Sypderco Shaman Final Diagnosis - PM2 Killer? 

This has quickly became my favorite knife. I started collecting them. Love the Shaman.

I agree with everything you said on this knife and It's been my EDC for at least two months. The knives you had on the table are my favorites and this replaced my PM2. The thing I love about this knife is that it has all the great ergos and speed and yet it is substantial. It's a workhouse and a great self-defense weapon.

Just got my second Shaman today (05/04/2023). Unlike my first one, this one came perfectly centered, had no blade movement and was drop shut out of the box. Loving it. 😊😊

Great video, Doc. I think this Shaman is calling my name - I need to get my hands on one of these when I get the opportunity, it checks all the boxes and the only real compromise is weight.

Hi Doc, thanks for the review. I agree with all your thoughts on this beautiful knife. I brought mine to the operating room and removed most of the offending "bump" and now it's perfect. I just have to cut a few jimping grooves to the area that I smoothed out.

Great vid and couldn’t agree more! The Shaman is awesome! Keep up the good work! There have been so many good knives in 2017 it’s hard to keep track. The Shaman is on the top of the Spyderco stack for sure.

Great review.. It's like a combo of Spydercos best knives (PM2, Manix 2, Native, Sage) rolled into one.. I think it was a smart move on their part making a heavier, harder use knife.. They don't have a lot of them..This will sell like crazy..

Good morning Doc., a really comparison and final diagnosis. That pinching tab would drive me nuts. Thanks for sharing, have a great New Years.

Spot on Doc! For the price I´d like to have CF and a super steel. Also will wait for a version with a smaller "chin" that makes sharpening further down easier and eliminates the pinching problem that for me is a deal breaker to replace my PM2 or ZT562CF as EDC.

Great video Doc! Love my PM2 but will wait for later version of Shaman. Those potential Sprint Runs sound very exciting!

I noticed as you were flicking it closed, you would move your index finger. This, along with the pocket clip issue, and the knife will be even greater! Great review Doc 👨‍⚕️👏 ⬅️(there’s a doctor emoji👍)

The Shaman is my new favorite. I love the pm2, but this knife is superior. Weight is the only issue. I'd like to see it with a thinner blade more like the pm2, but still very manageable the way it is.

Spot on Doc, only thing that stop me form buy the Shamsn was the blade steel. 👍👍👍 As soon as Spyderco does sprint runs with higher grade steel, and handle materials, WOW. The shape and finally, new designs coming out Syderco beside the cookie cutter look of their other knives. Syperco, listen to the Doctor's advice . 👍👍👍

I love the compression lock, and the contoured g10 is sexy. The knife is bigger than what I need, but it looks like a winner.

Great review! Hopefully one day will get my hands on one.

Best review I’ve seen yet. This answered all the questions I had as a Manix 2 fan boy lol. I’m afraid my love will fade for the Manix if I get this in my hand 😅

PM2 is close to perfect ergonomically and the compression lock is the icing on the cake.

Love the review Doc I've become a fan of Spyderco over the last two years thank you for sharing iam definitely a shaman fan have a happy New year's 🖖

Have one and love it.. version 2 maybe soften the spidey hole where it meets the grind and flush the spacer with the handles...

Spot on. Its a compelling knife but I'll wait for it to receive a bit more refinement and more interesting materials before I snap it up.

I absolutely agree with you on all fronts, yesss please on every recommendation relative to the construction and or blade steels..

Very good review. The Shaman won’t be in my collection until it goes on a diet. It’s nearly 1.5 oz up on the PM2. I’m thinking it’s more of a threat to ZT perhaps? CF and 20cv might make it a 0562 killer, but I think the PM2 will survive. ;-)

from a survival perspective the lanyard hole is very useful

Just got my Shaman. Absolutely love this knife. I have 3 knocks on it. 1st is that nub that protrudes into the compression lock, 2nd are the sharpness inside of the scale. If you grip it hard for long periods it can start to feel it dig in your fingers. 3rd is....I have xl hands so I wish the tail end of the handle maintained a bit more bulk to fill the hand a little more i stead of tapering off so much.

Since the release of this knife I've been lusting for it. I've always been a fan of the PM2 and it was a knife on my bucket list but this just became my new spyderco grail. I will definitely be saving up to buy this. Not sure if I'll get the s30v or wait for a sprint run but either way, I'm sure it will be a great piece.

Great review man, I cant wait till they come out with one of these in CF with a nicer steel I will then buy so fast!

