Please sell me on the Spyderco Shaman.

[vnvman]

That would be the PowerLock in Tatanka and Chinook4.

One could argue that the CBBL (Manix) is stronger than Comp lock, too. Just more material … the backspacer in the Manix is a different question.

Also, I got used to putting blue loktite on all my pivots, and on clean pivot screws, not just with Spyderco’s.

There is a lot of hype about Spyderco’s, much like about other brands. But - except maybe for Tuff and Chinook 1 - building the toughest knife has never been their goal, IMO. Neither should it be, for that we have fixed blades.

And yes, my 3V Ti AD10 is the toughest folder that I have. But it’s heavy and will loose in a cutting competition with my CRK and most of my Spydercos. Putting one vs the other doesn’t make sense.

It’s good to have choices.

I had to look into that powerlock and it's pretty interesting stuff. It seems like Spyderco was in the verge of developing something akin to the triad lock with that one.

Actually I don't think that a knife needs to be seriously overbuilt in order to ensure the maximum toughness of the lock. For example knives like the American Lawman are very slicy, slim and light and yet they have a lock that can withstand incredible abuse without getting play or whatever. Many CS knives are liner less and yet incredibly tough, take for example the Hold outs, even the 3" version is nearly impossible to break, at least as far as vertical stress is concerned of course: if you introduce lateral stress it will explode, but that makes since it's almost half the thickness of a Delica handle wise after all.

By the way I've recently stumbled across a video from @SpartanJohns on YouTube testing the Chaparral, a very light and unassuming blade, but we were discussing the fact that it has a stop pin, a feature that tends to fly under the radar but can be crucial in preventing lock rock, and delivers an incredible boost in overall toughness. I think that a knife like a Shaman with a back lock and a big stop pin, to go together with that thick spine could give even the AD10 a run for its money.

I do agree that making the toughest folding knife definitely isn't Spyderco's ultimate goal - and rightfully so, a folding knife has to cut first and foremost, and the longer the better, but ultimately I don't think it's strictly necessary to give up toughness for the sake of portability and/or cutting ability (to a point).
It is true that fixed blades do exist and are there to ensure maximum toughness and avoid any possibility of mechanical failure, but if one enjoys the ability of carrying say a 4" blade as an EDC, it may be impractical to have a fixed blade of that size on the belt every day, and in that scenario, since we're at it... Why shouldn't we want the toughest possible lock on it, in order to make the most out of the tool we carry, come hell or high water?

Of course I like choices: for example I own a Military 2 and a Talwar 4", and I love them both equally for completely different reasons, they're simply incredibly good at different things. But is it that wrong to wish that someday those two can make a baby?

 

[yablanowitz]

The primary function of a lock on a folding knife is to allow you to develop poor knife handling habits that will result in more severe injury when it finally fails to protect you from your own stupidity.

 

[vnvman]

The primary function of a lock on a folding knife is to allow you to develop poor knife handling habits that will result in more severe injury when it finally fails to protect you from your own stupidity.

Right on brother. Same goes for seatbelts. Since you know that your ass is safe you start being reckless, like gramps used to tell me. Unfortunately he died in a car accident recently, but I'll treasure his teachings forever.

 

[Buffalohump]

I was checking this knife out but then people seem to prefer the Bodacious....

I can definitely see the appeal of the scales. Nice thick, rounded scales, what a pleasure!

I'm brought up short by the relative length of the blade compared to the handle and shorter cutting edge. I'm kinda fussy about blade to handle ratio and I prefer blades to be as close to 4 inches as possible.

All in all my brain tells me the Manix XL is a better buy. But still.... I keep checking it out. It's a handsome knife, for sure.

I don't know why people get hung up on locks. All locks can fail if you abuse the knife. Use it as it was intended and you'll never have a problem.

I'm much more interested in a lock that doesn't move under use. The backlock bothers me because you feel movement when you bear down. Not that its likely to fail but I prefer no movement.
The compression lock is excellent and I'm sure the ball lock is, too.