Micarta Chaparral

[Ez556]

“Spyderco’s Chaparral series is a family of slim, pocket-friendly gentlemen’s folding knives that celebrates the diversity of different handle materials and treatments.”

So far we’ve had iterations in carbon fiber/G10 laminate, a few titanium versions, Raffir Noble and FRN. I think that Micarta would be a wonderful next step, especially with all the talk about it lately. Obviously Spyderco got things figured out with Micarta, I’d love to see a Chaparral in a nice linen or denim Micarta, or even something more unique like that Python Micarta that ZrowsN1s posted recently.

[glutofknives]

Brown canvas would look great on a chap. Im still hoping to see a copper chaparral one day!

[bearfacedkiller]

There have been quite a few materials that haven’t happened. There was supposed to be a bronze one as well as one made with horn. Both sound awesome. Micarta sounds good too. Green, brown or denim all sound great.

[abbazaba]

+1

[Ez556]

I just remembered the Sun & Moon G10 is coming, so any Micarta variant would follow that. I am looking forward to that one, it looks really cool. I already plan on getting the Raffir Noble at some point, so if they do come out with a Micarta Chaparral I may end up with a small collection of Chaps!

[Pancake]

There have been quite a few materials that haven’t happened. There was supposed to be a bronze one as well as one made with horn. Both sound awesome. Micarta sounds good too. Green, brown or denim all sound great.

IIRC sal mentioned that horn as a natural material could shrink A LOT so this idea was scrapped. Humidity change could affect even micarta, but not as bad as horn.

But I agree, micarta would be very nice and classy looking.

[The Deacon]

Much as I love Micarta, I don't think the Chaparral is the best vehicle for it. Micarta looks best when it's thick enough to be at least a bit rounded so the layers are visible. The Chaparral, at least so far, has featured thin flat scales. Still, if it was done with "original recipe" Micarta and not just something Norplex has slapped the Micarta name on, I'd be up for it.

[Wartstein]

I could not resist a Micarta Chap.
And I´ll get the sun and moon, that´s for sure too.

And that is despite I already have the FRN version and don´t need even ONE small folder practically speaking. Just goes to show how very good that model is.

I also hope: The more varieties will be out there, the more people will get a Chap and hopefully discover the magic of a really thin (2mm) blade. And that this will lead to more demand and maybe more models featuring that thin blade stock. Superior cutter, and my Chap holds up great to even harder tasks, no problem.

[Danvp]

The 3 Chaps with wooden handles looked very nice. I saw these prototypes during the Amsterdam meet begin this year. Have them on my wish list since. Hope they will be revealed soon.

[Larry_Mott]

The 3 Chaps with wooden handles looked very nice. I saw these prototypes during the Amsterdam meet begin this year. Have them on my wish list since. Hope they will be revealed soon.

Agreed! I wouldn't mind if they made the scales ever so slightly rounded (Paul) "Suingab" made my Lum Chinese scales like that and it feels so much better for it.

[Ez556]

Much as I love Micarta, I don't think the Chaparral is the best vehicle for it. Micarta looks best when it's thick enough to be at least a bit rounded so the layers are visible. The Chaparral, at least so far, has featured thin flat scales. Still, if it was done with "original recipe" Micarta and not just something Norplex has slapped the Micarta name on, I'd be up for it.

I agree that at least slight contouring would be necessary for it to really look (and feel) good with a little bit more thickness to it.

IIRC sal mentioned that horn as a natural material could shrink A LOT so this idea was scrapped. Humidity change could affect even micarta, but not as bad as horn.

Shrinkage can definitly be a problem with scale materials, I have an old slipjoint knife with red/white/black marbled (what I believe is) Kirinite that used to be my great uncles, and the material itself shrunk and has left large gaps around all the pins and bolsters leaving bare steel underneath.

[ABX2011]

Looking forward to wood or micarta! Sun & Moon is a pass for me.

[Baron Mind]

Light colored linen mik micarta would be superb.

[JRinFL]

Much as I love Micarta, I don't think the Chaparral is the best vehicle for it. Micarta looks best when it's thick enough to be at least a bit rounded so the layers are visible. The Chaparral, at least so far, has featured thin flat scales. Still, if it was done with "original recipe" Micarta and not just something Norplex has slapped the Micarta name on, I'd be up for it.

Would classic burgundy micarta be a good match, ala the early Jester? I think it would be excellent.

[Ez556]

Would classic burgundy micarta be a good match, ala the early Jester? I think it would be excellent.

That would look great!

[T_MAC686]

I would prefer a linen micarta over a canvas micarta for the Chap- green, natural, or maroon would all be nice colors. Wood would look nice on this knife too, and I’m kind of surprised they haven’t used pakkawood yet..

I think either wood or linen micarta handles may also look nice with a titanium bolster!

[araneae]

I suggested this in another thread earlier this week, so obviously I'm in favor of micarta on a Chap. I like hemp, burlap and canvas micarta that have great visual texture over the smoother varieties.

[Pancake]

Even with low to non contouring micarta scales can look good....if you choose right micarta. Something like burlap or canvas micarta has a quite nice appeal even on flat surfaces. But flat linen micarta is just boring, it looks more or less like G10.

[Doc Dan]

Much as I love Micarta, I don't think the Chaparral is the best vehicle for it. Micarta looks best when it's thick enough to be at least a bit rounded so the layers are visible. The Chaparral, at least so far, has featured thin flat scales. Still, if it was done with "original recipe" Micarta and not just something Norplex has slapped the Micarta name on, I'd be up for it.

Polished micarta does look good, though. But I agree that the Chaparral would not look as nice with the usual rough textured micarta.

[Halfneck]

Contoured Coffee Bag Burlap Micarta.