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Throughout my knife-reviewing journey, I've had the pleasure of checking out some pretty sweet blades. Even though I might've missed a few popular models that every other channel and their grandma have reviewed, Blade Ops recently hooked me up with their exclusive Spyderco Shaman. Now, I know what you're thinking—isn't the Shaman old news? Sure it is, but since it’s Youtube we need to really beat it into the ground. So let’s dive deep into the Spyderco Shaman vs PM2 debate!
Key Takeaways
- The Spyderco Shaman is like a love child between the Native and PM2—Native design cues, PM2 size, and a compression lock.
- Spyderco exclusives, like the Blade Ops Shaman in Elmax and gray G10, can trigger our knife-nerd brains to fill that void in our collections.
- The Shaman is about an ounce heavier than the PM2, has a spearpoint blade, and has less distal tapering.
- Both the Shaman and PM2 have Spyderco's awesome compression lock on phosphor bronze washers, but the Shaman can be a fidget monster with its drop-shut action.
- The Shaman's sculpted G10 handles are comfortable and curvy while the PM2's ergonimics are still solid.
- Whether you're Team Shaman or Team PM2, both knives are straight-up bangers with Spyderco's genius design and top-notch craftsmanship.
Specs
Spyderco Shaman
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Spyderco Para Military 2
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Spyderco Exclusives: Feeding the Void
Let's be real. Spyderco exclusives have a way of triggering something in the knife-nerd brains. It's like there's this Shaman-sized void that can only be filled with a unique combo of steel and G10. Maybe you heard a rumor that Blade Beast had a rare G10 and M4 combo, and you’re emailing them trying to get an early hook-up. You know, normal guy stuff.
And are exclusives or sprint runs harder to score? I say sprint runs, even if it makes my brain hurt. But for the uninitiated, exclusives go to one dealer, while sprint runs are shared among many. So sprint runs can sell faster and you have to figure out who is dropping their quantity on what day. Great Eastern Cutlery uses this as it’s main release strategy – which seems to work for them.
The Shaman: Native DNA, PM2 Size
So, what's the deal with the Shaman? Well, if knives could like, uh, do it, you could describe it like a love child between the Native and the PM2. It's got that Native DNA but fitted with a PM2 compression lock.
Or in other words, it's like a smoother-handled Manix 2 and a chunkier PM2 had a baby. Ok I am realizing that Spyderco has a lot of similar styled models.
Tale of the Tape: Spyderco Shaman vs PM2
- Weight: The Shaman is about an ounce heavier than the PM2, probably due to the stainless steel backspacer and thick blade stock.
- Blade Shape: Shaman's got a spear point with a hint of drop point, while the PM2 is straight-up drop point.
- Steel: This Blade Ops Shaman is packing Elmax, which is sort of like an S45VN in terms of edge retention and toughness.
Lock It Up, Fidget It Out
Both the Shaman and PM2 sport Spyderco's kickass compression lock on phosphor bronze washers. A little pivot tweak, and the Shaman's blade drops like a lead weight compared to the PM2. My Para Military 2 didn’t drop quite as hard as the Shaman did out of the box. And let me tell you, this thing is a fidget monster! Middle finger flick, thumb flick, finger pop—take your pick. You will look like a true winner when showing your friends and family all your cool little knife tricks.
Ergonomics: Shaman's Got Curves
Now, I never had any beef with the PM2's ergos, but if you listen to some internet voices the Shaman's sculpted G10 handles are on another level. It's like holding a comfy, curvy piece of knife art. Those are probably their weird words and not mine. Plus, the extra weight makes it feel like it could survive the theoretical hard use. The PM2 is no slouch either, but for hand a nice sold hand feel the Shaman, [cringes] casts a spell?
Pocket Clip and Lanyard Life
The Shaman rocks a Spyderco spoon clip, similar to the Tenacious, but with a different mounting style. You've got about an inch of clip sticking out, but there are deep carry options if that's your jam. The PM2 might have a slight edge in the lanyard game with its protected sleeve, but the Shaman's backspacer groove gets the job done.
Size Queens: Shaman vs. the World
Just to give you an idea of how the Shaman stacks up:
- Para 3: Shaman straight up dwarfs it.
- Spyderco Military: Similar size, but the Shaman's got that compression lock goodness.
- Benchmade Crooked River: The full-size version is pretty much on par with the Shaman.
Video Review
Conclusion
In conclusion and per the header, when it comes to the Spyderco Shaman vs. PM2 debate, I'm still a bit more of a PM2 guy. I dig the lighter, more pocket-friendly vibe. But I totally get why some folks are about the Shaman lifestyle. It’s thicker in the hand, and looks stouter, and the name of a class in an RPG.
The Blade Ops exclusive Shaman in Elmax and gray G10 is a straight-up banger. You cannot currently get that G10 and steel combo, but the overall experience on another Shaman run will be similar. It's got all the hallmarks of Spyderco's clean design and top-notch craftsmanship. There are also tons of aftermarket scale and clip options, too. Whether you're Team Shaman or Team PM2, you're gonna be grinning like teenager watching Twilight circa 2008 when you get your hands on either of these bad boys. OK, I’m hearing this is not a relatable reference. Weird.
So, what's your take on the Spyderco Shaman vs. PM2 debate? Let me know, and as always, keep on nerding out, knife bros!
