Do I need a Chaparral LW?

[Ruudr]

The Chap LW will drop on my doormat on Tuesday :)
Thanks for the advice!

[Wartstein]

The Chap LW will drop on my doormat on Tuesday :)
Thanks for the advice!

I'd love to hear your first impressions... maybe you'd like to share it here?

[Molle Ninja]

Such a great knife. Really all you would need. Though “need” rarely informs many of these purchases.

[Ruudr]

The Chap LW will drop on my doormat on Tuesday :)
Thanks for the advice!

I'd love to hear your first impressions... maybe you'd like to share it here?

No problem

[cycleguy]

I don't know if you need a Chaparral LW; but I do know I need a Chaparral CF!!!

I'm certain this didn't help any!

CG

[bigtbear]

Chaparral LW is very light and with thinnest Profile, you won't feel it in yr pocket when EDC it all day long. Personally, i owned a Titanium Chaparral but acquired the LW version and it has been in my pocket more often than titanium.

[Doc Dan]

You will love that Chaparral LW. It is the ultimate locking pocket knife.

[Wartstein]

You will love that Chaparral LW. It is the ultimate locking pocket knife.

Second that. Since I got mine quite recently I marvel every day how a Endura-guy like me can love that litte thing so much... :)

[MichaelScott]

No. But you should get one anyway.

[Ruudr]

Some first impressions.
I like the weight! Its light but not too light. It has more strenght than I thought.I mean that I thought that the knife was very flexible due to the FRN. But the milled liners work great.

I like the pattern and color of the FRN. It provides a lot of grip. No hotspots. The transition from the FRN to the backspacer and backlock is seemless. Good job Spyderco!
The jimping on the thumbramp is perfect. Not too sharp.
Some critics:
The thumbhole is extremely sharp. I almost cut my thumb on it. I chamfered it with a diamond file. No probs anymore.
The backlock is very hard to unlock. I have to press really hard on it to disengage. The sides of the lock are rounded so it won’t cut you. But still it leaves a deep impression in the thumb. The Native5 is much smoother and doesn’t requir so much force to disengage. Will the backlock break in over time? Hopefully!
Here are some pictures!

[elena86]

Some first impressions.
I like the weight! Its light but not too light. It has more strenght than I thought.I mean that I thought that the knife was very flexible due to the FRN. But the milled liners work great.

I like the pattern and color of the FRN. It provides a lot of grip. No hotspots. The transition from the FRN to the backspacer and backlock is seemless. Good job Spyderco!
The gimping on the thumbhole is perfect. Not too sharp.
Some critics:
The thumbhole is extremely sharp. I almost cut my thumb on it. I chamfered it with a diamond file. No probs anymore.
The backlock is very hard to unlock. I have to press really hard on it to disengage. The sides of the lock are rounded so it won’t cut you. But still it leaves a deep impression in the thumb. The Native5 is much smoother and doesn’t requir so much force to disengage. Will the backlock break in over time? Hopefully!

There is no such thing... maybe on the thumbramp. How is the pocket clip ... many of us complained about the wire clip not being stiff enough. You didn't give us your final conclusion : you like it or not ? Is it a keeper ? If not, send it my way

[Ruudr]

Some first impressions.
I like the weight! Its light but not too light. It has more strenght than I thought.I mean that I thought that the knife was very flexible due to the FRN. But the milled liners work great.

I like the pattern and color of the FRN. It provides a lot of grip. No hotspots. The transition from the FRN to the backspacer and backlock is seemless. Good job Spyderco!
The gimping on the thumbhole is perfect. Not too sharp.
Some critics:
The thumbhole is extremely sharp. I almost cut my thumb on it. I chamfered it with a diamond file. No probs anymore.
The backlock is very hard to unlock. I have to press really hard on it to disengage. The sides of the lock are rounded so it won’t cut you. But still it leaves a deep impression in the thumb. The Native5 is much smoother and doesn’t requir so much force to disengage. Will the backlock break in over time? Hopefully!

There is no such thing... maybe on the thumbramp. How is the pocket clip ... many of us complained about the wire clip not being stiff enough

You are right! Changed it
The clip is awesome. My clip is pretty stiff actually!