This knife does have a ton of potential. You are right, once it comes in various steels and handle colors/materials they will sell a ton. I just hope enough people buy the current plain version so spyderco has a reason to make more variations.

My thin-tipped PM2 reduced to the ranks of an historic collectable within two years of its purchase? I suspect you're right! Those Glessers are very cunning chaps. The Shaman ticks a lot of the right boxes for a sturdy, remote area, work horse. Despite the fact that the G10 Manix-2 is probably the most affordable of this trio, with an interesting lock, it has never really appealed to me. I prefer the subtly different blade profile of the Native-5. The Shaman looks every inch a beefed up version of the Native-5. With a gorgeously contoured handle. I agree with you about some micarta handles. The current stealth grey would instantly vanish in the local bush where I live. Some high visibility colours would be a treat. Happy New Year to All. ;-)

Great review. I like that you have no problem regrinding your blades. Hopefully you will grind off that finger choil nub. I think the blade stock is a little thick. People that buy Spyderco's, buy them to slice. That and pocket jewelry. Making this more robust does not make it any stronger, it's a folder. I haven't got it in hand yet, but I think the PM2 still wins out.

bought a Shaman in december of '21, loved it so much I ended up getting maroon canvas micarta handles and a lynch clich... just now im finding out about the Lil' Native and how nice it would be to have a "mini-me" for my Shaman

Definitely a good looking knife. The only doubt I have is the closed width. It seems like they could have made it a little bit more narrow. Thanks doc!

Good review. A word of caution, though: the thinner knive's blade, the better it cuts if sharpened well of course then a thicker blade knife. Even though some may rightly argue that a thicker blade is much stronger.

Got mine before the price hike 😁. It's my favorite spyderco so far. Only thing I did was put an mxg gear black deep pocket clip. Perfect.

Best Shaman review!! No nonsense point of view.

this will be the first and only spyderco knife i buy... cant wait to collect em all [just the sprint runs]

yes its looks like its better than the pm2 im disapointed by de finition of the pm2 for the price

I love the Shaman. Awesome knife, but that choil bump is a little annoying. I did see someone in the FB Spyderco group who ground it off. I think it looks good without it. Plus it may help when doing cuts onto a flat surface like a cutting board. Considering doing it myself.

Great review! Spyderco has had this issue with a few knives lately, where they've released what I would call "enthusiast/aficionado" knives which would seem to mainly appeal to knife knuts, but they've been released in "plain" materials instead of using state-of-the-art steels and premium/unique scale materials. As a result, I keep hearing enthusiasts on the forums (myself included) say "I really like this design, but I'm going to wait for a sprint". I guess the main expense in manufacturing a new design is in the engineering and tooling, so it must make sense to release a "vanilla" version first before investing in a run with more expensive materials...but it just seems like some of these highly anticipated "afi" designs would sell out immediately if they were released in a small run of premium materials, as long as they didn't end up costing $400. Then again, it's easy to manage someone else's business from my couch. :) Of course, I realize we have an embarrassment of riches in the knife market right now to be able to "complain" about S30V and contoured G10, but as much as I want this knife, I just hesitate to buy it if there may be a "grail" version available in a few months out of nowhere.

Thanks Doc, I'm waiting on more flavors. Natural canvas micarta and cpm M4 @ 64 rc would be a must have ☺

I hope this msg finds you Doctor. I've really enjoyed your videos! It's 2022 and I'm a Spyderco Fan Boy now. What company or/ Website do you go to get the deep pocket carry clips Please! Thank you!

Another great diagnostic thanks to you Frank ! Keep up with good containte are you considering any flashlight to review would love to see a foursevens paladin 😅😉

And I would love to see it in a sprint run with Pakka wood or something similar.

It won't replace my pm2 unless they make a left hand version of it. Good review thanks 🐱

I would love a micarta, S35VN or CTS-HXP for the added toughness over s30/90/110v. It seems big and beatery and I think would be better with tough steel.

If the Shaman fills the need the PM2 does (and does it better) then we must acknowledge that. For PM2 adherents, the five stages of grief must be observed.

What do I think of the Shaman? I think it's the best folding knife ever. Sure, there are more expensive knives with better materials but in the end, I don't think I need anything more than what the Shaman has to offer. It is way more than enough for me. Not the best slicer but still excellent. I love my Shaman.

