The muscular Shamans lean and wiry "kissing cousin" (borrowed that term from Sal) ?!

[Wartstein]

Fellow forum member "JMM" (thanks! :) )recently pointed me to this post by Sal:

"I am working on a "kissing cousin" of the Shaman. Lighter and used the same ergos, but totally different materials. I'm thinking to make it a high hollow to save weight..." viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86153&p=1406714&hil ... n#p1406714

In the corresponding thread a lightweight / FRN Shaman already gets discussed quite a bit, but since the title of the thread is referring to something else ("K390 Shaman") I figure many might have missed that discussion..

So... I am really excited about the idea of a lightweight / FRN Shaman (and like some others even have proposed it in the past)!

I know, the first reaction of some might be: "No, the Shaman is "THE" beefy and substantial knife, a lightweight version is not a good idea"

But think about it:
- The amazing ergos of the Shaman
- The tall Shaman blade, but with a high hollow grind and maybe even a bit thinner blade stock: That would make for a crazy slicing geometry, but still overall strong blade
- And all of that in a substantially lighter package

Maybe not a "real Shaman" anymore, right, but something at least as good in another "realm" along the perfect lines of the Shaman...

Imagine you´d pair these two models:
The hefty Shaman and its lightweight, ultra-slicey "kiss-cousin", the latter maybe even in the "modern", less aggressive SE pattern... I think you´d be perfectly prepared for literally any thinkable folding knife task that might occur...

[JustinB]

I'm definitely interested to see where Sal goes with this model. The fact that he said totally different materials makes me wonder, maybe it will be in Spy27 with cobalt blue FRN scales?

[PeanutButterFan]

I hope it has a backlock or at least have a shaman backlock variant.

[Wartstein]

I hope it has a backlock or at least have a shaman backlock variant.

As much as I love Spydercos backlock: I think the tall Shaman blade would not fit in the Shaman handle together with a backlock (I even seem to remember Sal saying something like this)

[TkoK83Spy]

This one has my interest as well. Not a fan of frn, but he also didn't state what materials so there's still hope there. I do love that big beefy blade, but wouldn't be opposed to a slighty slicier version. Now we play the waiting game!

[Evil D]

It'll totally depend on the whole package for me. If it's just a flat scaled hollow grind version then I'll probably pass. A big part of the appeal of this knife for me is the thicker rounded handle vs the ocean of 2x4 slab knives out there.

[SG89]

If it's a kissing cousin should we call this knife the Alabama?

[Doc Dan]

I hope it has a backlock or at least have a shaman backlock variant.

As much as I love Spydercos backlock: I think the tall Shaman blade would not fit in the Shaman handle together with a backlock (I even seem to remember Sal saying something like this)

Sure it will. Cold steel has some truly huge folders with backlocks. They have fir years.

[curlyhairedboy]

I'm definitely interested!

[Wartstein]

I hope it has a backlock or at least have a shaman backlock variant.

As much as I love Spydercos backlock: I think the tall Shaman blade would not fit in the Shaman handle together with a backlock (I even seem to remember Sal saying something like this)

Sure it will. Cold steel has some truly huge folders with backlocks. They have fir years.

Doc, I think you're generally right on this. But concerning the Shaman specifically I am quite sure Sal said this could be a problem. So probably the Shaman HANDLE would have to be made a tad taller in order to have space for a backlock and the current Shaman blade?

[wrdwrght]

Gotta say, I can’t begin to imagine what Sal is suggesting in light of the Shaman. I was similarly puzzled when he hinted the Shaman in light of Chief. The man keeps us hopping!

[Wartstein]

This one has my interest as well. Not a fan of frn, but he also didn't state what materials so there's still hope there. I do love that big beefy blade, but wouldn't be opposed to a slighty slicier version. Now we play the waiting game!

