The serrated Chaparral is pretty cool

[zhyla]

I don’t know if this is the first SE CTS-XHP (maybe? They haven’t used that steel a ton). But I think the grind:geometry matters way more than the steel.

[Wartstein]

I don’t know if this is the first SE CTS-XHP (maybe? They haven’t used that steel a ton). But I think the grind:geometry matters way more than the steel.

You mean concerning edge retention?

I am sure you are right that the particular grind and the thinness of the Chap blade enhances edge retention (among other things one does not have to excert as much force and thus perhaps stress on the edge than with other, less slicey blades) and that this might even matter more than the type of steel used!

But also the edge retention of XHP in itself still is higher than for example with VG10, and this should be true for PE AND SE, right?

[Evil D]

I don’t know if this is the first SE CTS-XHP (maybe? They haven’t used that steel a ton). But I think the grind:geometry matters way more than the steel.

I agree, and I even look at this from yet another different perspective, in that I look at the steel (in regards to serrations) more in how it sharpens and how well it holds a very thin edge than in any other attributes because those seem more important here than edge retention. Of course we also want edge retention too but I think if you compromise on a very good middle of the road average edge retention but gain way better edge stability and ease of sharpening then I think that's a worthwhile trade off.

This is why SE 15V interests me, I wonder if the strength will help to prevent chipping teeth, and it has excellent edge retention and isn't super hard to sharpen.

I keep telling Sal that I'll gladly pay for the knife if he can custom grind me some serrations at their factory so I have real Spyderco serrations and not some 3rd party bootleg ones. Then I'll put the knife through the ringer and see what happens. But I suspect they can also do this sort of thing in house without my help too lol.

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

I haven't cut with my SE Chaparral yet (I'm waiting on some canvas micarta scales, hoping it'll give this gent's knife a CruCarta-ish feel) but wow is this thing thin at the edge. I can't wait to see how it perfoms.

[zhyla]

I keep telling Sal that I'll gladly pay for the knife if he can custom grind me some serrations at their factory so I have real Spyderco serrations and not some 3rd party bootleg ones.

You can buy serration wheels for grinders at knife supply websites. I looked at them for a bit when I was making knives more. I think they were $250 and had an SE pattern.

But for one knife you can also cut serrations by hand with round diamond files.

[Evil D]

I keep telling Sal that I'll gladly pay for the knife if he can custom grind me some serrations at their factory so I have real Spyderco serrations and not some 3rd party bootleg ones.

You can buy serration wheels for grinders at knife supply websites. I looked at them for a bit when I was making knives more. I think they were $250 and had an SE pattern.

But for one knife you can also cut serrations by hand with round diamond files.

Yeah I actually bought a whole bunch of diamonds bits and was going to try this but never got around to it. For the same of comparison I'd rather Spyderco do it just like their other knives so things are as equal as they can be.

[Wartstein]

I haven't cut with my SE Chaparral yet (I'm waiting on some canvas micarta scales, hoping it'll give this gent's knife a CruCarta-ish feel) but wow is this thing thin at the edge. I can't wait to see how it perfoms.

You´ll love it!
... But what´s the reason you can´t try it out with the factory scales till your micarta scales arrive?

[zhyla]

Yeah I actually bought a whole bunch of diamonds bits and was going to try this but never got around to it. For the same of comparison I'd rather Spyderco do it just like their other knives so things are as equal as they can be.

Yeah totally makes sense… if Spyderco didn’t do serrations a dozen different ways. I need to post a pic of my new Ambitious LW. Shallowest serrations I’ve ever seen.

[Evil D]

Yeah I actually bought a whole bunch of diamonds bits and was going to try this but never got around to it. For the same of comparison I'd rather Spyderco do it just like their other knives so things are as equal as they can be.

Yeah totally makes sense… if Spyderco didn’t do serrations a dozen different ways. I need to post a pic of my new Ambitious LW. Shallowest serrations I’ve ever seen.

