Blade HQ Shaman exclusive coming, green micarta and DLC steel? (M4)

[Brock O Lee]

This is a striking version! I missed out on all the previous sprints and exclusives, so this one is tempting...

[Kleon]

Having had numerous Shaman over the years now as well as several BHQ DLC M4 knives I am in for this one. Looks like a choice of materials for an edc user.

[Jurmuscle]

I just bought a M4 native 5 LW. This one looks so nice tho.

The crazy part is that this Shaman is nearly 3x the price of that Native.

Ya that is also true. I can't justify $300 on a shaman after taxes. And I got the native on sale came out to $120 after tax.

[Tucson Tom]

this one almost made even me want a shaman until i saw m4.

I have extremely limited experience with M4 and so I ask…what don’t you like about the steel?

i prefer stainless steels. i've never used m4 and i hear it's great, but it leans a little too hard into entropy for my tastes, especially for the price.

M4 with a DLC coating would do pretty well as far as corrosion resistance. I certainly enjoy M4.

[Tucson Tom]

i prefer stainless steels. i've never used m4 and i hear it's great, but it leans a little too hard into entropy for my tastes, especially for the price.

I live in the desert. The only steel I have that has rusted on me is m4. If you look at it wrong it oxidizes faster. I don’t understand bhq’s infatuation with m4. There’s plenty of other exciting steel choices and they continuously choose a rust prone steel.

I'd prefer Rex 45 myself. I suppose K390 is out, being from Japan, but M4 is an excellent steel.

Insisting on stainless just holds you back from so many great steels.

Of the 3 mentioned, I have only seen any oxidation (I won't call what I have seen corrosion) with K390. My knives with K390 have some "zones of patina", sort of grey staining -- which is just fine by me. My Rex 45 and M4 blades look the same as the day I bought them. And I am here in the desert, so you do have to take that into account.

If you insist on stainless there have been a number of Shaman variants in S90V and of course there is the original with S30V, which is by no means to be passed over.

[ladybug93]

i prefer stainless steels. i've never used m4 and i hear it's great, but it leans a little too hard into entropy for my tastes, especially for the price.

I live in the desert. The only steel I have that has rusted on me is m4. If you look at it wrong it oxidizes faster. I don’t understand bhq’s infatuation with m4. There’s plenty of other exciting steel choices and they continuously choose a rust prone steel.

I'd prefer Rex 45 myself. I suppose K390 is out, being from Japan, but M4 is an excellent steel.

Insisting on stainless just holds you back from so many great steels.

Of the 3 mentioned, I have only seen any oxidation (I won't call what I have seen corrosion) with K390. My knives with K390 have some "zones of patina", sort of grey staining -- which is just fine by me. My Rex 45 and M4 blades look the same as the day I bought them. And I am here in the desert, so you do have to take that into account.

If you insist on stainless there have been a number of Shaman variants in S90V and of course there is the original with S30V, which is by no means to be passed over.

i've had spots show up on vg10. i'm fine with tool steels that rust on cheaper knives, but i'm not interested in spending over $100 for a pocket knife that will rust in my pocket. hopefully the cruwear ayoob won't be too bad. i've been fine with d2, so it should be okay.

[RamZar]

I'd prefer Rex 45 myself. I suppose K390 is out, being from Japan, but M4 is an excellent steel.

BÖHLER K390 MICROCLEAN (powdered) is a European tool steel not Japanese.

https://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/en/pro ... icroclean/
https://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/app/up ... k390en.pdf

[Bemo]

I got the recent S90 version. If this had popped up earlier I would have jumped on it. I don't see a need in my collection for another Shaman, but if a K390 showed up I'd be very very tempted. Such an excellent tool steel.

[curlyhairedboy]

Kind of tempted, but I could make a Frankenstein version of this already….

[Sharp Guy]

this one almost made even me want a shaman until i saw m4.

I didn't think I wanted another Shaman until I saw M4

[Vaugith]

I got the recent S90 version. If this had popped up earlier I would have jumped on it. I don't see a need in my collection for another Shaman, but if a K390 showed up I'd be very very tempted. Such an excellent tool steel.

K390 Shaman PLEASE!

[Cowboyfromhell]

This is the summer of shaman!

[TkoK83Spy]

It's becoming the new PM2 of exclusives, but I have to admit...there are some darn nice ones that have come out so far! I'm standing firm at 2, but this one is pretty sweet. Though will be around $300 after taxes. That's really getting up there.

[Rinzler]

this one almost made even me want a shaman until i saw m4.

I didn't think I wanted another Shaman until I saw M4

M4 is polarizing.

[Rinzler]

I'd prefer Rex 45 myself. I suppose K390 is out, being from Japan, but M4 is an excellent steel.

Insisting on stainless just holds you back from so many great steels.

Of the 3 mentioned, I have only seen any oxidation (I won't call what I have seen corrosion) with K390. My knives with K390 have some "zones of patina", sort of grey staining -- which is just fine by me. My Rex 45 and M4 blades look the same as the day I bought them. And I am here in the desert, so you do have to take that into account.

If you insist on stainless there have been a number of Shaman variants in S90V and of course there is the original with S30V, which is by no means to be passed over.

Fellow desert friend, interestingly I have 6 knives in Rex45 or k390and none have given any issues. I really like Rex45 and hope to see more of it in the future.

[Woodpuppy]

Would be nice to see the Native 5 getting some of this treatment!

[Tucson Tom]

I'd prefer Rex 45 myself. I suppose K390 is out, being from Japan, but M4 is an excellent steel.

BÖHLER K390 MICROCLEAN (powdered) is a European tool steel not Japanese.

https://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/en/pro ... icroclean/
https://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/app/up ... k390en.pdf

Holy cow, of course. You are right! What was I thinking?

Well then, K390 would most definitely be an option for the Shaman.
For that matter, what about Magnacut?

But I'll take M4 without any real complaints.

[kennethsime]

It's becoming the new PM2 of exclusives, but I have to admit...there are some darn nice ones that have come out so far! I'm standing firm at 2, but this one is pretty sweet. Though will be around $300 after taxes. That's really getting up there.

The last two Shamans I bought were also roughly $300 after Tax + Shipping, which is about as much as I'm currently willing to spend on a knife (with one notable exception, as you well know Rick). I do think the Shaman is one heck of a knife, and absolutely worth it. I just have to think a little bit more about my $300 knife purchases, and I think that two Shamans are enough for now.

[kennethsime]

I'd prefer Rex 45 myself. I suppose K390 is out, being from Japan, but M4 is an excellent steel.

BÖHLER K390 MICROCLEAN (powdered) is a European tool steel not Japanese.

https://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/en/pro ... icroclean/
https://www.bohler-edelstahl.com/app/up ... k390en.pdf

Holy cow, of course. You are right! What was I thinking?

Well then, it would most definitely be an option for the Shaman. But I'll take M4 without any real complaints.

Tom, don't you have a K390 PM2?

[mada7583]

I love M4. Takes a screaming edge. I’d be all over this if I didn’t already have the satin micarta version.