I am not sure either if Sal necessarely had FRN in mind when he talked about a "lighter version"... but earlier in the linked thread he is asking if there would be "any interest for an FRN Shaman in K390" - that´s at least a rather strong hint - ?!
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86153&hilit=shaman+ ... 0#p1406216

[JuPaul]

This one has my interest as well. Not a fan of frn, but he also didn't state what materials so there's still hope there. I do love that big beefy blade, but wouldn't be opposed to a slighty slicier version. Now we play the waiting game!

I am not sure either if Sal necessarely had FRN in mind when he talked about a "lighter version"... but earlier in the linked thread he is asking if there would be "any interest for an FRN Shaman in K390" - that´s at least a rather strong hint - ?!
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86153&hilit=shaman+ ... 0#p1406216

Yes, he did! And then a bit later he said if there was an frn Shaman in k390, it'd have the same color scales as the other k390 frn models. I, for one, am in! And if it ends up with a high hollow grind to save weight, I'm in on that, too.

[Wartstein]

Double post, sorry

[Wartstein]

I am not sure either if Sal necessarely had FRN in mind when he talked about a "lighter version"... but earlier in the linked thread he is asking if there would be "any interest for an FRN Shaman in K390" - that´s at least a rather strong hint - ?!
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86153&hilit=shaman+ ... 0#p1406216

Yes, he did! And then a bit later he said if there was an frn Shaman in k390, it'd have the same color scales as the other k390 frn models. I, for one, am in! And if it ends up with a high hollow grind to save weight, I'm in on that, too.

Thanks! So it would come in a darker blue? VERY nice! (Though you would swap the scales with TeroTuf-ones immidiately anyway., right?... )

And again, high hollow grind would not only be great concerning reduced weight! Imagine how superslicey such a tall blade with this grind would be (and maybe even go all the way and give it a bit thinner stock than the current Shaman too.... :rolleyes: )

[Wartstein]

If it's a kissing cousin should we call this knife the Alabama?

This must be an US insider-joke...tbh I don´t get it... :o

[JuPaul]

I am not sure either if Sal necessarely had FRN in mind when he talked about a "lighter version"... but earlier in the linked thread he is asking if there would be "any interest for an FRN Shaman in K390" - that´s at least a rather strong hint - ?!
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86153&hilit=shaman+ ... 0#p1406216

Yes, he did! And then a bit later he said if there was an frn Shaman in k390, it'd have the same color scales as the other k390 frn models. I, for one, am in! And if it ends up with a high hollow grind to save weight, I'm in on that, too.

Thanks! So it would come in a darker blue? VERY nice! (Though you would swap the scales with TeroTuf-ones immidiately anyway., right?... )

And again, high hollow grind would not only be great concerning reduced weight! Imagine how superslicey such a tall blade with this grind would be (and maybe even go all the way and give it a bit thinner stock than the current Shaman too.... :rolleyes: )

Lol - terotuf for them all! And I agree about the blade grind- it could be awesome on a lw Shaman or similar.

[Surfingringo]

I like the Shaman but I have not bought one yet. If there was a lightweight version with a high hollowgrind I would purchase one INSTANTLY!

[ugaarguy]

I'd buy a high hollow grind lightweight Shaman too, as long it had a highly corrosion resistant blade steel. S30V would be sufficient. Just no tool steels - those have been most of the sprints and exclusives this year. It's time for more S90V, S110V, 20CV and the like.

[JMM]

I'd buy a high hollow grind lightweight Shaman too, as long it had a highly corrosion resistant blade steel. S30V would be sufficient. Just no tool steels - those have been most of the sprints and exclusives this year. It's time for more S90V, S110V, 20CV and the like.

Tool steels are unquestionably my favourite, but you are right about them getting so much of the Shaman attention as of late... I think something from the M390 family would be great, and I'd buy one in s90v in a second. I would have to hard pass on s110v, I don't think it would make for a good Shaman at all, with it's difficult sharpening, lack of toughness, to say nothing of it's desire to chip, it just seems like the wrong steel for a hard use folder.... just my2c :D