That's just some of that smoke & mirror trickery!!!! :D
CG
Probably my favorite Spyderco released this year.
That's just some of that smoke & mirror trickery!!!! :D
Tell me about it. It’s like learning a new language! Thanks goodness this forum is super friendly and helpful. I am enjoying the education here. In the mean time I will get a mix of different sizes, different steel and different scales etc... to test them out.:)sal wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:00 pmHey Pearl,
If you hang around here long enough, you can't help but learn, Many folks here are really knowledgeable, they have no problem sharing that knowledge. Some of the stuff like steel chemistry is slow to get in the noggin, at least it was for me, but much can be learned here.
sal
I feel the same way about the Chap. Luckily we have so many models to choose from!JuPaul wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:26 amWell, I gave the Chap another shot, but I'm sad to report that mine will be going to a new home soon. I so want to love this knife, and from a strictly aesthetic standpoint I do love it. It's got beautiful lines, it's an excellent size for an around-the-house carry, and the sun and moon scales are so unique. I thought seriously about keeping it strictly as a collectible because I like the looks so much.
But functionally, I still just can't get over a few things. My major issue is still that skinny lockbar. Even after adjusting the spring (which really does make it easier to depress), it's still not comfortable for me to unlock. I think a boye dent could seriously help. Maybe I've just got girly fingers, but it is what it is for me.
And second, the Chap's handle just doesn't work well for me: it's too tall for how thin and flat it is, and I think that makes it less hand-filling, and less comfortable to hold. This was more noticeable for me on this smooth g10 version than on the frn version since the bidirectional frn texture helped a lot with grip. This one feels like it wants to slip out of position in my hand, and there's no palm swell or contouring on the scales to help lock it in.
Obviously, these are just my personal preferences, and I'm in the minority. Most people seem to love the Chap, and I'm happy they do. But not every model can work for every person, which is a good thing because otherwise I'd have hundreds of knives!
They are such nice-looking knives. I really wish the sage 5 (or similar) could also get a version with each new scale material. I love the raffir noble, the sun and moon g10, the curly maple coming soon...
"Sad" to hear that - firstly, since I think you really would have enjoyed the superior performance of that thin blade and still would have discovered how strong it actually is, secondly cause now I won´t get to see all the nice sun-and-moon-Chap pics I was hoping you´d share...JuPaul wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:26 amWell, I gave the Chap another shot, but I'm sad to report that mine will be going to a new home soon. I so want to love this knife, and from a strictly aesthetic standpoint I do love it. It's got beautiful lines, it's an excellent size for an around-the-house carry, and the sun and moon scales are so unique. I thought seriously about keeping it strictly as a collectible because I like the looks so much.
......
Very true. That's why designs like the Shaman are so incredible to me - the ergos seem to work for a big range of hand sizes and shapes. It's interting that the Chap - a very small knife - seems to work best in larger hands. Perhaps the height of the handle kind of disappears in bigger hands? Before the Chap leaves my house I'm planning to take some side-by-side pics with the lil native and dfly to compare ergos.Wartstein wrote: ↑Sun Oct 11, 2020 1:25 amBut still, it is fascinating how many factors obviously come into play concerning how ergos are perceived by different people:JuPaul wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:26 amWell, I gave the Chap another shot, but I'm sad to report that mine will be going to a new home soon. I so want to love this knife, and from a strictly aesthetic standpoint I do love it. It's got beautiful lines, it's an excellent size for an around-the-house carry, and the sun and moon scales are so unique. I thought seriously about keeping it strictly as a collectible because I like the looks so much.
......
I've been doing the same recently, letting go of knives that look better than they feel/function. My collection habit hasn't ceased and I have too many around; so I had to find more limitations. Two great knives that went bye bye include the Magnitude and the Shaman. The Chaparral is staying.JuPaul wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:26 amWell, I gave the Chap another shot, but I'm sad to report that mine will be going to a new home soon. I so want to love this knife, and from a strictly aesthetic standpoint I do love it. It's got beautiful lines, it's an excellent size for an around-the-house carry, and the sun and moon scales are so unique. I thought seriously about keeping it strictly as a collectible because I like the looks so much.
But functionally, I still just can't get over a few things. My major issue is still that skinny lockbar. Even after adjusting the spring (which really does make it easier to depress), it's still not comfortable for me to unlock. I think a boye dent could seriously help. Maybe I've just got girly fingers, but it is what it is for me.
And second, the Chap's handle just doesn't work well for me: it's too tall for how thin and flat it is, and I think that makes it less hand-filling, and less comfortable to hold. This was more noticeable for me on this smooth g10 version than on the frn version since the bidirectional frn texture helped a lot with grip. This one feels like it wants to slip out of position in my hand, and there's no palm swell or contouring on the scales to help lock it in.
Obviously, these are just my personal preferences, and I'm in the minority. Most people seem to love the Chap, and I'm happy they do. But not every model can work for every person, which is a good thing because otherwise I'd have hundreds of knives!
TkoK83Spy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 11, 2020 7:07 amI have to agree, that's the same reason I got rid of my LW model. It was my 3rd ever Spyderco knife and thought it couldn't be beat...until I tried various other models and realized the feel in hand wasn't nearly as fulfilling as others that I was buying. I also had the issue of the clip being pretty flimsy.
You are both right of course - the Chap IS less handfilling due to its thin handle than most other Spydies.JuPaul wrote:Very true. That's why designs like the Shaman are so incredible to me - the ergos seem to work for a big range of hand sizes and shapes. It's interting that the Chap - a very small knife - seems to work best in larger hands. Perhaps the height of the handle kind of disappears in bigger hands? Before the Chap leaves my house I'm planning to take some side-by-side pics with the lil native and dfly to compare ergos.
By the way, sorry to disappoint you, Gernot! I knew I'd hear from you. :p
Sal, I repositioned the leaf spring a bit on my CF/G-10 Chaparral, and it's much more comfortable to use now.