Spyderco Shaman News and Gossip Thread

[Evil D]

Hi Rotten,

Welcome to our forum and sorry for your disappointment. When we did the math, the cost of the G-10 machining was double the estimate. No choice but to raise the price or disco the model. "Worth" is another discussion.

sal

I'll pay you an extra $30 per knife if you give them rounded and contoured handles instead of flat slabs..

+1

Imagine a pm2 or manix with the same contoured scales. Easily a $30 upgrade. A custom set will run you at least twice that.

This is exactly my logic behind it. It isn't as simple as comparing it to a Para 2, the manufacturing is not the same.

[Rotten]

Exactly why the Shaman was worth $30-$35- more than the Para2. But then the price went up another $35-$40-. I bought another anyway for almost $200 becauses I wanted the DLC (see above pic). I love the radius edged handles too. I just wish they had the Para2 style checkering on the faces of the handles for added grip. It's not that I needed or wanted another flat slabbed standard grip knife. I just wish they could have combined the checkering onto the radius Shaman handles. I have no desire to get the handles pimped with silly grooves drilled into the handles.

it's just a preference thing. Nothing wrong with it except they realized the production costs were figured in a week *after* the knife was released at $150- and raised prices? I bought one at $150 but had to return it when I became unemployed days later. Then I went to buy it back and it was now $190- OUCH!

[sal]

Hi Rotten,

The cost of making the contoured handles on the Shaman ended up costing about double what we had anticipated when we calculated prices. machining 3D G-10 is time consuming and hard on bits. Of course we can machine grip into the handle, but it really adds lotsa dollars which which you are already concerned.

sal

[cangokaw]

Sal, perhaps for the price sensitive purchasers, a frn handle option could be offered.

[sal]

Hi Cangokaw,

I think that would be my ultimate solution, but the demand determines whether or not the expense of a mold for FRN production is viable in the US. Molds here are quite expensive and require a fairly high demand to sustain the inventory.

sal

[razorsharp]

Love the shaman so much I would pay over 200 for another basic one. :D Value is different person to person. I think the Shaman blows the PM2 out of the water . IMO of course :D

[Brock O Lee]

It’s an epic blade for sure. Robust design and weight inspires confidence, but it’s still slicy enough for general purpose use. One hand opens and closes like a champ. I love the smooth and radiused scales!

[Evil D]

Just thought of a titanium Shaman in cpm cruwear....

Take (nearly all?) my money.

Yeah if you want the scales to be the same thickness, you're looking at a $500+ knife.

[curlyhairedboy]

Depending on how far away sprints are for this model and the health of its sales, I may just get the baseline. Seems to me there's a threshold for 'qualifying' for sprints, and I don't know if the Shaman is months/years away.

Or maybe BHQ has already asked for a Jade/M4 version. Sal?

[Evil D]

Or maybe BHQ has already asked for a Jade/M4 version. Sal?

Instant sale for me. Probably two.

[curlyhairedboy]

Or maybe BHQ has already asked for a Jade/M4 version. Sal?

Instant sale for me. Probably two.

Right?? Hard use steel meets hard use folder.

DLC M4 would be even better - but that's a matter of personal preference.

[Evil D]

Right?? Hard use steel meets hard use folder.

DLC M4 would be even better - but that's a matter of personal preference.

Despite my recent lust over H1, I still would take M4 in every folder I own if it were an option. I'm really hoping we see it in the Shaman and Sliverax.

[Rutger]

FRN would be ideal to get price down. The FRN from Taichung on the Chaparral is amazing. Can´t you let them make some for the Shaman if it´s too pricey in the US? I think a lot of enthusiasts are waiting for a better steel than S30V on the Shaman. Hope the demand for the Shaman isn't too low to make this happen now. Also i would totally dig a Shaman in M4 steel. But i find the BladeHQ Jade G10 super ugly so i hope it will not be that first.

[steelcity16]

Right?? Hard use steel meets hard use folder.

DLC M4 would be even better - but that's a matter of personal preference.

Despite my recent lust over H1, I still would take M4 in every folder I own if it were an option. I'm really hoping we see it in the Shaman and Sliverax.

Agreed. H1 and M4 in any of these are instant buys. 52100 and Cruwear as well. Hoping to see these steels hit the Native series soon. I need a Shaman, Native, and Lil Native in some of these steels.

[Strider]

Hi Rotten,

Welcome to our forum and sorry for your disappointment. When we did the math, the cost of the G-10 machining was double the estimate. No choice but to raise the price or disco the model. "Worth" is another discussion.

sal

I'll pay you an extra $30 per knife if you give them rounded and contoured handles instead of flat slabs..

+1
Imagine a pm2 or manix with the same contoured scales. Easily a $30 upgrade. A custom set will run you at least twice that.

+2 imagine Caly3/3.5

hadn't thought of applying the rounded/contoured G10 to the Caly line but that would be amazing!

Love the shaman. Glad I was able to get it as the previous price. I am definitely interested in picking up a hopeful Sprint run...if the price is right.

[dogrunner]

Or maybe BHQ has already asked for a Jade/M4 version. Sal?

Instant sale for me. Probably two.

+1. M4 would get me off the sidelines.

[SG89]

this is an expensive knife to produce and yall want sprints now too? lol a g10 m4 sprint/exclusive would be $250 easy. just saying. also moving production to Taichung so they can produce some in frn would be very costly for spyderco which would lead to another price increase. not sure spyderco has ever had a g10 version of a knife produced in 1 country at the same time a frn version is produced in a different country?

[Evil D]

this is an expensive knife to produce and yall want sprints now too? lol a g10 m4 sprint/exclusive would be $250 easy. just saying. also moving production to Taichung so they can produce some in frn would be very costly for spyderco which would lead to another price increase. not sure spyderco has ever had a g10 version of a knife produced in 1 country at the same time a frn version is produced in a different country?

$200 for a S30V Shaman? Eh, it's a cool knife but I have a lot of S30V and while it's certainly an adequate steel I'm not in a rush to buy more. For the same steel it has to compete with my Sliverax and that's a hard sale for me.

$250 for a M4 Shaman? Yeah that's an extra $50 but the performance difference is appealing to me. Plus I like the jade G10. It also adds variety in my collection and makes it feel less redundant. I would certainly pay $50 for a custom made M4 blade and custom jade G10 scales for any of my knives, regardless of their original street price.

The benefit of not being a dedicated collector is that I'm not in a rush to buy them all, so small price increases don't effect me as much. In turn I'm much more willing to pay a premium for the right model and materials combo.

[sal]

Spydergirl is right regarding making the same knife in two places. We probably won't do that.

sal

[Rutger]

The benefit of not being a dedicated collector is that I'm not in a rush to buy them all, so small price increases don't effect me as much. In turn I'm much more willing to pay a premium for the right model and materials combo.

Same here. And i think many more are with you on that.