Anyone ever see this before

[Reddog7313]

I bought a used shaman with Ti scales and they have a very noticeable line running from the end of the flat grind on spine of blade down to the third scallop from tip and it’s on both sides. Could this be cosmetic or an issue with blade integrity? Can’t feel it just looks like it could be in the blade or grind.

[Doc Dan]

I've not seen that before. I think I'd take off the scales and send it to Spyderco for evaluation. Call first.

[PStone]

I have seen that before. Only the line was a bit more vertical and not quite as tilted as yours. It was on an early run Shaman when they first dropped. I figured it was something to do with the distal taper of the blade. I ended up selling it and never sent it in. I also thought I saw the same thing on my M4 version from BHQ, but it was better hidden by the satin grind lines. Never sent it in.

I also experienced it on a Native. Fluted CF S90v. I did send that one in to Golden and they replaced it under warranty.

I agree with Doc Dan. Put the original scales back on and send it in. When I sent my native I drew a pic of the blade and where the line was to better help their evaluation. Keep us posted

[Evil D]

My 15V Shaman is just like this.

[Naperville]

My 15V Shaman is just like this.

OMG!

I've seen that before. I'd sell that knife right away and get some cash in your pocket for it.

15V too, too bad....

I know a guy who will take that off of your hands!!!

[Pokey]

I have a Manix 2 with that on the blade. You’d probably miss it if I didn’t hold it at the right angle and point it out to you. You can’t feel any difference at all in the two surfaces, so I’m not worried about it.

In my completely un-professional opinion, (I’ve done machining, but I’m not a machinist,) this will show up in the surface of steel if the mill makes a cut from different directions. It shouldn’t affect it at all.

[apollo]

My 15V Shaman is just like this.

OMG!

I've seen that before. I'd sell that knife right away and get some cash in your pocket for it.

15V too, too bad....

I know a guy who will take that off of your hands!!!

My 15v is like that aswel.
Personally i was pissed off for a few minuts. Then dropped it in my pocket and started using it.
Haven’t look back ever since.
But if i am really being honest.
I have seen and heard off multiple 15v shamans like mine or Evil D’s at the moment.
So in my eyes Spyderco’s cqi department kinda dropped the ball on that one knowing how expensive they are.
But i guess 15v is a nightmare for them to use and there for they released knives with such visual flaws just to not loose allot of income.

[Vamais]

If y'all keep complaining about cosmetics (rather than realized performance), prices will go up. Do you want Spyderco to spend production resources on making showpieces, or on making knives with good heat treat and lockup?

[phaust]

I've seen a lot of people ask this question about their first Shaman. It's normal

[weeping minora]

When I start to read the real negative posts regarding these cosmetic flaws, I wonder when it would be appropriate for the buyer to just pony up and go custom?

[Naperville]

When I start to read the real negative posts regarding these cosmetic flaws, I wonder when it would be appropriate for the buyer to just pony up and go custom?

It depends on if you want knives to use or stick in a safe. Custom knives are fine. Just far more expensive for a tool that hopefully does the same thing. In most cases you will NOT be getting the awesome steels that Spyderco uses.

The hard part is finding someone that you can trust to make the knife that you want. The design that you want, in the steel that you want, properly heat treated and delivered in a reasonable amount of time. It can be done, but there are crooks out there.

It took me a year and a half to get back a deposit for a knife after the maker reneged on making the knife. I called the sheriffs office, the local police department, the BBB, the local court system, and even threatened to get a lawyer to sue him for court costs and the deposit. The "bladesmith" was a clown, and a liar. The problem was, he was out of state in the US and thought that he could get away with it. I was ready to risk $1500+ to get back $350(and he would have owed all of it if we went to court and I won). I do not like getting ripped off.

Are you ready to deal with custom knife makers over ordering a knife online?

[Naperville]

If y'all keep complaining about cosmetics (rather than realized performance), prices will go up. Do you want Spyderco to spend production resources on making showpieces, or on making knives with good heat treat and lockup?

