Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
Bruce Mack
Member
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:51 am
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#1

Post by Bruce Mack »

This small knife has surprised me with its great performance at heavier tasks. Today I was out in Minnesota cold, breaking down a few boxes for recycling. Substantial cardboard included Chewy boxes which held ~30-40 pounds of canned cat food and cat litter boxes that don't crush when you jump on them (empty). The knife had superb cutting performance and kept going. CTS-XHP, good steel hardening, and thin stock made this daunting task much easier than I expected. Heavy gloves and a Carhartt coat also helped :)
Tgmr05
Member
Posts: 366
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:54 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#2

Post by Tgmr05 »

I really like the cutting ability of the chaparral. It is quite the slicer.
Sumdumguy
Member
Posts: 3601
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:51 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#3

Post by Sumdumguy »

I'm still trying to decide which one to get. I'm kinda bummed I didn't buy the stealth Ti one during the sale last year.
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so."

-Thomas Jefferson
User avatar
The Deacon
Member
Posts: 25717
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
Location: Upstate SC, USA
Contact:

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#4

Post by The Deacon »

They're incredible little knives. Sal had gifted me with a pre-production CF Chaparral shorty before I started packing up to move from NY to SC in 2011. I decided to use it as my go-to knife for packing. Cut all kinds of cardboard, everything from cereal box thin to the tri-wall stuff used for major appliances, and lots of it. Among other things, had to protect the glass from 3 curio cabinets that had glass shelves and glass panels in the sides and doors. Chaparral performed like a champ.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
JuPaul
Member
Posts: 4437
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2019 7:06 am

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#5

Post by JuPaul »

Sumdumguy wrote:
Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:06 pm
I'm still trying to decide which one to get. I'm kinda bummed I didn't buy the stealth Ti one during the sale last year.
The stepped ti ones are still on sale at KC for $200!
- Julia

"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Sumdumguy
Member
Posts: 3601
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:51 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#6

Post by Sumdumguy »

JuPaul wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:53 am
Sumdumguy wrote:
Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:06 pm
I'm still trying to decide which one to get. I'm kinda bummed I didn't buy the stealth Ti one during the sale last year.
The stepped ti ones are still on sale at KC for $200!
I passed on those, not a fan of the pattern.
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so."

-Thomas Jefferson
User avatar
dj moonbat
Member
Posts: 1488
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:58 am
Location: Sunny SoCal

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#7

Post by dj moonbat »

You’ll run into comments now and again to the effect that the thickness of the blade stock doesn’t really matter—that it’s the thickness behind the edge that makes for a good cutter. But the Chaparral just won’t bind up in a cut. You give up some leverage using such a small knife, but you need less.
User avatar
Wartstein
Member
Posts: 15045
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:06 am
Location: Salzburg, Austria, Europe

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#8

Post by Wartstein »

Bruce Mack wrote:
Mon Jan 06, 2020 6:43 pm
This small knife has surprised me with its great performance at heavier tasks....
Great to have another advocate for the Chap as not-only-lite-duty-knife!!! :)

I´ve said it before and I say it again: I´ve used and tested my Chap FRN in a lot of "harder"use tasks (bushcrafting, harder wood and so on). It is perfectly suited for that, solid enough and in many cutting tasks just superior due to its thin stock.

I mean, the only part of the blade you could really break (snap of) in any not overly crazy test (deliberatley inveneted to break a blade) is the tip. And due to the lead shape the Chaps tip is not that weak. I´d guess perhaps stronger than a PM2 or Para 3 tip...

/ Another great thing:; In real use the Chap is really stable and locked in the hand. Honestly, in my experience more stable than a Native 5
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
User avatar
rhaug
Member
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2019 5:25 am

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#9

Post by rhaug »

Sounds so good, can’t wait to get my own. The Chap is definitely next on my buy-list but am holding out for that sun and moon version that’s coming up...
On deck: FRN Chaparral

Moved on: Techno 2, SpydieChef

Excited to get: UKPK Heinnie Haynes edition, Lil'Kapara (bring it on! :D )
carrot
Member
Posts: 934
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:38 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#10

Post by carrot »

The Chaparral is awesome. I won't use it for very dirty or mucky tasks because it appears harder to clean than some other lockbacks but as far as I'm concerned it's otherwise all the knife I need. It literally just disappears into the pocket and I love the glass smooth, precise action.

And wow, CTS-XHP. Its abrasion resistance is excellent and it's more than stainless enough for me. Carpenter is really killing it with their steels.
Cscottsss
Member
Posts: 525
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 6:33 am
Location: Lexington, KY

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#11

Post by Cscottsss »

Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
User avatar
Wartstein
Member
Posts: 15045
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:06 am
Location: Salzburg, Austria, Europe

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#12

Post by Wartstein »

Cscottsss wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:34 pm
Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
How recent? And are you sure he was talking 'bout the Chap?!

