Spyderco Shaman VS Cold Steel AD-10 

Shaman is very attractive and I love the compression lock, but that price tag has really put me off so I’ll likely never own one purely for that reason. The AD-10 on the other hand can be found on sale fairly regularly and I managed to pick mine up for $140 and I definitely feel it’s worth every penny and then some.

Cold Steel's big fat clips are great for holding on comfortably. Maybe they are ugly, but they might be camouflage as they make it look like a measuring tape or other bulky instrument.

My only problem with the Shaman is that when I think of Spyderco I think light thin bladed knife. So hold the Shaman I’m let down by my own expectations. The AD10 I expect a heavy overbuilt knife so I like it. Very proud of myself for resisting all the the Shaman exclusive drops. I love tool steel but convenience my self not in this model. One thing is sure with Spyderco...more expensives are coming. Thank you for this battle

Congratulations on your progress sir, im very happy to be subscribed 🤘

Congrats on the new partnership/sponsorship SD. I will definately be checking out SEKW. Thanks to SEKW for increasing the content possibilities here. This is my unwind homepage! It's a win, win, win situation.

I do own and carry both of these knives. They are VERY similar (brothers from another mother), and in reality, both will do all the same things the other will do, just as well. To me, it boils down to one thing; Compression lock vs. Triad lock. While the compression lock is my first choice most of the time, I must say, my AD10 is the smoothest triad lock I've ever used, and in fact one of the smoothest knives I've ever used overall (almost glass-like). They're both great, and you can't go wrong with either. So... you want to carry a Demko designed Cold Steel, or do you want to carry an Sal designed Spyderco?

I just found this channel and I subscribed thanks for the video👍✌

AD10 should have a black clip...at least as an option. Good video. Also...thanks for code.

AD-10 for me. I prefer a finger choil to be a bonus, not necessity. And sharpened edge length is better than the Shaman.

Ive got a pre-order first run ad10 it was 155.00 i work in a lumber yard you should see what it does to plastic/fabric banding and 2×4s 😋

Ad10 is the better hard use knife. The shaman is the nicer knife to put in your pocket but not hard use knife imo. I have both knives and ad10 is the hard use folding knife and the shaman is more practical carry knife in pocket.

Nicely put together comparison video. Two of my favorites👍👍🇺🇸🔪

I bought both the Ad-15 and the AD-10 around or before Christmas and I'm up almost 100 dollars between the pair.

AD10 pricing currently: 150 on Amazon, 180 on Knife Center. I love my hollow ground version. Both are good knives. 200 is too much considering I just picked up a TwoSun ts165 in titanium, ceramic bearings/detent with M390 for 87.00. thank you sir.

Great deal with SEKW. That will be nice. Thanks for the code. Great battle.

Cold Steel does well with S35VN, XHP, and 3V in particular. I was lucky enough to get the AD10 when it was $135 on Massdrop, perhaps one of the best overall values in some time.

Good comparison, nice job.

I got lucky. I got an ad10 for $120 on woot. It would have been cheaper, but I had t pay California tax

Love both knives. Shaman in my pocket when I go downtown and AD 10 in my pocket when I’m in the woods. Great review 😉

Great points made here! I love my native 5 salt, but if the extra 1/2 inch or so is for beefitude, as much as I would like to collect the whole native family, cold steel makes taaaaanks. Even my prolite folder at around 30 bucks is a brick for hard use compared to some of my other favorites in my collection. I love all muh dang knives for different reasons though, that's why I can't stop! Help! Hehehe...

Great video Bryan. Thanks for the head to head. My AD10 is the grail of my relatively new hobby.

Can the ad10 deploy from a wrist flick alone?

My family vacations at N Myrtle every summer within walking distance of SEKW! I wonder if they'll give me the slicey dicey discount in store.

Does anyone know why Cold steel doesn't really do hollow grinds anymore?

I'm down here in Myrtle. Chad is great. Love your reviews keep up the awesomeness

Now you can get an Ad-10 for half the price of a shaman. Currently 120 on amazon.

I got a first run AD-10 and an M4 Shaman, I couldn't pick one over the other. I would like to see a Manix Para 2 battle.

shaman in my opinion the ergo seems perfect

$99 for the ad10 rn on Amazon for prime days 2021.

