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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.
Shaman
- Thread starter Gary W. Graley
- Start date
Peakbagger46
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2017
- Messages
- 1,757
If you press the top part of the lock to disengage it the nub won’t hit your finger. I’ve carried mine for almost a year now and don’t even notice the nub anymore.
5-by-5
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2016
- Messages
- 1,899
The pinching is common with the compression lock. Just one of the reasons I dislike it. Especially since the backlock is superior!
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2003
- Messages
- 1,052
Grip knife normally with index finger on handle bottom. Depress lock tab and let blade drop 90 degrees and allow jimped choil to rest on index finger. Move index finger to spine and push close the final 90 degrees while pinching the knife with other fingers.. EEk!!-May sound ridiculous at first but I assure you it's safe. I never had an accident in thousands of closures of compression locks on my PM2, Shaman etc....just keep index finger tight against dropped choil. You always have a nice firm grip on knife.
OR just let it drop by gravity to 90% closed then finish with your thumb.
SAL hit it out of the park with the Shaman. Stellar piece.
Last edited:
Peakbagger46
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2017
- Messages
- 1,757
That “annoying nub” has a very important job of preventing one from cutting their finger off when using the wonderful choil.
Sal has obtained the status of a knife making demigod with the execution of this blade.
Sal has obtained the status of a knife making demigod with the execution of this blade.
sgt1372
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2018
- Messages
- 7,948
I've had the Shaman that I bought off the Exchange for about a week and my general reaction is that is just "ok."
I should preface by saying that I own over 60 Spyders of all types in terms of size, scale texture & material, locking mechanisms, blade length, shape and steel and function. So, I have a pretty wide basis of knives for comparison.
The Shaman drawfs the Native 5 CF S90V Sprint that I also own not only in size but also weight. It's not too heavy to carry but I think that the Shaman could be improved by going on a diet both in terms of handle size and weight.
The use of solid linerless CF scales w/an inlaid compression lock mechanism, as implemented in my Silverax and Amalgam and maybe a lighter non-metallic backspacer would be my suggestion for weight loss. As for bulk, while I like the smooth contoured G10 handle, I think it is too thick and should be thinned a bit, which will make it feel better the hand and fit flatter in the pocket.
I specifically collect Spyderco and other knives w/blades measuring between 3.5-4.5" so the length of the Shaman blade is fine w/me. There is nothing unique about the blade design which is typically leaf shaped. However, its large surface. and long edge makes it suitable for many different tasks. The addition of a choil also facilitates more precise tip use. However, these features are found on many other Spyders.
S30V is the type of steel that Spyderco uses widely. I am not a blade steel snob. S30V is fine w/me for a general purpose knife like the Shaman but if a lighter CF version is made, I'd like to see LC200N used, as it is on my Autonomy 2 which will make the knife more corrosion resistant as opposed to harder and more expensive with "premium" steels, such as M390 or S90/110V, that will make the knife more "durable" but also more difficult to sharpen w/o any practical advantage for "normal" use.
I have no problem w/compression locks or any other type of locking mechanism. It works fine for me and it has the advantage that it's mechanically easier (at least it is for me) to unlock the blade than w/a lockback, liner lock, or Axis or bearing type lock. I seldom close any knife single handed, which I think is unsafe. So, I don't have any problem w/anything hitting my hand when closing a blade, regardless of the locking mechanism used.
What I really like about Spyderco's compression lock knives is that they often have very light detents which enables me to wrist flick them open.
If the detent is a bit too strong to do this, as it is on my Shaman, you can press the compression lockbar w/the tip of your index finger, which totally frees the blade so that you can then flick the blade open and lock it in place by releasing the lockbar at the same time. You can't do this w/any other lock mechanism.
All in all the Shaman is a a fine knife but it is not unlike many other fine knives that Spyderco also makes, which why I think it is just "ok."
In terms of overall size, it is very similar to the Manix2 which I prefer because it is thinner and weighs less. However, I don't like the Axis type lock on the Manix2 as much as I like the compression lock in terms, of functionality between the 2, it's a wash.