Yeah unfortunately that is true too. For example my Military 2 and MagnaCut Chief Salt look exactly the same but the M2 hits the bevel shoulder at 15 degrees but the Chief micro bevels on 15 degrees. I'm assuming this is somehow related to blade stock and blade grind thickness, because visually they look pretty much identical.

[Evil D]

I ran into one of Santa's elves yesterday and she tipped me off that there's a high likelihood of Santa leaving one of these under the tree for me.

[WilliamMunny]

I ran into one of Santa's elves yesterday and she tipped me off that there's a high likelihood of Santa leaving one of these under the tree for me.

Awesome, I know I have one waiting under the tree for me too, to help get the kids toys out of their boxes of course.

[Wartstein]

I ran into one of Santa's elves yesterday and she tipped me off that there's a high likelihood of Santa leaving one of these under the tree for me.

That´s cool.
Really interested in your assessment as "Mr SE" :) on this forum of this amazing knife.

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

I haven't cut with my SE Chaparral yet (I'm waiting on some canvas micarta scales, hoping it'll give this gent's knife a CruCarta-ish feel) but wow is this thing thin at the edge. I can't wait to see how it perfoms.

You´ll love it!
... But what´s the reason you can´t try it out with the factory scales till your micarta scales arrive?

My Sun & Moon arrived a few days ago, so I'm honeymooning big-time with that one. Still, I think you've got a point there.

[sal]

I keep telling Sal that I'll gladly pay for the knife if he can custom grind me some serrations at their factory so I have real Spyderco serrations and not some 3rd party bootleg ones. Then I'll put the knife through the ringer and see what happens. But I suspect they can also do this sort of thing in house without my help too lol.

Hi David,

Back in the 70's, when I could see the advantages of serrations, We created a tool that will effectively sharpen serrations to get the best performance. Just getting factories to make the teeth the way I wanted was challenging from the very beginning, and still is. The "solution", in my opinion, is to sharpen your serrations with the Spyderco tools and you will get the best performance. I have been saying this sine 1982.

I stickied your post on teeth, because you are one of the few that has figured out how to get the best performance from serrations. I still maintain that a Spyderco serration is best when you use the original factory grind and then "tune" the serrations with the corners of the white stones.

While I respect and appreciate the work done by folks like Shawn and Larrin on edges, I still think that serrations tuned by a Sharpmaker or Gauntlet still offer much more than most realize.

We bought our CATRA machine 25 years ago and it gets daily use, but the CATRA is not the only way to learn. I do a lot of Real World Testing with our serrated knives and have gotten real opportunities to learn about serrations, their performance and maintenance. The resistance to serrations in general is surprising.

sal

[cabfrank]

It is surprising, and it seems there is even more resistance (and less experience, of course), outside of this forum.

[Wartstein]

... The resistance to serrations in general is surprising.

It is surprising, and it seems there is even more resistance (and less experience, of course), outside of this forum.

It is.

As it is surprising that total myths like "serrations are only good for fibrous material" or "serrations are hard to sharpen" still can persist

The Chap SE would be a prime example for showing people how great a good serrated edge really is.
Hope some more will give it a try and report back how they like the amazing performance.

[OV1kenobi]

All of my Spydercos until recently have been PE. In the past month I have been convinced to give serrated edges a try. So, I have purchased a Police 4 FRN in K390, a VG-10 LeafJumper and a Chaparral.

I am impressed with the performance so far even with the factory edges!

I look forward to taking Sal’s advice and “fine tune” my serrated Spydercos on the SharpMaker when the time comes despite being a “newb” when it comes to serrated edges.

[zhyla]

The resistance to serrations in general is surprising.

sal

The internet and the shift away from knives as tools to knives as jewelry I’m sure hasn’t helped.

I’m glad Spyderco continues to offer a lot of SE options.

[James Y]

My dirtiest beater knives, as well as others I just tend to use around the house the most, tend to be SE. Even when I main carry a PE, I usually have an SE in another pocket, or nearby.

Jim

[twinboysdad]

I have cut myself 4 times with the SE Chap, never with the PE. It’s uncanny