Shaman

H0kieengineer

H0kieengineer

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Jun 24, 2017
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So I’ve tried a PM2 and didn’t find it exciting. Should I give a Shaman a try? Is it different than the PM2?
 
That depends on what you found unappealing on the PM2. The Shaman is thicker, heavier and has more rounded scales, but it has the same locking mechanism as the PM2. Personally, I'm not thrilled with either, but they both have their followers.
 
yablanowitz said:
That depends on what you found unappealing on the PM2. The Shaman is thicker, heavier and has more rounded scales, but it has the same locking mechanism as the PM2. Personally, I'm not thrilled with either, but they both have their followers.
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The PM2 to me just says “knife”. It’s too good at being a good general knife, it’s not big and exciting like my Military, it’s not overbuilt like my Hinderer or ZTs. Mine was in S30V, which Spyderco does well, but the knife was fine. Just didn’t click for me.
 
H0kieengineer said:
So I’ve tried a PM2 and didn’t find it exciting. Should I give a Shaman a try? Is it different than the PM2?
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Here is a reply you might not expect: I am decidedly not a fan of Spyderco knives (only because of aesthetics and my inclination towards more traditional designs). Nevertheless, I love the lines and the proportions of the Shaman. It checks all the right boxes for me, including the lockback mechanism. As soon as I get the chance I am going to try one out.

Zieg
 
The Zieg said:
Here is a reply you might not expect: I am decidedly not a fan of Spyderco knives (only because of aesthetics and my inclination towards more traditional designs). Nevertheless, I love the lines and the proportions of the Shaman. It checks all the right boxes for me, including the lockback mechanism. As soon as I get the chance I am going to try one out.

Zieg
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Thinking of a different knife or a typo? The Shaman is a compression lock knife.


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I'd think the Shaman would excite you while the PM2 didn't only if you didn't like the ergos or wanted something larger in hand. They aren't crazy different (IMO anyway).
 
kreole said:
Thinking of a different knife or a typo? The Shaman is a compression lock knife.


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I'd think the Shaman would excite you while the PM2 didn't only if you didn't like the ergos or wanted something larger in hand. They aren't crazy different (IMO anyway).
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Typo! Meant "locking mechanism". Good catch.

Zieg
 
I have both, and although probably similar in some ways, in my opinion, are two completely different knives. Although both very comfortable, completely different ergos. Although both capable slicers, completely different blade geometries. Personally I love them both, although I prefer the pm2. I would definitely give the shaman a try though. If anything, it might be more comfortable in the hand due to the contoured grip compared to the boxier pm2. Also, the compression lock might be my favorite lock and it lets the shaman’s blade falls with ease

EDIT:the nub might through you off, as it threw me off for the first many flicks/drops
 
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What about a comparison pic, visuals always help
Have you looked at the Native Chief, it’s closer to the Military in size.

91CAF9BE-4A87-4E70-B34F-A5CAA53E6167.jpeg
 
H0kieengineer said:
The PM2 to me just says “knife”. It’s too good at being a good general knife, it’s not big and exciting like my Military, it’s not overbuilt like my Hinderer or ZTs. Mine was in S30V, which Spyderco does well, but the knife was fine. Just didn’t click for me.
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The Shaman has replaced my Hinderer’s and ZT’s. Since you like those knives I would say yes, try a Shaman. It sounds like the Spyderco you would want.
 
I carry a PM2 most everyday and I have a Shaman. It's a much beefier knife with too much weight for my EDC. YMMV
 
Short answer.. Yes, give a Shaman a try.

I originally bought a g10 Shaman and almost turned away from the model.
I didn't care for the Smooth g10. So I sold it.

Then came along the micarta Z-wear Shaman...

I have a dozen Spyderco Model's, in my EDC rotation.. The Shaman takes most of the pocket time. Rotating other models in, but always back to the Shaman.

Just last weekend, a friend stopped up looking for a "smaller" model, then the PM2..
He had a Sage 5 and a Endela, but had just gave one to each of his daughters.

While I was getting other Model's out, to show him. I handed him my Shaman.
He couldn't put it down!
I still showed him the other models,, but he kept picking the Shaman back up.
He bought my micarta M4 Shaman and Loves it!

I could tell you a few more similar stories, just the same. Lol..
 
The Shaman is the best knife Spyderco currently makes, in my opinion. If you aren't worried about weight, like a knife that can take any kind of beating, is almost fixed blade comfortable in hand, and still cuts very well...
 
Love the Shaman. I think the Native Chief is a good recommendation, big knife, lighter for EDC. If you like size and more weight isn't a consideration, I wonder what you'd think of the Subvert. I'd like a chance to handle one of these, curious about them.
 
The Subvert is very thick. It is comfortable to use and the action is very smooth, but it's like an Opinel#10 without the light weight. Duct tape two rolls of quarters together end to end and you'll get the idea. It isn't quite that heavy, but I'm pretty sure it weighs as much as a Chief and a Military together.
 
The shaman is Spyderco’s standard “hard-use” knife IMHO. That comes with pros and cons. I wouldn’t put the two in the same use category. The PM2 is for medium use. A better comparison would be the PM2 to the native or sage.. also medium use type knives.
 
I have 9 PM2s and 4 shamans. I prefer the PM2 obviously. I do like the Shaman but it is more of a flawed knife in my opinion than the PM2. No idea why Spyderco put the “nub” in front of the finger choir. It’s annoying when closing and it slams into your finger. Seems this should have been addressed during its development.
 
The Shaman is the best knife made, hands down. Not just best spyderco, but best period, imo. I have 4, I love them. I wish everyone did, but everyone's likes and dislikes are different. The nub? If it hits your finger I'm sorry, but move your finger. Or grind it off if it really annoys you that badly. It's a non-issue imo.

Get one, see if you like it. If you don't you can sell it with little loss of value.
 
I bought a S30V shaman about a year ago. Just wanted to try one out after reading so many comments about them. For the last 20 years my collection has been focused more to the hard use tactical knives like Hinderer’s, Striders, CRK Inkosi, ZT’s etc. I have bought many spyderco’s and then sold them soon after because they never seemed as hard use as what I preferred.

After getting the Shaman in hand I was smitten. Over the next year I found I wasn’t carrying the Hinderer’s and CRK’s. They seemed like a lot of money to be sitting in a drawer so I sold them all off and now only have a few knives left, 2 Shamans, a Para3, and a Lil Native which I bought to try the shaman in a work friendly size. Love all 3 of these knives but the Shaman is definitely something special in the Spyderco line up.

The reason I have 2 shamans is I just grabbed a S90V Knifecenter special. I wanted a more high end Shaman to be my ultimate EDC. So in that vein I just denubbed it and swapped the black G10 scales from my other one. I have to say that I’m not really noticing any huge difference from having the nub to not having it. I guess I just got used to it after handling my first one for about a year. The nub is not really an issue IMO. I don’t regret taking it off, but I don’t notice the knife is really much different to handle now without it. I guess it’s like anything, you just get used to it and adapt to it.



 
The Shaman is litteraly my grail knife. So help me, if you get it do not like it. 🤣

The PM2 is an exciting knife to me though. Everyone has different tastes.
 
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