Have one and love it. Nothing wrong with it and it’s perfect. You get used to the nub btw

Hey Dr FRUNKY great vid as always. Does the unflush backspacer bother you? Did they fix that from the first releases?. That would bother me because way cheaper knives have better fit backspacers. How's the backspacer on the one you have? I wouldn't want them to just grind off the choil because there has to be some kind of guard imo

I’d agree with the poster below about it competing with the Manix. The PM2 is an iconic knife, and no amount of objective reasoning will dent its reputation. I think that both the PM2 and the Manix have a better handles (rear portion) for a lot of people. Lastly, the PM2 and Manix are available with S110V. Now I have to look on Amazon....lol! P.S. I own several PM2 knives, but never carry one. I like the Domino.

There is no PM2 killer. The only thing they can improve on the PM2 is adding a free float stop pin from the para3. And a deep-carry clip from the factory.

I like it, except for the smooth handles. If I'd realized how smooth they were, would not have gotten it. I carry left side sometimes. Smooth scales with dry hands, using the left hand only, pretty much ensures it's gonna go flying when you do the little down stroke to get the blade to swing closed. All I really wanted was exactly a pm2 with a drop point. Love the pm2, but prefer drop point blades. I'm not gutting anything, so I'd rather have the extra strength rather than better piercing.

Great looking knife. I still prefer the pm2. it's slimmer and has a better point

thanks for the comparison

I think the shaman is for those who love their manix 2 but prefer the compression lock over the axis lock style. Blade shape is damn near identical. I prefer the pm2 blade shape I think it’s a gorgeous blade shape.

Maybe a manix killer because its not really simillar to a pm2 besides the lock

hell yes...OD Canvas Micarta with M390 or 20CV....drooool!

I got the pm2, the manix 2 lightweight and now the shaman... I tell myself I'm done but the native 5 salt still isn't out yet....

Did you happen to grab a S90v sprint? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that one. Mine just came in and I love it!

Agreed, Doc. PM2 = Ded.

I think this knife is a mix of the manix and pm2.

Have you tried a Caribbean Salt? I’ve been looking for another compression lock knife, but some of the new ones have this weird interference thing going on with tabs and choils. Thanks!

PM2 is lofty company. But I'll take your word on it. I think I will wait for the Shaman 2 though for the potential choil alteration and/or a sprint run with carbon fibre. Thanks!

Id use it as a camping or out door folder

just got mine luv the way it feels in my hand, IMO its a lot better knife than the pm2 the egros are fantastic, I like a lot more than my manix2 xl

Foliage G10 and XHP please!

The nub is not a fatal flaw,... you can use it to deploy the knife

Cheers Mate!

If this comes out in a nicer steel I'll prob grab one

Cool vid and review ! Ps “my diagnosis is” ! Lmao

Would this be good for me and my mammoth sized mitts?

I much prefer my Shaman to my PM2. I prefer the brawny feel of the Shaman.

What pocket clip on the pm2

Try $344 to $369 up here in Canada lol! 😂😂😂. $250 with exchange rate if i got it from the states.

I love everything about this knife except for the &$#@ compression lock. Just a PIA for left-handers.

Or a G10 dark earth /s35vn

Spyderco is really crapping the bed with their pricing. I like spyderco. But the quality, materials, fit and finish, etc that you can get for your dollar these days.... is stupendous. And I just don't see spyderco keeping up with this trend.

Spyderco greed. The 22% price increase right off the bat has prevented me from purchasing this knife. I want one, but FUCK THEM!!!

Actually... After your youtubie, the Para2 is no longer my #1 spyderco choice. Thanks!

Hopefully they dont use that crappy single ply cf over g10 on this

Micarta and M390...take my money 💰

Micarta! Just hope it's not the peel ply carbon fiber

IMHO ALL knife blades MUST have a sharpening choil. Some companies have it o their knives. Keeping recasso's and nubs get in the way of use and sharpening. Obvioiusly. The one aspect of Spyderco blades I'm surprised has remained. I know Eric's thinking...he metions it on their "vreakdown videos". totally disagree with him. Otherwise they seem to be great knives in design.

screw cf i want to see micarta,cause it's more of an outdoor knife

Where do you get your deep carry clips from?

Apples and oranges bruh Double the price

180 is about 30 too much.. I can get a microtech and higher end Bali when you start talking 180 to 200

Bro wants to be nick Shabazz

too heavy. too much money.

NOT a PM2 killer, not even close, PM2 is a much better EDC, Shaman is beefy but who needs it out and about everyday. If I need a meaty blade Ill pack my Bravo 1. The PM2 blade is so much more useful all day long and gos unnoticed in my pocket.