“Brown Micarta” comes in a variety of tints, resins, materials, and weaves. Here I will contrast the Shaman Micarta scales with some I made for the Native 5 “Blurple” G10 / S110V.
The Shaman Micarta is a coarser weave, with a different layup appearance ( see later pics re: layers). The fibers do not seem as impregnated with resin. The finish is not as smooth as with the Native scales. Overall, the Shaman scales have greater friction with the grip; along with the thicker contoured ergonomic profile, this will be well-appreciated with the tough tasks for which the Shaman is designed.
I wanted the Native 5 scales to be thin and pocket slick. The tighter weave is also more forgiving with my handmade approach especially re: the stepped drill for the pivot holes, the stepped and chamfered torx holes, and the clip screw holes which lie closest to the lanyard tube.
You can see this manifest with some of the fiber pullout on the Shaman Micarta, where the fiber frays are flexible, not rigid.
The dusky non-tinted appearance of the Shaman Micarta suggests it will also accept more dye /richer color than the fine-textured Native 5 Micarta.
Note that the hole forward of the backlock cutout is for Native 5s such as the Blurple, the Black G10, the 154/S90V, the 2013 Forum knife (an a few others, but NOT interchangeable with the Forest Green G10 S90V, nor the Cruwear Native with smooth G10 (nor others) which have a PIN. I took these off the Blurple Native after six months, and would have slapped them on the Cruwear when it came along a few years later, but no go.
Closer view of the weave and texture comparison:
This is the tighter weave of the Native 5 Micarta (which I know by source, from Norplex)
And this is a closer match to what I think Spyderco is using, which must also be Norplex sourced due the “Micarta” trademark. Spyderco may have obtained their own batch/specs/tint, which I consider is their business. This looks the same as that on the Temperance 2, an probably I should pull one out for comparison pics.
Here you can see the level of finish on the flat, contours, and transverse surfaces. This should also darken with the application of various oils or surface treatments if one so chooses.
By comparison , the Native 5 Micarta scales were hand sanded wet to 1200, then buffed with 4x bronze wool with a blended mix of orange oil, paste wax, and beeswax (then carried over a six month period).
The inner edge of the scales reflect the waviness of the layers as seen in transverse section, with a sawtooth-like appearance. I will gently sand these inner edges, and remove the fraye fibers seen in some areas.
BTW back before the great Rutland fire, when you could get laminates made to spec with a variety of hardwoods, I obtained some quarter-sawn oak dymondwood like laminates, and the flecks/digital rays seen in transverse section remind me of this micarta appearance in transverse. (which will mean nothing to most of you, lol.)
For a less cringe-provoking clothing reference than in that other thread (poor impressionable nine-year-old with a seminal life-long memory affecting his Spyderco preferences! consider the sales potential if he had busted in on Raquel Welch in the changing room...), think of the zig-zag pattern as akin too Charlie Brown's argyle sweater.
Enjoy this Sprint Shaman, and let's hope for more to come as bombshelled by Sal.
Sal, you've crafted another classic that will stand the test of time and hard work.
