Choosing the Chaparral

[pantagana23]

I was always trying to figure why does Chap look like Natives and Dragonflys 'special' brother.

Although I was on the edge of buying it due to edge/handle ratio, I never did, since design never sat on me, and now I finally see why:

The hole.
The part of the blade above the hole.
The kick.

This knife has larger hole than both Native and Delica, despite the fact it is smaller. Don't know why is that, but its design would be much better with a slightly smaller hole.

To address the upper blade part: notice that on DF the steel is abruptly going down into the jimping part, with a spike on top of the blade, which in combination with spear blade is making it one of the sexiest Spyderco designs ever. On Chap however, they rounded the top of the blade over the hole, maybe for functional reasons, but at the same time making it less attractive, to speak in kind words. If this part could have a 'spike' like DF, if would rectify the design a million times. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just my oppinion anyway.

The kick. This knife doesn't even need the kick, it has a stop pin. Look at all the other knives, except for Delica, in the lineup: all have pretty much nonexistent kick.

If only Spyderco did this small redesign, this knife would be a beast.

[vivi]

I'll always take a rounded thumb ramp like the chap. For users with big hands you may finds your thumb on the far end of the ramp, and a spike digging into the pad of my finger feels bad.

[aicolainen]

The chap is one of my absolute favorite knives, but however much I like both the chap and the salt series, it doesn’t seem like a natural platform for a salt version.
I wouldn’t mind a salt version if Spyderco could pull it off, but I would rather they just tried to make a SE version of the current LW.

[cabfrank]

Excellent comparison post, and pics! Thanks for doing it.

[pantagana23]

The chap is one of my absolute favorite knives, but however much I like both the chap and the salt series, it doesn’t seem like a natural platform for a salt version.
I wouldn’t mind a salt version if Spyderco could pull it off, but I would rather they just tried to make a SE version of the current LW.

Wouldn't the blade be too thin for serrated edge?

[prndltech]

The chap is one of my absolute favorite knives, but however much I like both the chap and the salt series, it doesn’t seem like a natural platform for a salt version.
I wouldn’t mind a salt version if Spyderco could pull it off, but I would rather they just tried to make a SE version of the current LW.

Wouldn't the blade be too thin for serrated edge?

Nah, no way. But I vote let’s find out. I’d be more than happy to test one out.... for science of course.

[vivi]

The chap is one of my absolute favorite knives, but however much I like both the chap and the salt series, it doesn’t seem like a natural platform for a salt version.
I wouldn’t mind a salt version if Spyderco could pull it off, but I would rather they just tried to make a SE version of the current LW.

Wouldn't the blade be too thin for serrated edge?

Nope. Victorinox makes serrated knives thinner than the Chap, like my SE Spartan and One Handed Trekker. I believe Spyderco makes some SE kitchen knives under 2mm as well.

[Wartstein]

The chap is one of my absolute favorite knives, but however much I like both the chap and the salt series, it doesn’t seem like a natural platform for a salt version.
I wouldn’t mind a salt version if Spyderco could pull it off, but I would rather they just tried to make a SE version of the current LW.

This. Said it more than once, this thin blade in SE must be amazing.

[Wartstein]

...

Wouldn't the blade be too thin for serrated edge?

Just out out of interest: Why do you think that? I see no technical reason why a thin blade could not have serrations (but I am no expert).

Only thing I can see (and this could actually make for better serrations for some (not all) tasks):
- On the thin blade of the Chap (more acute primary angle) the 15 to 20 degree incl. SE chisel grind should go up the blade less high than on a thicker blade (of otherwise same height and shape, if both blades are truly ffg).
That should make the scallops of the serrations less tall and shallower than on a thicker (or sabregrind) blade of otherwise same dimensions.

[Wartstein]

I was always trying to figure why does Chap look like Natives and Dragonflys 'special' brother.

Although I was on the edge of buying it due to edge/handle ratio, I never did, since design never sat on me, and now I finally see why:

The hole.
The part of the blade above the hole.
The kick.

This knife has larger hole than both Native and Delica, despite the fact it is smaller. Don't know why is that, but its design would be much better with a slightly smaller hole.

To address the upper blade part: notice that on DF the steel is abruptly going down into the jimping part, with a spike on top of the blade, which in combination with spear blade is making it one of the sexiest Spyderco designs ever. On Chap however, they rounded the top of the blade over the hole, maybe for functional reasons, but at the same time making it less attractive, to speak in kind words. If this part could have a 'spike' like DF, if would rectify the design a million times. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just my oppinion anyway.

