v/cf native chief...and the kapara...LOL
 
Congrats L LJTanzer I'm always a bit envious of those who have found their "one" knife. I bounce around A LOT, but I always seem to always circle back to Spyderco (PM2 or Para3). It's like coming home for me.
 
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