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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Kapara, Amalgam, or Shaman for my next Spyderco?
- Thread starter rye_a
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2016
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- 226
Haha, sorry about that! Don’t give her my number, I already have one of those that does that!
sgt1372
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2018
- Messages
- 8,012
Will be interested to hear your impressions about both knives after you can compare them together.
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2017
- Messages
- 2,283
Two out of three, you can't stop there, you must buy a Shaman now.
King of the Cheese
Stillborn!
- Joined
- May 25, 2016
- Messages
- 76,186
Shaman. The Kapara was too slick in texture for me and the amalgam just doesn’t interest me.
The shaman is like a native on steroids.
The shaman is like a native on steroids.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2007
- Messages
- 874
OK, I've had time with the Kapara, Amalgam, and a copper PM2, all of which were picked up from fellow BF members on the exchange. Of the three my favorite is the Kapara. I agree with @Eljay2 that there is just something special about this knife. Between the fit and finish, action, and texture/profile of the knife (it almost feels like a (worry stone in hand without being too slick), the Kapara is really fantastic.
Next comes the Amalgam, which also has a fantastic action, and is an extremely solid and fairly large knife. I do have issues with the flipper tab when closing it, but don't plan to remove the flipper since I like using all methods to open the Amalgam when I'm fidgeting. I do wish that there were custom options for scales for the knife because I think that ergonomics and overall feel could be significantly improved with a more contoured, rounded edge option.
Finally comes the PM3 (my only one), but I'm afraid that this rating is likely impacted by the copper scales that could anchor a boat. I'll probably get a Shaman next (hopefully Z-wear/micarta), but might eventually give the PM3 another chance with different scales.
Thanks again for all your input and help!
Next comes the Amalgam, which also has a fantastic action, and is an extremely solid and fairly large knife. I do have issues with the flipper tab when closing it, but don't plan to remove the flipper since I like using all methods to open the Amalgam when I'm fidgeting. I do wish that there were custom options for scales for the knife because I think that ergonomics and overall feel could be significantly improved with a more contoured, rounded edge option.
Finally comes the PM3 (my only one), but I'm afraid that this rating is likely impacted by the copper scales that could anchor a boat. I'll probably get a Shaman next (hopefully Z-wear/micarta), but might eventually give the PM3 another chance with different scales.
Thanks again for all your input and help!
jstn
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2012
- Messages
- 3,735
I'd love to find someone who makes some micarta scales for the Amalgam, or better yet, a Spyderco version with upgraded scales and steel!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2025
- Messages
- 1
I own all three of these knives, the Spyderco Amalgam, Shaman, and Kapara (plus a PM2 and others). As noted by other posts I, too, use them for different purposes, so make your choice based on your expected usage.
I like that all of these knives have solid construction, great steel in their blades, and large handles which fit comfortably in my hands.
My Amalgam is my favorite. I carry it for, shall we say, "lightweight" self-defense. I live in a fairly safe environment but I don't want to have nothing if push comes to shove. The Amalgam is a flipper on ball bearings so it deploys in an instant. People complain that you can't shut it easily because the back of the blade interferes with the compression lock. True, but I don't care because for self-defense I *only* care about how fast I can get the blade out and get a good grip, and the Amalgam delivers . . . with an impressively large blade. The Amalgam is noticeably the largest of the three. Note that it has a reduced-size "spidie hole" for opening the blade, but I don't care because I use the flipper tab.
My Shaman is my medium-duty big knife. (I have fixed-blade knives and a Demko AD-10 for heavy-duty outdoor activities.) I'll take my Shaman into the woods on a walk or a hike. Like the Kapara it has bronze washers as bearings so it is easier to clean up if it gets dirty. The Shaman has a full-size "spidie hole" for opening the blade.
My Kapara is my light-duty big knife. I'll take it on a long walk. Sometimes I use it as my carry knife when my Amalgam is just too big. The Kapara is not as tall as either the Amalgam or the Shaman making it easier to keep in my pockets, but it is nevertheless a big knife. The Kapara has a reduced-size "spidie hole" for opening the blade.
It should be noted that both my Shaman and Kapara came from the factory with dangerously slippery scales. I can't speak for all of the models of these two knife designs, but to make the knives I bought safer to use I had to replace the slithery factory scales with after-market scales which had grippy textures. (RippsGarageTech.com) Frankly it amazes me that any reputable knife maker would produce knives which are hard to hang onto; that's like something you should learn in Knife Safety 101. :-(
That's my perspective on these 3 knives. Like I said, make your choice based on your expected usage.
I like that all of these knives have solid construction, great steel in their blades, and large handles which fit comfortably in my hands.
My Amalgam is my favorite. I carry it for, shall we say, "lightweight" self-defense. I live in a fairly safe environment but I don't want to have nothing if push comes to shove. The Amalgam is a flipper on ball bearings so it deploys in an instant. People complain that you can't shut it easily because the back of the blade interferes with the compression lock. True, but I don't care because for self-defense I *only* care about how fast I can get the blade out and get a good grip, and the Amalgam delivers . . . with an impressively large blade. The Amalgam is noticeably the largest of the three. Note that it has a reduced-size "spidie hole" for opening the blade, but I don't care because I use the flipper tab.
My Shaman is my medium-duty big knife. (I have fixed-blade knives and a Demko AD-10 for heavy-duty outdoor activities.) I'll take my Shaman into the woods on a walk or a hike. Like the Kapara it has bronze washers as bearings so it is easier to clean up if it gets dirty. The Shaman has a full-size "spidie hole" for opening the blade.
My Kapara is my light-duty big knife. I'll take it on a long walk. Sometimes I use it as my carry knife when my Amalgam is just too big. The Kapara is not as tall as either the Amalgam or the Shaman making it easier to keep in my pockets, but it is nevertheless a big knife. The Kapara has a reduced-size "spidie hole" for opening the blade.
It should be noted that both my Shaman and Kapara came from the factory with dangerously slippery scales. I can't speak for all of the models of these two knife designs, but to make the knives I bought safer to use I had to replace the slithery factory scales with after-market scales which had grippy textures. (RippsGarageTech.com) Frankly it amazes me that any reputable knife maker would produce knives which are hard to hang onto; that's like something you should learn in Knife Safety 101. :-(
That's my perspective on these 3 knives. Like I said, make your choice based on your expected usage.