The kick. This knife doesn't even need the kick, it has a stop pin. Look at all the other knives, except for Delica, in the lineup: all have pretty much nonexistent kick.

If only Spyderco did this small redesign, this knife would be a beast.

This is totally about personal preferences of course, so no wrong or right here!

But having said that I have to disagree. I actually prefer the looks of the Chap over the DFly and for me it is a better design functionally speaking concerning the thumb ramp, which is kind of "the best of both worlds" for me (between pronounced ramp and no ramp at all).

For folks who actually use the thumb ramp, the one of the Chap offers enough to push against without being to "pointy"/finger digging and without being much in the way if one chooses to put the thumb on the spine in front of the ramp for certain tasks
But it is still pronounced enough (compared to NO ramp at all) to make the blade a bit wider while keeping the height of the handle and making the hole better accessible. Plus it offers space for folks like me who rather put the thumb to the side of the blade (on the opening hole area).

[RamZar]

Chaparral is very slim, thin blade stock & FFG make it quite a slicer and it’s not too wide in the pocket. The Stepped Titanium Chaparral is a piece of functional art and can still be had at quite a discount since it was discontinued.

[Holland]

I was always trying to figure why does Chap look like Natives and Dragonflys 'special' brother.

Although I was on the edge of buying it due to edge/handle ratio, I never did, since design never sat on me, and now I finally see why:

The hole.
The part of the blade above the hole.
The kick.

This knife has larger hole than both Native and Delica, despite the fact it is smaller. Don't know why is that, but its design would be much better with a slightly smaller hole.

To address the upper blade part: notice that on DF the steel is abruptly going down into the jimping part, with a spike on top of the blade, which in combination with spear blade is making it one of the sexiest Spyderco designs ever. On Chap however, they rounded the top of the blade over the hole, maybe for functional reasons, but at the same time making it less attractive, to speak in kind words. If this part could have a 'spike' like DF, if would rectify the design a million times. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just my oppinion anyway.

The kick. This knife doesn't even need the kick, it has a stop pin. Look at all the other knives, except for Delica, in the lineup: all have pretty much nonexistent kick.

If only Spyderco did this small redesign, this knife would be a beast.

A lot of the reasons you dont like the chaparral are the same reasons why I like it :D

[prndltech]

I chose it today (again)

[T2C]

On many points the chap (lw) is better than the delica for only a little extra... But what still keeps me from buying one is this grey only handle :

I'd choose the chap lw if it had the same variety of handle colors as the delica.. :D

[Holland]

On many points the chap (lw) is better than the delica for only a little extra... But what still keeps me from buying one is this grey only handle :

I'd choose the chap lw if it had the same variety of handle colors as the delica.. :D

I think people have had success dying the scales. Grey should be pretty easy to dye.

[autoxer]

I was always trying to figure why does Chap look like Natives and Dragonflys 'special' brother.

Although I was on the edge of buying it due to edge/handle ratio, I never did, since design never sat on me, and now I finally see why:

The hole.
The part of the blade above the hole.
The kick.

This knife has larger hole than both Native and Delica, despite the fact it is smaller. Don't know why is that, but its design would be much better with a slightly smaller hole.

To address the upper blade part: notice that on DF the steel is abruptly going down into the jimping part, with a spike on top of the blade, which in combination with spear blade is making it one of the sexiest Spyderco designs ever. On Chap however, they rounded the top of the blade over the hole, maybe for functional reasons, but at the same time making it less attractive, to speak in kind words. If this part could have a 'spike' like DF, if would rectify the design a million times. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just my oppinion anyway.

The kick. This knife doesn't even need the kick, it has a stop pin. Look at all the other knives, except for Delica, in the lineup: all have pretty much nonexistent kick.

If only Spyderco did this small redesign, this knife would be a beast.

A lot of the reasons you dont like the chaparral are the same reasons why I like it :D

Same here! This is a classy little knife. I like all of these design points too, especially the larger hole (comfy to use) and the not sharp area by the hole (not too pokey, really makes this knife smooth when closed up - makes a big difference when loose in the pocket).

[pantagana23]

A lot of the reasons you dont like the chaparral are the same reasons why I like it :D

If only they made the kick a bit smaller, it would do wonders in design, and would lose nothing in functionality.

And a G10 version without CF overlay :D

[Wartstein]

A lot of the reasons you dont like the chaparral are the same reasons why I like it :D

If only they made the kick a bit smaller, it would do wonders in design, and would lose nothing in functionality.

And a G10 version without CF overlay :D

The sun and moon Chap actually IS a G10 version...

[Tgmr05]

A very attractive g10

[Tgmr05]

A couple more to compare