chaparral cqi?

[sethwm]

Anyone have recent experience with the chaparral? I sold mine a couple years ago because I just couldn’t stand the pressure from the back lock on my thumb. Is this something that’s been addressed recently?

I’ve seen the recommendation to alter the spring placement, maybe I’ll try again with that because I’ve been getting a hankering for another chap. But I’m afraid I’m just gonna sell it again.

[araneae]

I've had 5 Chaps dating back to the very first run and none had stiff lock bars. I picked up 2 more at the second sale for myself and 2 for others. Of those, 2 had stiff locks, I loosened one up by shifting the spring forward tonight, worked like a charm.

[sethwm]

Does shifting the spring fix it? Or just make it less awful?

[RustyIron]

I just couldn’t stand the pressure from the back lock on my thumb. Is this something that’s been addressed recently?

Tension is related to spring tension. The spring is just a bent piece of metal. Put it in a vise and remove some of the bend. Ain't no big deal.

[Sharp Guy]

Does shifting the spring fix it? Or just make it less awful?

I moved the spring on my CF Chap a couple years ago and I think it made a huge difference. It's perfectly fine now (not less awful). I don't think I had to move the spring on my Chap LW or Maple. They're pretty good out of the box.

[Doc Dan]

I have two, both perfect. A back lock is always going to have tension on the blade, that's how it operates. The lock bar, under spring tension, constantly engages the tang of the blade. A mid-lock back lock might be more stiff because of the leverage, the pressure being greater, at least I think so. You don't want it too loose. You can, however, take off the scale and pull the little bar spring forward and it will put less pressure on the lock bar. Do this in a small increment.

I don't know if I explained this clearly. Anyway, that's my take on it. Easy fix.

[Wartstein]

HERE viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80687#p1253309 you can see the easy mod that lessens the spring tension.

I never had to do this though to my Chap. I like that it offers a bit more resistance, and the lock also broke in quite a bit.
I hope Spyderco will not change anything here, cause, as said, for those who don´t like it there is the mod anyway...

[Wartstein]

Added to my post above: I actually don´t think that the Chap has more spring tension than other Spyderco backlocks.

That the lock might be a bit harder on the thumb for some, is probably just a slight trade off that comes with what makes this knife so great: The for a small folder reasonable thin bladestock (and by that lockbar) and the overall ultra thin and slim carry, while still offering very good ergos.

[kobold]

On the maple, the latest version, there is less space for the spring bar to be moved IIRC. Another change is the chamfered lock bar edges.

[Soanso McMasters]

Mine are all recent models and the lock bar doesn’t seem stiff, it’s just that it is very thin. If I am messing around with it a lot it makes my thumb a little sore. If I’m just using it during a regular day it doesn’t bother me. My Native LW is thick enough that it doesn’t bother me under any circumstance.

They are such excellent knives that I wouldn’t let it stop me from owning one. Great ergonomics and such a thin blade make for a wonderful cutting tool. I have three and I’d love to add a carbon fiber model as well.

[sethwm]

Ok I pulled the trigger on this. I'll try the mod if necessary and report back what I find out.

[cabfrank]

I hope it works for you. It is a very nice knife. I'm sure you could post it on the Swap if you would prefer something else.

[Coffeetron]

got mine last year, spring is about same as the rest. some might perceive it as more as its thinner than on most mid locks.

[tbdoc4kids]

I found the chamfering of the lock bar quite a bit more comfortable.

I have several Chaps and the lock bar tension has varied. The above mentioned mod has resolved any issues for me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Ramonade]

Moving the spring works quite well. Even if one moves it the tiniest bit.

[LakeOconee]

The spring adjustment worked very nicely for my elder hands.

Having a newer model with the lockbar chamfer helps too.

Loving the thin-ness and slicy-ness of the Chap :)

[Sharp Guy]

Moving the spring works quite well. Even if one moves it the tiniest bit.

A little bit makes a big difference. You can only move it so far before it won't work at all anyway

[Wartstein]

This thread really makes me want to carry my Chap FRN again. It has been pushed a bit in the background by the Salt 2 ffg SE as a lightweight outdoor option lately
Looking forward to using the Chap as my as I always call it "bushcraft-claw" again. Paired with a larger fixed blade it's great in that role, and often very underestimated concerning its strength and what it can take.

[aicolainen]

Having too many knives is a problem. When something as good as the chap can be relegated to sock drawer duty for the longest time, one realize one is quite spoiled.
Lately I’ve really brushed the dust off it and carried it quite extensively until yesterday when I noticed it was about to dig its way through my back pocket seam.
That was a sad realization. I often carry a DF2 loose in my back pocket without issue, but I guess the added length of the chap puts more pressure on the seams. Using the clip probably eliminates the problem, but that’s sadly not an option in many circumstances due to laws and sensitive people.
Need to work this out so I can keep carrying it as much as it deserves.

[Wartstein]

Having too many knives is a problem. When something as good as the chap can be relegated to sock drawer duty for the longest time, one realize one is quite spoiled.
Lately I’ve really brushed the dust off it and carried it quite extensively until yesterday when I noticed it was about to dig its way through my back pocket seam.
That was a sad realization. I often carry a DF2 loose in my back pocket without issue, but I guess the added length of the chap puts more pressure on the seams. Using the clip probably eliminates the problem, but that’s sadly not an option in many circumstances due to laws and sensitive people.
Need to work this out so I can keep carrying it as much as it deserves.

I clearly prefer the Chap over the DFly (but would certainly own a DFly if there was no Chap). Where the DFly really shines though is when it comes to light weight. Even the FRN Chap has almost twice the weight (60g vs 34g), and that will also contribute to it being more of a "pocket destroyer". Especially since the comparably "high" weight is distributed on a relatively small surface - the very thin handle end.

That being said: I think we just got to learn to live with more or less damaged pockets, my friend, and find fixes for that

ALL of my pants did heavily wear out (the RFP in my case), many developed holes.
Most have patches sewn over those holes already.
On some those PATCHES have holes themselves again:

-Pic 1: Bouldering pant, even made of rather heavy garment - it developed a huge "knife hole" over time, a beige patch was sewn over that hole, but has one itself already

- Pic 2: This is what the RFP of all my jeans look like: Patch over the hole that developed over time...