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Shaman vs Bodacious
- Thread starter Lenny
- Start date
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- Jul 23, 2015
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- 18,154
I turned a Shaman into a Bodacious five years ago. I liked it much better that way.
Did it again four years ago.
Did it again four years ago.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2023
- Messages
- 560
I have neither, but am very excited to see choil less designs coming out from spyderco. Give me more blade and get my hand closer to the blade. I'd take the bodacious over the shaman.
sgt1372
Platinum Member
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- Oct 16, 2018
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LOL! I didn't even know there was a "Bodacious" until I saw the name pop up here. 
Looked at the pics/specs for the Bodacious (as compared w/the Shaman). The only diff seems to be choil, which makes no diff to me but, FWIW, I think that knives w/choils are potentially more useful than those w/o.
I own 2 Shamans. So, I'll stick with them.
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PS: I haven't looked at the Delivered & Upcoming Lists in the Official Spyderco Forum recently and, after just taking a look, it seems that they're just releasing variations of old models (a lot of them) & really aren't releasing anything "new" to speak of . . .
unlike the early days, when Spyderco seemed to be releasing uniquely new models all of the time, most of which are represented in my collection.
Oh well . . .
Looked at the pics/specs for the Bodacious (as compared w/the Shaman). The only diff seems to be choil, which makes no diff to me but, FWIW, I think that knives w/choils are potentially more useful than those w/o.
I own 2 Shamans. So, I'll stick with them.
----------------------------------------------------
PS: I haven't looked at the Delivered & Upcoming Lists in the Official Spyderco Forum recently and, after just taking a look, it seems that they're just releasing variations of old models (a lot of them) & really aren't releasing anything "new" to speak of . . .
unlike the early days, when Spyderco seemed to be releasing uniquely new models all of the time, most of which are represented in my collection.
Oh well . . .
Last edited:
Cwilliams563
Gold Member
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- Jul 28, 2022
- Messages
- 3,145
Cwilliams563
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2022
- Messages
- 3,145
Last edited:
I've had several shamans - regular S30V/G10 and micarta sprints. Never carried them after initially buying because they don't ride flat in my pocket due to the thick, rounded scales. Also hated that I had to use the choil for them to be comfortable and balanced in my hand. However, if I had to use my folder for very controlled cutting for hours on end, I would definitely use the Shaman.
The bodacious sits flat in my pocket. It's not as comfortable in the hand due to the flat, rectangular handles. It is, however, secure in the hand and instantly seats itself due to it's "1 grip" design. I really like that about this knife.
I prefer the Bodacious by far.
Also, someone on Spyderco's forum demonstrated that the Bodacious is literally a shaman without a choil, I think he even swapped frames and scales between the two but I might have misunderstood.
Ozmose
Gold Member
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- Jul 7, 2022
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- 296
My biggest problem with the Bodacious is the price. I'm not sure how they came in at $260-$280. I think I paid around that for my 15v Shaman. I'd get it if were an interesting steel, or if there was some other layer of complexity involved, but that's not the case here. It's just s30v and plain old black G10 like every other base model they put out the door. I hope it's not going to be a trend. What are their sprint runs going to be? They're usually about a hundred bucks more, so pushing $400!? That just seems crazy to me.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2000
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- 608
I sold the Shaman I had. It just felt awkward in my hand. I bought a Bodacious. It's my new EDC. It addresses everything I did not like about the Shaman. It's thinner, doesn't feel slippery, has no giant, edge wasting choil. It is what it is. It costs what it costs. I have been using S30V and VG-10 for years and have no issues with either. I love the new Cobalt Blue G-10/Spy27 series. I hope there's a Bodacious with that treatment soon. Overall, I just prefer the Bodacious. Great design.
