Another thread for discussing a Chaparral XL - now that it came one step closer to becoming a reality

[Mat_ski]

Agreed on 3.5!

Anything less than that and I would probably choose regular chap instead.

[Wartstein]

..

Proportion wise, a 3.25” Chap would be close to perfection and that blade lenght is more than enough for any average slicing task but… to each his own. All I am interested in is the serrated variant so I shall be a happy camper anyway. Let’s hope that Sal will stay on top of this project.

I guess this is where we´ll have to agree to disagree

I think that most slicing tasks profit from a longer blade, and to me a "Chap XL" should represent a real "slicer".
3.25" really isn´t the end of the world, but 3.5" (or even more, but I think Endura size could become a bit much for the thin stock....?) imo works better:

Examples would be cutting cardboard and being better able to do that in one drawing motion instead of rather "pressing" the blade down or having to go back and forth. Or of course many types of food prep, slicing bread, and so on.

/ That said: Proportionwise as you say, so just from the looks of it, it could very well be that a 3.25 Chap would look amazing (though I have to say: To me in the Endura family the close to 3.5 bladed Endela has the best and best proportioned looks).

[SRT392HEMI]

Maybe a Chaparral plus at 3.25" and a Chaparral XL at 3.50"+? Everybody happy.

[horzuff]

A Chap XL in ~3,25" would be yet another smallish knife on the market. Thinner blades aren't that rare in this range (see all the BM Bugout wannabes). Yeah, sure, it would probably sell but it wouldn't be anything special.

The 3,5"+ with the thin geometry would make it one of the very few full-sized knives with a very keen geometry (the BM Taggedout family and the Kaviso/Drop exclusive WE Praxis are pretty much the only others that come to my mind)

[Wartstein]

Not really, but still kind of an update, in any case I thought it belongs in this thread too:

"Sorry guys,

I'm still testing the handmade prototype of the 3.5" that Roque made. We're a long ways from a production piece.

sal"

(from the "New Preview - Chaparral...." thread (viewtopic.php?p=1833558#p1833558)

[Manixguy@1994]

Not really, but still kind of an update, in any case I thought it belongs in this thread too:

"Sorry guys,

I'm still testing the handmade prototype of the 3.5" that Roque made. We're a long ways from a production piece.

sal"

(from the "New Preview - Chaparral...." thread (viewtopic.php?p=1833558#p1833558)

Sal pocket testing is a very good sign , exciting to see the progress. Dan

[cycleguy]

Spyderco “Ponderosa”

Have at it guys … any potential?

CG

P.S. Mostly selling, but did order a bright green native chief the other day. Guess I’m still hooked!

[sal]

We discussed making a run yesterday.

sal

[Mushroom]

This was in the prototype case at BLADE Show and it felt phenomenal.

[riclaw]

@cycleguy Ponderosa is a cool name. Evokes images of the great outdoors and a popular TV western. Wonder if Spyderco will go with that or keep the Chap XL designation since the OG model seems to be selling well.

[TimButterfield]

ponderosa - the chap you pine for

[PaloArt]

We discussed making a run yesterday.

sal

Am I the only one who saw this message, Sal's little bombshell?! THAT is pretty exciting if making a run has been discussed internally. I just hope it is not going to be some crazy limited sprint run for 400 USD...

[weeping minora]

We discussed making a run yesterday.

sal

Am I the only one who saw this message, Sal's little bombshell?! THAT is pretty exciting if making a run has been discussed internally. I just hope it is not going to be some crazy limited sprint run for 400 USD...

I think you're just the only one (thus far) to comment on it. This will still be at least a year or more out at this point, even if expedited in the queue. Probably still discussion left about materials, which would/could push this into the "sprint run for $400" territory. Don't ask for S90V and carbon fiber and I bet it will still be pricy, but much more digestable.

[horzuff]

I hope the first run is in the exact same material config as the normal Chap. And that it's not priced too far above the ~170$ MSRP of the Chap.

[Mushroom]

The first run would not be a sprint run.

I'd expect something like G10 and XHP.

[riclaw]

I'd expect something like G10 and XHP.

Same. If the molds are super expensive then FRN is unlikely. I think black G10 is the next most cost-effective handle material?

[cjk]

We discussed making a run yesterday.

sal

Am I the only one who saw this message, Sal's little bombshell?! THAT is pretty exciting if making a run has been discussed internally. I just hope it is not going to be some crazy limited sprint run for 400 USD...

The rest of us were so excited that we were dancing in the streets, so we were too busy to comment!!

[sal]

I was thinking ivory G-10 like some of he other "test" models?

sal

[cabfrank]

That sounds great!
Gernot, what do you think?

[cjk]

I was thinking ivory G-10 like some of he other "test" models?

sal

I am in regardless of G-10 color, but I sure do like Forest Green a lot.