Honestly, what on earth could possibly still be improved here?! :confused:
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
User avatar
Enactive
Member
Posts: 2041
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2018 8:19 pm
Location: Wet side of Washington

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#13

Post by Enactive »

Wartstein wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:37 pm
Cscottsss wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:34 pm
Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
How recent? And are you sure he was talking 'bout the Chap?!

Honestly, what on earth could possibly still be improved here?! :confused:
IIRC Sal may have mentioned CQI on the carbon and raffir scales like was done on the FRN scales recently in regards to clip placement and clip groove depth. Not sure tho... working from memory.

The improvement would be for clip mounting durability and retention.
ABX2011
Member
Posts: 2299
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:54 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#14

Post by ABX2011 »

They did a CQI to the mold related to the clip mounting.
Did they also CQI the lockbar? Maybe add a chamfer? I vaguely remember seeing something.
User avatar
Wartstein
Member
Posts: 15045
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:06 am
Location: Salzburg, Austria, Europe

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#15

Post by Wartstein »

ABX2011 wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:04 pm
They did a CQI to the mold related to the clip mounting.
Did they also CQI the lockbar? Maybe add a chamfer? I vaguely remember seeing something.

I know, but the clip mounting thing was the FIRST cqi..

Csscotsss is talking bout a SECOND one I think... but as Enactive said, it might be just the same cqi but this time on the cf and raffir versions (the first one was just for the FRN I think)
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
Cscottsss
Member
Posts: 525
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 6:33 am
Location: Lexington, KY

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#16

Post by Cscottsss »

Wartstein wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:37 pm
Cscottsss wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:34 pm
Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
How recent? And are you sure he was talking 'bout the Chap?!

Honestly, what on earth could possibly still be improved here?! :confused:
Ok, I found it, and yes he's talking about the Chap. The reason I couldn't find it was it was on BF, not here.

Sal never replied to my last post in the thread so no more info on when this will happen.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the ... t-19439371
Gamecock
Member
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Oct 19, 2019 8:12 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#17

Post by Gamecock »

Wartstein wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:37 pm
Cscottsss wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:34 pm
Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
How recent? And are you sure he was talking 'bout the Chap?!

Honestly, what on earth could possibly still be improved here?! :confused:
The stiffness of the spring. I don’t own one, but have one on order (FRN is backordered everywhere) and that seems to be the most common issue for that comes up. The new batch hopefully has that fixed.
User avatar
Wartstein
Member
Posts: 15045
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:06 am
Location: Salzburg, Austria, Europe

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#18

Post by Wartstein »

Gamecock wrote:
Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:26 am
Wartstein wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:37 pm
Cscottsss wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:34 pm
Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
How recent? And are you sure he was talking 'bout the Chap?!

Honestly, what on earth could possibly still be improved here?! :confused:
The stiffness of the spring. I don’t own one, but have one on order (FRN is backordered everywhere) and that seems to be the most common issue for that comes up. The new batch hopefully has that fixed.
I like the way mine came concerning the spring, but admittedly it's my "hardest" to operate backlock knife.
Still I personally saw no need to adjust the spring, but I guess you know that this can be done quite easily (though one has to disassemble the knife in order to do so) ?

But yes, you are right if a majority of consumers like a "softer" spring in the first place, it could come like this right from the factory perhaps.
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
Cscottsss
Member
Posts: 525
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 6:33 am
Location: Lexington, KY

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#19

Post by Cscottsss »

Gamecock wrote:
Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:26 am
Wartstein wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:37 pm
Cscottsss wrote:
Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:34 pm
Is there another CQI of the Chap LW headed our way? I saw Sal mention it in a recent thread but can't find it.
How recent? And are you sure he was talking 'bout the Chap?!

Honestly, what on earth could possibly still be improved here?! :confused:
The stiffness of the spring. I don’t own one, but have one on order (FRN is backordered everywhere) and that seems to be the most common issue for that comes up. The new batch hopefully has that fixed.
Yeah, I'm going to wait until the most recent CQI to grab one. Hopefully Sal will chime in and give us a timeframe.
carrot
Member
Posts: 934
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:38 pm

Re: Breaking down boxes with Chaparral

#20

Post by carrot »

The spring does break in if you use it for awhile. It's weird. I've never had any other Spyderco need a break-in period like the Chaparral. My Chaps are now no harder to unlock than a Caly or Delica.

Another knife company that makes lockbacks that rhymes with Bold Meal also needs to break in.
Post Reply