Spyderco Forums

Purchased a new Shaman in SPY27 from an authorized dealer last week. Knife was 100% new and unused upon opening.

I noticed pretty quickly that the tip is almost exposed when the blade is closed. So much so that I was able to catch (and cut) the tip of my finger by pressing down with moderate force and running it from the bottom of the scales onto the spine. For comparison, note how much lower the tip is on S30V model pictured. The SPY27 model looks like you might expect after several reprofiles or heavy sharpenings, but I'm pretty sure these are robot sharpened at the factory.

So why such a difference between these two? I found several other examples on the interwebs of the same issue, which seems to be specific to the SPY27 variant. Honestly a little surprised these are making it out the door like this. I sent a pic to the dealer, and they told me to send it back immediately because it doesn't look safe. It certainly wouldn't be after a few full sharpenings.

SPY27:


S30V:

Hi Ejames,

Not right. Can you send it to Spyderco? I'll alert Customer service.

sal

Yeah I'd send that in. This is a detail I've been extra aware of ever since noticing it on my Caly 3 years ago. There are ways you could fix it but like Sal said that doesn't seem right compared to others I've seen (and own).

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2024 4:38 pm

Hi Ejames,

Not right. Can you send it to Spyderco? I'll alert Customer service.

sal

Hi Sal,

I would, but I already sent it back to the dealer per their request.

Hi Ejames,

May I ask the name of the dealer? We can contact them and retrieve it.

sal

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2024 5:24 pm

Hi Ejames,

May I ask the name of the dealer? We can contact them and retrieve it.

sal

Sure. Purchased from Freedom Knife Shop -- https://freedomknifeshop.com

Is this an issue that is occurring with greater frequency with the SPY27 Shaman? This a thread from Reddit mentioning the same problem: https://www.reddit.com/r/spyderco/comm ... /#lightbox

I have to say, my Knifecenter Exclusive Shaman S90V and Bodacious look exactly like that. I assumed that was the way the blades are supposed to sit in the handle now. (My old S30V Shaman from back when it was first released has the tip much more "sheathed" by the handle when closed. )

sovereign wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2024 8:36 pm

Is this an issue that is occurring with greater frequency with the SPY27 Shaman? This a thread from Reddit mentioning the same problem: https://www.reddit.com/r/spyderco/comm ... /#lightbox

Also worth mentioning, this is the same issue KnivesPlus told me about with the last batch of Manix 2 Salts they received; it wasn't what they originally thought, but just some of their shipment had protruding or nearly protruding tips like this.

I really wanted this version of the Shaman so even after reading of this issue I rolled the dice. I waited for the second batch to arrive at a dealer, requested a pre-check and it still showed up like this. Has anyone received one of the SPY27 that does not have a high tip? I have yet to see a pic of one in the wild that does not look like this.

Is this a question of the blade being shallower in the handle or maybe the edge is ground too far back raising the tip?

I have a Spy27 Shaman and the tip sits about where I would expect based on my other Shamans.

horzuff wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:41 am

Is this a question of the blade being shallower in the handle or maybe the edge is ground too far back raising the tip?

Just by looking at the pic, the bte thickness on the spy27 looks thick. To me that would say the blade was ground more than normal. Maybe they messed up the first edge and reground it to try and fix it

Drubieg wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:58 am

horzuff wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:41 am

Is this a question of the blade being shallower in the handle or maybe the edge is ground too far back raising the tip?

Just by looking at the pic, the bte thickness on the spy27 looks thick. To me that would say the blade was ground more than normal. Maybe they messed up the first edge and reground it to try and fix it

If this is the case then you'd also see a slight reduction in blade length too.

I just glanced at the Shamans I have, and all appear pretty well covered in the closed position.
That said, I don't have a SPY27 run, although I had considered it since pricing is so nice.
Hopefully it wasn't a widespread miss, and just a slight fluke on a handful. I don't get sucked into reddit that often so I'm not going to read into that one...

Send it back.

It is quite a common problem with the Shaman. I have also experienced it once with an early production S30V model. I owned 4 Shamans and they all had their flaws (tip reaching out with 1 model and all of them had a burr on the D shaped hole in the liner, causing blade play). After removing the burr you can eliminate horizontal play.

All models (mine) have a tiny bit vertical play/rock which you can not eliminate. For use it is not a problem.

If you consider how pricy the Shamans are, also on top they have little flaws, they are just great designed workers. Still one of my top 3 Spyderco of all time (besides the Para 3 and Military).

BR,
Oliver

ejames13 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2024 5:26 pm

sal wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 23, 2024 5:24 pm

Hi Ejames,

May I ask the name of the dealer? We can contact them and retrieve it.

sal

Sure. Purchased from Freedom Knife Shop -- https://freedomknifeshop.com

Now thats awesome customer service

There seems to be more knives from Golden missing good QC these days?
The recent threads here of the Native salt and 15v para 3 are just two examples.

The Shaman in particular is an expensive knife and perhaps a higher standard of care before it reaches the customer could be applied?

The old an often used adage of “but we’re getting high end steel at a low cost” starts to wear thin after yet another is released from the factory with sub-par QC.

Anyway, I hope it gets sorted. Both the Shaman and the other problems coming out of Golden.

ejames13, did you ever hear back any sort of feedback or decision regarding your knife?

SpeedHoles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 17, 2025 4:54 pm

ejames13, did you ever hear back any sort of feedback or decision regarding your knife?

I sent it back to Freedom Knife Shop and they refunded me. Not sure if it ever made it back to Golden for examination, but I've seen additional reports of the same issue with this particular variation since then. I decided not to get a replacement.