[elena86]

Some first impressions.
I like the weight! Its light but not too light. It has more strenght than I thought.I mean that I thought that the knife was very flexible due to the FRN. But the milled liners work great.

I like the pattern and color of the FRN. It provides a lot of grip. No hotspots. The transition from the FRN to the backspacer and backlock is seemless. Good job Spyderco!
The gimping on the thumbhole is perfect. Not too sharp.
Some critics:
The thumbhole is extremely sharp. I almost cut my thumb on it. I chamfered it with a diamond file. No probs anymore.
The backlock is very hard to unlock. I have to press really hard on it to disengage. The sides of the lock are rounded so it won’t cut you. But still it leaves a deep impression in the thumb. The Native5 is much smoother and doesn’t requir so much force to disengage. Will the backlock break in over time? Hopefully!

There is no such thing... maybe on the thumbramp. How is the pocket clip ... many of us complained about the wire clip not being stiff enough

You are right! Changed it
The clip is awesome. My clip is pretty stiff actually!

Final conclusion :confused: Is it a keeper ? If not, send it my way :p I need a backup ....

[Ruudr]

Absolutely a keeper! It´s almost not noticable in the pocket, has a great deep carry clip. The blade is nice and thin. Great blade geometry and I like the FRN very much.
I´ll try to sharpen it today up to 8000 grit and then strop it. Will post pics of the end result later

[Nate]

Congrats on the Chappie!

Mine was pretty stiff to unlock at first, but broke in very well, have no issues with it now. My Baby Horn was similar. Not sure what to make of the wire clip concerns, to me it seems the same as all my other wire-clipped Spydies.

One other thing I feel compelled to mention is that I think the world would be a better place if we all agreed that the small notches cut into the spine, etc, for traction are called "jimping."

A "gimp" is, uhhh, something else. :D

[TkoK83Spy]

I always thought "gimp" was related to someone walking with a hitch in their giddy up...so I googled "gimp" Oh my...not very work appropriate images popped up hahaha.

[Wartstein]

<r><QUOTE author="Ruudr" post_id="1300670" time="1548159072" user_id="21014"><s>

</s>
Absolutely a keeper! It´s almost not noticable in the pocket, has a great deep carry clip. The blade is nice and thin. Great blade geometry and I like the FRN very much. <br/>
I´ll try to sharpen it today up to 8000 grit and then strop it. Will post pics of the end result later <E>;)</E>
<e>

</e></QUOTE>

Great you took the time to post your first impressions! And also great you like the Chap seemingly as much as I hoped you would...

Maybe now you could even imagine that a longer version of that slicer-king was a not too bad idea? I actually do and started a poll about it: //forum.spyderco.com/viewto ... r#p1295580

Concerning the stiff backlock: The one of my Chap is pretty strong but totally ok, but than I am a climber and guitar player, so probably my fingers are rather strong and have some callus..
There is a quite recent thread here and also a vid on youtube describing an easy mod: Just move the spring if the backlock a tiny bit and the lock will be less stiff but still strong enough. (Can't explain better at the moment, maybe you search for the thread or someone who can explain better would like to chime in).

[Wartstein]

[quote=

[Sharp Guy]

Concerning the stiff backlock: The one of my Chap is pretty strong but totally ok, but than I am a climber and guitar player, so probably my fingers are rather strong and have some callus..<br/>
There is a quite recent thread here and also a vid on youtube describing an easy mod: Just move the spring if the backlock a tiny bit and the lock will be less stiff but still strong enough. (Can't explain better at the moment, maybe you search for the thread or someone who can explain better would like to chime in).</r>

//forum.spyderco.com/viewto ... 7#p1192027

[Wartstein]

Concerning the stiff backlock: The one of my Chap is pretty strong but totally ok, but than I am a climber and guitar player, so probably my fingers are rather strong and have some callus..<br/>
There is a quite recent thread here and also a vid on youtube describing an easy mod: Just move the spring if the backlock a tiny bit and the lock will be less stiff but still strong enough. (Can't explain better at the moment, maybe you search for the thread or someone who can explain better would like to chime in).</r>

//forum.spyderco.com/viewto ... 7#p1192027

Thanks!! That's exactly the post I remembered but couldn't find at the moment. Hope that helps, OP! (though the lock will break in to some extent anyway I guess)