Something I do not understand about the Chaparral

[Wartstein]

What constitutes “time” is the rub. I doubt if a human could stress that spring (really a thick steel bar) enough in a lifetime to wear it out, or in.

It's called metal fatigue, Mike.

Repetitive bending force on a piece of metal causes it to weaken over time, due to the development of micro cracks.

You would probably never be able to actually fatigue it enough, under normal use, for it to actually seperate. But it will, most certainly, become weaker and easier to flex over time.

It has nothing to do with the lockbar rubbing on the spring. That's a different kind of wear.

I just do know for sure that the backlock on my particular Chap got significantly easier to operate over the course of time (though I personally did not mind it having a rather hard to press lockbar in the beginning)

[MichaelScott]

I have had the Chaparrals apart to fix the tension issue and that so called spring may “weaken” if flexed enough over time but the amount of flex is very small and that steel piece is very thick and strong. So yes, I do understand metal fatigue but the amount over time (rate) is what’s in question here. I think most chaparral owners experiencing the thin stiff lock bar will get rid of it long before it “breaks in”. Which it probably won’t anyway.

[Sumdumguy]

I have had the Chaparrals apart to fix the tension issue and that so called spring may “weaken” if flexed enough over time but the amount of flex is very small and that steel piece is very thick and strong. So yes, I do understand metal fatigue but the amount over time (rate) is what’s in question here. I think most chaparral owners experiencing the thin stiff lock bar will get rid of it long before it “breaks in”. Which it probably won’t anyway.

Any stressor, no matter how slight, fatigues the metal to some degree.

What the EXACT rate is, I couldn't say. But, I can say with absolute certainty that lockbar spring(nothing "so called" about it) will weaken over time.

The spring will very quickly develop these micro cracks, which will reduce the force required to flex it. After that initial fatigue, the rate at which it fatigues will dramatically decrease because the amount of stress that was initially reached, cannot be exceeded.

[Wartstein]

I have had the Chaparrals apart to fix the tension issue and that so called spring may “weaken” if flexed enough over time but the amount of flex is very small and that steel piece is very thick and strong. So yes, I do understand metal fatigue but the amount over time (rate) is what’s in question here. I think most chaparral owners experiencing the thin stiff lock bar will get rid of it long before it “breaks in”. Which it probably won’t anyway.

Michael, with all due respect: As I explained above, it DID break in in my case without any doubt.
If this was because of "weakening" of the "spring" though or due to some other parts getting smoother is something I don´t know of course!
And I have to say: I played around with my Chap (opened and closed it) a lot, that sure helped to speed up the process.

Btw: I did not mind the thin and in the beginning stiff lock bar anyway... , but I encourage everyone who likes the Chap generally not to pass on it due to the stiff lock! Do the "mod" or let it break in, it´s worth it!

[JMM]

I have had the Chaparrals apart to fix the tension issue and that so called spring may “weaken” if flexed enough over time but the amount of flex is very small and that steel piece is very thick and strong. So yes, I do understand metal fatigue but the amount over time (rate) is what’s in question here. I think most chaparral owners experiencing the thin stiff lock bar will get rid of it long before it “breaks in”. Which it probably won’t anyway.

Michael, with all due respect: As I explained above, it DID break in in my case without any doubt.
If this was because of "weakening" of the "spring" though or due to some other parts getting smoother is something I don´t know of course!
And I have to say: I played around with my Chap (opened and closed it) a lot, that sure helped to speed up the process.

Btw: I did not mind the thin and in the beginning stiff lock bar anyway... , but I encourage everyone who likes the Chap generally not to pass on it due to the stiff lock! Do the "mod" or let it break in, it´s worth it!

I went ahead and did the "mod" just a tiny bit on my FRN Chaparral and it gave me exactly what I wanted. That aside, I really think the knife is absolutely amazing. Fingers crossed for both the FRN Chaparral & the Sage5 LW to get some new FRN colour & new steel makeover.... :D

Cheers,

John

[Wartstein]

I went ahead and did the "mod" just a tiny bit on my FRN Chaparral and it gave me exactly what I wanted. That aside, I really think the knife is absolutely amazing. Fingers crossed for both the FRN Chaparral & the Sage5 LW to get some new FRN colour & new steel makeover.... :D

Cheers,

John

It certainly IS amazing indeed!
Also fingers crossed that the sun and moon variant will be released finally and soon... :rolleyes:

[Doc Dan]

We need some earth tone color options for the LW.

[Mushroom]

We need some earth tone color options for the LW.

I agree, I would love to see a Khaki FRN version. It would carry well with a pair of slacks.

[JustinB]

We need some earth tone color options for the LW.

This ^

[Wartstein]

We need some earth tone color options for the LW.

I am certainly not opposed to that...
... especially if they do it in Micarta... :D

[rhaug]

We need some earth tone color options for the LW.

I am certainly not opposed to that...
... especially if they do it in Micarta... :D

YES PLEASE! A pretty Chap in ivory Micarta would be a must-have for me... but really, almost any color Micarta would do...