[Evil D]

For the record I'm not complaining, I use and love that knife. It was just an interesting detail that I noticed and took pictures of when I got it.

[dsvirsky]

When I start to read the real negative posts regarding these cosmetic flaws, I wonder when it would be appropriate for the buyer to just pony up and go custom?

It depends on if you want knives to use or stick in a safe. Custom knives are fine. Just far more expensive for a tool that hopefully does the same thing . . .
Are you ready to deal with custom knife makers over ordering a knife online?

There's a saying out there, "buy the knife maker, not the knife." I've been pretty much priced out of the custom market after primarily buying custom knives for years, but there are still some good folks out there who I would absolutely trust.

And never put down a deposit except to cover the cost of nonstandard materials. It's been said by more than one knife maker that the hardest knife to make is one that's already been paid for.

[Naperville]

For the record I'm not complaining, I use and love that knife. It was just an interesting detail that I noticed and took pictures of when I got it.

I enjoy your posts, I was just ribbing you.

And I know that text is a really bad conveyor of thought unless you are prepared to write a book.

[wrdwrght]

I suspect what we see is a less-than-perfect transition where distal taper’s grind begins.

I was an early adopter of the Shaman and mine had such a transition. It’s the only reason I did not think it was perfect, just nearly so.

I later sold this Shaman, not because of this ‘flaw”, but because I wanted the model in S90V, M4, and Cruwear variants. None happens to have the flaw.

[apollo]

If y'all keep complaining about cosmetics (rather than realized performance), prices will go up. Do you want Spyderco to spend production resources on making showpieces, or on making knives with good heat treat and lockup?

I have to respectfully disagree with what you say there.
Any manufacturer of any product needs to look at what they send towards there customers.
How would you react if you would buy let’s say a new red car tomorrow and one door was painted in a different shade of red then the rest would you also say well the engine runs ... Or another example if you buy a new tv and it has a cluster off dead pixels in the center would you say well at least i can see the news? I do not think so.
I own one of these Shamans and i use it and love it.

BUT still when it arrived i was not over the moon with it seeing it costed me +300 euro.
That is a price range that should be under tougher control tolerances then let’s say a byrd or even a delica.

And since i own about 35 other US Spydies all cheaper then it without any flaw at all that cost 1/3th less then this one i find that its reasonable to say this should have not gone true and definetly not in such numbers.

We all love Spyderco here and we do not say this to hurt them but rather to give feedback so they can keep being the best. The moment we all turn in to people that do not care is the moment they start to stop caring aswel.

Also Spyderco does not need complaints to raise there prices. Inflation does that for us anyway year after year after year so get used to it as its not going away.

[Vamais]

I don't so much care what knives look like--only the general color/shape (looking nice is just a bonus). In your TV example the pixels do affect core performance, and unlike a slight finish discontinuity on a blade, the shade of a car door isn't affected by the realization of the vehicle's potential. For a knife that I'm going to use well enough to realize its quality, things like what we are discussing here are inconsequential. Blades get scratched, edges get dull, handles get worn. I can grind and sharpen and dye and soften and tighten as needed, but I can't change the steel or its thermal processing or really improve the lockup. So to me, the things that matter in a knife are steel/heat treat, ergonomics, and mechanical function. I'd rather not pay more for show-worthiness in a working knife. Spyderco is a production company, and I'd rather have them focus on making knives be good at what knives do than have them focus on immaculate surface finishes.

I know that some of you feel differently, and that's why I appreciate that Spyderco has a prestige line where such things are focused on.

[sal]

Some of these "Super Steels" are really a mutha to grind. Not uncommon to have to really work with the grinders to get something working. Perfection is very challenging. Function is primary.

sal

[Jeb]

I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to flat grind S110V, let alone to perfection... That steel is hard enough for me and my Worksharp Professional to put an edge on it that I will except lol.