Change my mind: the Shaman costs too much

[Paraguy]

I understand that they have to raise the price because they're in demand and they might not have the means of production to make enough of them. But 224 bucks! When you can get a PM2 for 150 or less. I don't think theres a 70+ dollar value difference. When it comes to looks sure. What's interesting about Spyderco is that their customer base actually has a fare bit of people who will pay that much for a regular s30v knife. So I guess it's what the market will bare. But still! 224!

CHANGE MY MIND.

[Evil D]

Shaman is twice the knife the Para 2 is. Change MY mind.

[Paraguy]

You can get an M390 Manix for 150

[SG89]

Contoured g10 costs more

[TkoK83Spy]

Aren't PM2's more around $170-180 these days? These are 2 TOTALLY different knives too, I'd take a Shaman over a PM2 any day of the week. Their worth that little extra in my book.

[Paraguy]

Shaman is twice the knife the Para 2 is. Change MY mind.

Support your claim. My mind isn't changed.
If the Shaman was 180 Id probably buy one.
Do you mean to say you'd spend 300 on a s30v Shaman?

[Evil D]

Shaman is twice the knife the Para 2 is. Change MY mind.

Support your claim. My mind isn't changed.
If the Shaman was 180 Id probably buy one.
Do you mean to say you'd spend 300 on a s30v Shaman?

No but those big thick contoured scales surely cost more to machine. It all adds up. Get a quote for scales like this from CuScaDi for a Para 2 and see what they cost.

[Paraguy]

Aren't PM2's more around $170-180 these days? These are 2 TOTALLY different knives too, I'd take a Shaman over a PM2 any day of the week. Their worth that little extra in my book.

Thats probably the MSRP but most stores sell em retail for 154

[Paraguy]

Shaman is twice the knife the Para 2 is. Change MY mind.

Support your claim. My mind isn't changed.
If the Shaman was 180 Id probably buy one.
Do you mean to say you'd spend 300 on a s30v Shaman?

No but those big thick contoured scales surely cost more to machine. It all adds up. Get a quote for scales like this from CuScaDi for a Para 2 and see what they cost.

You make valid point... 70 plus dollar difference though. My minds not changed.

[Freediver]

Find a better USA made knife for that price point. It’s very difficult. In fact one could argue Spyderco doesn’t charge enough for a lot of its knives...

[Evil D]

Shaman is twice the knife the Para 2 is. Change MY mind.

Support your claim. My mind isn't changed.
If the Shaman was 180 Id probably buy one.
Do you mean to say you'd spend 300 on a s30v Shaman?

No but those big thick contoured scales surely cost more to machine. It all adds up. Get a quote for scales like this from CuScaDi for a Para 2 and see what they cost.

You make valid point... 70 plus dollar difference though. My minds not changed.

Not sure where you're seeing a $70 difference.


Shaman $210
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP229G ... 10-handles

Para 2 $154.70
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP81GP ... 10-handles



$55.30 difference at the same retailer.

[Paraguy]

Support your claim. My mind isn't changed.
If the Shaman was 180 Id probably buy one.
Do you mean to say you'd spend 300 on a s30v Shaman?

No but those big thick contoured scales surely cost more to machine. It all adds up. Get a quote for scales like this from CuScaDi for a Para 2 and see what they cost.

You make valid point... 70 plus dollar difference though. My minds not changed.

Not sure where you're seeing a $70 difference.


Shaman $210
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP229G ... 10-handles

Para 2 $154.70
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP81GP ... 10-handles



$55.30 difference at the same retailer.

Hmm... Minds not changed.

[elena86]

I never understood the Shaman hype. A bulky chunk of steel, thick behind the edge... it feels and looks like an unfinished design. People(some) rave about its ergos and they may be right but that’s all it is. As much as I like Sal’s designs I must say it ... this one needs more work. I would never pay 200+ for that ugly knife.

[Evil D]

You either except that there's $55.30 more cost to make a Shaman or you don't buy one I guess. For me the ergonomics and overall design are worth it. I'd happily may $55.30 more for every knife I own to get scales like the Shaman has, but I've come to terms with the fact that the masses want a wafer thin knife and I like'em chicc.

[kennethsime]

Paraguy, while I get the reference, an awful lot of folks on this forum aren't redditors, and won't get it. Further, even on r/CMV, there's a rule that you have to come to the table with an open mind, not a combative one. Barking orders at folks like "Support Your Claim" is not likely to win you any points here on the forum.

I'm not sure I can change your mind, but I do own both a PM2 and a Shaman, and like them both for different reasons. I'll try to explain why the Shaman costs more. It comes down to two big things:
- Steel. The Shaman weighs 1.3oz more than the Pm2, and that's mostly in the blade. S30V is expensive.
- Scales. The Shaman has contoured, 3-dimensional scales which are likely shaped by hand. Whether they're making them out of G-10 or Micarta, these take time and skill to produce.

Ok, with that out of the way, we get to ask the next question: why would you want a thicker blade, and more comfortable scales? Because the Shaman is a hard-use knife. It will be more comfortable in the hand for tasks like wood carving, and the stronger blade means you can do more prying with it before it snaps.

End of the day? If you don't value these things, the Shaman is not for you. That's ok - move along. If you do value them, but just don't want to shell out the extra $$ it takes to produce the knife, then you're S.O.L. my friend.

[kennethsime]

I never understood the Shaman hype. A bulky chunk of steel, thick behind the edge... it feels and looks like an unfinished design. People(some) rave about its ergos and they may be right but that’s all it is. As much as I like Sal’s designs I must say it ... this one needs more work. I would never pay 200+ for that ugly knife.

Elena, have you held one in hand?

I wasn't big on it either, but managed to snag a Z-Wear Micarta sprint, and I'm glad I did. It's a fantastic hard-use knife, more comfortable for tasks where a PM2 might develop hotspots.

I wouldn't say it's a better EDC than a PM2, but it has its place.

[TkoK83Spy]

Whatever you do, stay away from the "others" thread...the prices on many of those lately, will really blow your mind!

[Paraguy]

Personally I wouldn't pay more than 160 for s30v blade unless there was something particularly special about it.

[Paraguy]

Paraguy, while I get the reference, an awful lot of folks on this forum aren't redditors, and won't get it. Further, even on r/CMV, there's a rule that you have to come to the table with an open mind, not a combative one. Barking orders at folks like "Support Your Claim" is not likely to win you any points here on the forum.

I'm not sure I can change your mind, but I do own both a PM2 and a Shaman, and like them both for different reasons. I'll try to explain why the Shaman costs more. It comes down to two big things:
- Steel. The Shaman weighs 1.3oz more than the Pm2, and that's mostly in the blade. S30V is expensive.
- Scales. The Shaman has contoured, 3-dimensional scales which are likely shaped by hand. Whether they're making them out of G-10 or Micarta, these take time and skill to produce.

Ok, with that out of the way, we get to ask the next question: why would you want a thicker blade, and more comfortable scales? Because the Shaman is a hard-use knife. It will be more comfortable in the hand for tasks like wood carving, and the stronger blade means you can do more prying with it before it snaps.

End of the day? If you don't value these things, the Shaman is not for you. That's ok - move along. If you do value them, but just don't want to shell out the extra $$ it takes to produce the knife, then you're S.O.L. my friend.

Oh. I didn't intend for it to sound like a bark. Thanks for your detailed and persuasive comment.

[Evil D]

We all have our hangups. I think the Para 2 has been outclassed by several models and is obsolete but the sales keep on coming which suggests I'm probably wrong and this is just my opinion. Your take on the Shaman is likely the same.