I am not unhappy w/the Shaman and have no plans to sell it but I doubt that I'll carry it very much because it just doesn't excite me as many other of my Spyders do.
I should preface by saying that I own over 60 Spyders of all types in terms of size, scale texture & material, locking mechanisms, blade length, shape and steel and function. So, I have a pretty wide basis of knives for comparison.
The Shaman drawfs the Native 5 CF S90V Sprint that I also own not only in size but also weight. It's not too heavy to carry but I think that the Shaman could be improved by going on a diet both in terms of handle size and weight.
The use of solid linerless CF scales w/an inlaid compression lock mechanism, as implemented in my Silverax and Amalgam and maybe a lighter non-metallic backspacer would be my suggestion for weight loss. As for bulk, while I like the smooth contoured G10 handle, I think it is too thick and should be thinned a bit, which will make it feel better the hand and fit flatter in the pocket.
I specifically collect Spyderco and other knives w/blades measuring between 3.5-4.5" so the length of the Shaman blade is fine w/me. There is nothing unique about the blade design which is typically leaf shaped. However, its large surface. and long edge makes it suitable for many different tasks. The addition of a choil also facilitates more precise tip use. However, these features are found on many other Spyders.
S30V is the type of steel that Spyderco uses widely. I am not a blade steel snob. S30V is fine w/me for a general purpose knife like the Shaman but if a lighter CF version is made, I'd like to see LC200N used, as it is on my Autonomy 2 which will make the knife more corrosion resistant as opposed to harder and more expensive with "premium" steels, such as M390 or S90/110V, that will make the knife more "durable" but also more difficult to sharpen w/o any practical advantage for "normal" use.
I have no problem w/compression locks or any other type of locking mechanism. It works fine for me and it has the advantage that it's mechanically easier (at least it is for me) to unlock the blade than w/a lockback, liner lock, or Axis or bearing type lock. I seldom close any knife single handed, which I think is unsafe. So, I don't have any problem w/anything hitting my hand when closing a blade, regardless of the locking mechanism used.
What I really like about Spyderco's compression lock knives is that they often have very light detents which enables me to wrist flick them open.
If the detent is a bit too strong to do this, as it is on my Shaman, you can press the compression lockbar w/the tip of your index finger, which totally frees the blade so that you can then flick the blade open and lock it in place by releasing the lockbar at the same time. You can't do this w/any other lock mechanism.
All in all the Shaman is a a fine knife but it is not unlike many other fine knives that Spyderco also makes, which why I think it is just "ok."
In terms of overall size, it is very similar to the Manix2 which I prefer because it is thinner and weighs less. However, I don't like the Axis type lock on the Manix2 as much as I like the compression lock in terms, of functionality between the 2, it's a wash.
I am not unhappy w/the Shaman and have no plans to sell it but I doubt that I'll carry it very much because it just doesn't excite me as many other of my Spyders do.
Last edited:
Daniel
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,898
Personally, I love the Shaman.
I think that it is the best designed “user” Spyderco knife. From the contoured scales, weight, blade shape, and blade
grind. I like that it is heavy and beefy, but streamlined. The funny thing is that I am not really a fan of the compression lock.
I bought one second hand on a lark and I was so impressed with it when I got it and still am impressed with it every time that I carry and use it. It is one knife that I would have a very hard time parting with. I like it that much!
I own and have owned MANY knives and Spyderco knives and this might be the ONE for me! I still like the Bradley I nearly as much, though!
I think that it is the best designed “user” Spyderco knife. From the contoured scales, weight, blade shape, and blade
grind. I like that it is heavy and beefy, but streamlined. The funny thing is that I am not really a fan of the compression lock.
I bought one second hand on a lark and I was so impressed with it when I got it and still am impressed with it every time that I carry and use it. It is one knife that I would have a very hard time parting with. I like it that much!
I own and have owned MANY knives and Spyderco knives and this might be the ONE for me! I still like the Bradley I nearly as much, though!