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
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- 18,154
I really liked the idea behind the Shaman when I first heard about it. Basically near Cold Steel level strength in a Spyderco folder, with the addictively fidgety compression lock. Definitely hooked me. I have not handled the Bodacious, but I have seen enough pictures and video to note a few things:
Out of the box, the Shaman appears to be better chamfered than the Bodacious, although I do remember there being a somewhat hard corner on the bottom edges of the scales beneath the chamfering. I wouldn't say it ever gave me hotspots exactly, but it did leave me wanting greater comfort. Despite the improved handle profile of the Bodacious, I strongly suspect the decrease in chamfering would lead to the same issue for me. However, that would be a simple matter to correct with a respirator, a couple pieces of 220 and 400 grit sandpaper, and a little time. Doing this will reduce the flatness of the bottom of a handle, though, affecting how it indexes in the hand, and the more you round those corners the more the knife will want to twist in the hand. In my opinion, though it is pretty hard to do too much to where the handling is compromised beyond usefulness.
More later, my brother just called!
Out of the box, the Shaman appears to be better chamfered than the Bodacious, although I do remember there being a somewhat hard corner on the bottom edges of the scales beneath the chamfering. I wouldn't say it ever gave me hotspots exactly, but it did leave me wanting greater comfort. Despite the improved handle profile of the Bodacious, I strongly suspect the decrease in chamfering would lead to the same issue for me. However, that would be a simple matter to correct with a respirator, a couple pieces of 220 and 400 grit sandpaper, and a little time. Doing this will reduce the flatness of the bottom of a handle, though, affecting how it indexes in the hand, and the more you round those corners the more the knife will want to twist in the hand. In my opinion, though it is pretty hard to do too much to where the handling is compromised beyond usefulness.
More later, my brother just called!
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
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- 18,154
The other main thing I was going to mention between the two designs is that on the Shaman from the factory you have a protrusion that encroaches into the lock bar cutout, which makes one handed closing an acquired skill, rather than simply something you can do without thinking at first. And even after practice, it is easy enough to forget to move your finger out of the way at the last minute, especially if you are bouncing back and forth between multiple compression lock knives and not really ingraining your motor pattern on just the one knife. If you don't move the finger out of the way the knife won't close all the way during a one handed closing attempt, and will bounce a bit back further into the open position. I removed that protrusion on both my regrinds of the Shaman, and they corrected that design element on the Bodacious.
Sal Glesser
Moderator
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- Dec 27, 1998
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- 11,706
Thanx for the thread and input. I'm always open to discussion for any of my designs.
The Shaman was the first of the trio. We worked on the Shaman for 2 years, many models and prototypes. Once we had the Shaman to where we were satisfied that it served the design parameters we were seeking.
The Bodacious is really a Shaman design with the finger choil removed. The compression lock permits the edge to be easily close to the handle. Some other minor changes to more closely fit the model differences.
It's a fairly recent design that I'm sure we'll be refining as we learn more about the models from you.
The 3rd design is a lightened version of the Shaman. Again,changes to fit the requirements that we believe you will want. We call it the "Edgerati". Should be out in 2025.
We've already been asked to make few "Exclusive Sprints" for some that wanted a special recipe for materials on their "Shamans". I expect that will also happen with the "Bodacious" and "Edgerati".
As you can see, it could take years to refine a model (Design, pattern) to smooth out the bumps and sort any glitches. The Endura and Delica are in their 4th tooling since introduced in 1991.
sal
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"Continual improvement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind:.
The Shaman was the first of the trio. We worked on the Shaman for 2 years, many models and prototypes. Once we had the Shaman to where we were satisfied that it served the design parameters we were seeking.
The Bodacious is really a Shaman design with the finger choil removed. The compression lock permits the edge to be easily close to the handle. Some other minor changes to more closely fit the model differences.
It's a fairly recent design that I'm sure we'll be refining as we learn more about the models from you.
The 3rd design is a lightened version of the Shaman. Again,changes to fit the requirements that we believe you will want. We call it the "Edgerati". Should be out in 2025.
We've already been asked to make few "Exclusive Sprints" for some that wanted a special recipe for materials on their "Shamans". I expect that will also happen with the "Bodacious" and "Edgerati".
As you can see, it could take years to refine a model (Design, pattern) to smooth out the bumps and sort any glitches. The Endura and Delica are in their 4th tooling since introduced in 1991.
sal
========================================================================
"Continual improvement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind:.