We need a Shaman XL

[Evil D]

Ok Sal hear me out. You mentioned in a thread something along the lines of not knowing if the Shaman would appeal to people, I think we can safely say it has been a success?

My issue, and it seems like many people may agree judging from some of the complaints I've seen, is that it's still too small...

This knife design is still what I'd consider a "one grip option knife". Many Spyderco designs that use a finger choil design seem to be designed with choking up on the choil as the primary grip position, while other models seem more like the choil offers a complete second grip option. A good comparison here would be a Native 5 vs a Military. I guess you can grip a Native 5 behind the choil if you have tiny hands but it just feels strange to me, and the Shaman feels similar, although better of course since it's overall longer behind the choil.

So I think what we need is a bigger Shaman that has enough grip behind the choil for a proper full grip, with something around 3.75ish edge length.

I'm sure someone is already typing a response telling me to get a Native Chief. Well yes, that's very similar to what I'm talking about at least in length and grip options. However, it lacks the beefiness and compression lock and those gorgeous scales that the Shaman has.

Shaman Chief? Is that a thing? It really should be. Same knife overall, just longer on each end.

[Danvp]

The design of the Shaman is one of my favorites. No thumb ramp, rounded scales for comfortable grip, sturdy, compression lock and still pocketable. This design deserves an XL version.

So, i back you 100% on this one David. Also the length of the blade of 3.75 inch is a good suggestion in my opinion. Not sure yet if that should be with or without the choil. Maybe a cutting edge of 3.75 would be a little to big for most and would increase weight to much?

Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

I like the idea myself , a XL version would definitely appeal to me for same reasons . Price factor would probably be a jump but in this case I would live with it . Dan

[Evil D]

The design of the Shaman is one of my favorites. No thumb ramp, rounded scales for comfortable grip, sturdy, compression lock and still pocketable. This design deserves an XL version.

So, i back you 100% on this one David. Also the length of the blade of 3.75 inch is a good suggestion in my opinion. Not sure yet if that should be with or without the choil. Maybe a cutting edge of 3.75 would be a little to big for most and would increase weight to much?

Dan

Probably would be heavier, but I figure if you want this size and want it light, maybe the Chief is more what you're looking for but I guess the lock and scales are still different. Can't have it all I guess.

[TkoK83Spy]

Shaman Chief never would have crossed my mind, but I see where you're going with that, and I like it.

[bearfacedkiller]

I don’t have any issues using the shaman in both grips. That said, I would be interested in a larger one. I’m in!

[ChrisinHove]

I'm sure someone is already typing a response telling me to get a Native Chief…

That was going to be me! Does a folding hatchet even need a finger choil?

[VooDooChild]

Sure, me want.

[aicolainen]

While I haven’t tried the Shaman yet, I guess the no-choil version will kind of address this issue for those who can live without a choil.
For my smaller sized mitts, that’s probably the route I’ll end up going.
And maybe a no-choil XL further down the road

[ladybug93]

*cough*4max*cough*

[Evil D]

*cough*4max*cough*

*cough*thumbstudsaresmoothbrainstuff*cough*

[Mushroom]

Ah yes, another barely different version of the same knife! I just hope they give us a Lil Shaman too. Yay for innovation!

[Evil D]

Ah yes, another barely different version of the same knife! I just hope they give us a Lil Shaman too. Yay for innovation!

Ah, you mean instead of the 64418947th sprint version of a Para 2. I see your point.

[JSumm]

I think any design utilizing the contoured scales this has is a positive thing. I am very interested to see the choiless design Sal once mentioned. You will get more edge and more grip space.

[wrdwrght]

Hmmm. I certainly love my Shamans. But more interesting to me is Sal’s mention of a handle-forward version, as Jeff just mentioned.

I’d like to see that version before taking on more blade-weight, if indeed an XL simply scales up the original.

If it isn’t scaled up, then is it a Shaman or something new? And would it be what you’re asking?

[ladybug93]

*cough*4max*cough*

*cough*thumbstudsaresmoothbrainstuff*cough*

[Hopsbreath]

While we’re at it, can that nub go bye-bye? As has been mentioned, perhaps the choil-free version will take care of that problem. I’m super happy with the Chief though, not sure a Shaman XL would be a knife I’d prefer.

[vivi]

I came up with a good technique for dealing with the nubs of compression locks:

https://streamable.com/rtx2l2

I call it "moving my finger out of the way"


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I like the idea of a Shaman XL. Part of why I don't like the current Shaman is its a short cutting edge for the overall size and bulk. Really nice design but I'd prefer something similar but 20% or so larger.

[Matus]

Evil D, I have a question. Would you still want a 50/50 finger choil on Shaman XL? If yes - for what specific purpose? Wouldn’t a choil-less design be better suited for a large heavy duty knife? Honest question.

[Evil D]

Evil D, I have a question. Would you still want a 50/50 finger choil on Shaman XL? If yes - for what specific purpose? Wouldn’t a choil-less design be better suited for a large heavy duty knife? Honest question.

For ME personally I would rather have a choil-less design, but I don't always try to rally for designs that are only what I want. I was just looking through the "My thoughts on the Shaman" thread and noticed a trend of people who didn't like how it felt behind the choil and it occurred to me that even though it's larger, it's still a Native and still seems to be designed around choking up on the choil as the primary grip and maybe if it were bigger and roomier behind the choil more people would like it.