AD 10. You made the right choice. I own both but I would never part with the AD 10 and I can't say that about the Shaman. To make it better I paid $144 for the AD 10 when it first came out.

Great comparison! Also, the retailer's website link you provide is incorrect because you're missing an "e" after knife.

I’m going to have to stop in next time I cross the (South of the Boarder) from North Carolina to South Carolina.

Solid comparison. I lean more toward the Shaman. Also, Thanks to SEKW.

I've owned two Shamans and sold them. Just didn't gel for me. A slightly stronger tip and smoother ergos are the only benefit over the much lighter and less expensive PM2. Still own two (hollow grind) AD10's. It's a much better hard use knife. Stronger blade, stronger lock, ambidextrous, and great ergonomics!

Shout out to southern edge!! Great company, great service!

👀

“ I wouldn’t put them in the Louvre” #hilarious AD 10 all day

Ad10 for the win.. I would like a Shaman but not for 200$. Especially when sprints are 4$ more.

The Shaman in micarta and cruwear for $208 smokes the AD10! I got one when it was released and it’s hands down my favorite knife

Great discount they just don’t use PayPal 👎

My Vote is for the AD10 for the Win.

I agree cold steel for the win!

I need an AD10 for my EDC pack. I am just kinda waiting for the fanboys to pile in and whine that you gave CS the quality win.

FYI you can still get exactly that version, (S30V/G-10BLK), of the Shaman for less than $200.00 with free shipping on EBay from reputable sellers IF you shop around. I think that it's because all of the newer steel versions Spyderco is using on their newer Shaman versions such as CRUWEAR, Rex-45, and M4 etc? Maybe the S30V is seen as less desirable? But their prices are definitely headed UP. As far as big, heavy, durable, solid hard use lock backs go I still have my well used 1967 BUCK 110 and the newest version one that I paid $7.00 new and $35.00 new for respectively. IMO IF you really want a hard use and durable knife you need a fixed blade. I have a long standing dislike of Cold Steel. Fairly or unfairly I won't even consider their products. Not to mention that I buy only made in USA knives. Good review SD and I appreciate your honesty and candor as usual.

Revisiting this video after a while, and I have to say after owning both the AD10 (hollow ground!) which I picked up for 100 bucks, and my Shaman, which I paid the full 200 for, it is tough to choose between the two. However I would probably give the win to the Shaman. I disagree on the factory edges. Spyderco is always so consistent, and razor sharp, where Cold Steel may be sharp but they have a tendency to be close to chisel ground, although my AD10 isnt as bad as my 4max Scout. I fixed the Scout, the AD10 can stay the way it is because it's not that bad. I didn't have to touch the Shaman. The pocket clips...Spyderco has the best clips in the business, aside from Benchmade's deep carry clips. Still, I love Spydie spoon clips. Wire clips suck, period. Cold Steel's clips are always too tight. I have had to bend out both the AD10 and 4max Scout clips. Now they are useable. So, another win for the Shaman. Value...at current prices its a tie. I know, Shaman is 10 dollars more, but better cutting geometry, and you said S35 is better than S30, but IMO thats a toss up. Do you want better edge retention vs. a little more toughness/ease of sharpening? Both are great, so that doesnt matter to me. The Shaman is better in pocket. Both will likely snap the blade before the lock breaking. Throw a dart and you win either way IMO! I think they're pretty much a tie. If you prefer american made go Spyderco. All out overbuilt madness, AD10. I do wish I would have bought a Shaman when they were 150, but I wasn't into knives that big when they came out. Now I am. I don't feel ripped off paying 200 bucks. I would pay it again because I love the Shaman that much. Hell, I paid 200 bucks for my Bento Box PM2 and aside from it being M390, I got less for my money there. Love you videos though...just wanted to give an alternate view point. Hollow Ground AD10 is better than flat ground AD10, Shaman above all others! LOL Keep it up brother!

Spyderco price rape finally put me off the brand...sad.

i just got a spydiechef for 187 thanks to your coupon code, thanks

SEKW looks like they have blatantly copied SMKW logo....