Spyderco Chaparral

[Googz]

Is it possible to have a handle that is molded cf and no metal frame?

[TBob]

Is it possible to have a handle that is molded cf and no metal frame?

Theoretically yes, but you still need metal to support the pivot because CF will wear/abrade from the surface friction. You also need metal for the clip screws to attach, plus for the lock system. The Bob T. is basically all CF structurally with a thin steel liner for the ball bearing slipit system and screws.

[D1omedes]

My tang definitely scrapes the liner on the non-bug side. Enough to have done this...

I'm not sure how much of the scratches were caused by the initial grit, or if they would have happened anyway due to the rubbing. But the other side of the tang does not rub at all, even with normal lateral pressure. There are no scratches at all on the other side.

I have the exact same scratches on the tang of my Chaparral. It doesn't shock me really, since my Caly 3 has the same as well. The Chaparral isn't pinned like the Caly but the tolerances are just as tight, I think.

The action is slightly gritty in mine but the real concern I have is the lockbar. The spring seems very strong and depressing it isn't as nice as on my Caly 3. Additionally, I can feel the lockbar grinding up against the steel liners. I'm sure this will go away over time but it is noticeable.

Overall, a fine little knife. I'm not sure if this will actually knock the Caly from my pocket though. Time will tell.

[shimage]

I have the exact same scratches on the tang of my Chaparral. It doesn't shock me really, since my Caly 3 has the same as well. The Chaparral isn't pinned like the Caly but the tolerances are just as tight, I think.

The action is slightly gritty in mine but the real concern I have is the lockbar. The spring seems very strong and depressing it isn't as nice as on my Caly 3. Additionally, I can feel the lockbar grinding up against the steel liners. I'm sure this will go away over time but it is noticeable.

There is a difference, though, in that the Chaparral has washers, whereas the Caly does not. There is a decent sized gap between the tang and the liners, so I haven't gotten any scratches on mine, even though I hear the forward edge of the choil scraping on the liners every time I open the knife.

My backspring was just like yours when I got it. Actually mine was probably worse. It was catching on the liner/lockbar so badly that it wouldn't lock up completely when I opened the knife. I am a very impatient fellow, so instead of waiting for it to break in or sending it back to Spyderco for warranty service I took some sandpaper to the backspring and now it's much better. I also tried to help the break-in along by sticking a quarter into the knife and pressing it into the backspring. You can make it flex that way, and the resultant rubbing seems to smooth out the backspring/lockbar interface.

[D1omedes]

There is a difference, though, in that the Chaparral has washers, whereas the Caly does not. There is a decent sized gap between the tang and the liners, so I haven't gotten any scratches on mine, even though I hear the forward edge of the choil scraping on the liners every time I open the knife.

My backspring was just like yours when I got it. Actually mine was probably worse. It was catching on the liner/lockbar so badly that it wouldn't lock up completely when I opened the knife. I am a very impatient fellow, so instead of waiting for it to break in or sending it back to Spyderco for warranty service I took some sandpaper to the backspring and now it's much better. I also tried to help the break-in along by sticking a quarter into the knife and pressing it into the backspring. You can make it flex that way, and the resultant rubbing seems to smooth out the backspring/lockbar interface.

Hmmm, I see the slight gap and now this makes it more puzzling. The blade looks centered when closed. It must be grit then. I already washed the knife with warm water and soap and added some Tuf Glide. I can still feel the grit in there. I think I'll loosen the pivot a bit and just start using the knife. Over time the grit should work its way out (with use and cleaning).

[salimoneus]

I really can't see taking apart a brand new Chaparral myself just to remedy the grit problem. Maybe if it was a workhorse knife that would see a lot of dirty work, where I'd probably be opening it up eventually anyway. But not with a brand new classy little gentleman's folder that I'd likely never need to disassemble and void my warranty in the process.

If you are seeing these issues I'd recommend returning it or sending the knife in to Spyderco. Either the machining was not done properly on some of the parts, or debris got into the internals during assembly, whatever it is, clearly something is a little off here. A brand new knife at this price level should not act like it was just pulled from a sandy beach.

[gbelleh]

I ended up returning my Chaparral to the dealer for an exchange. He says he has a nice, clean, smooth one waiting to send to me.

This is the first Spyderco I've ever returned. I really do think there was something not right about it, and I'm really looking forward to getting one that is as nice and smooth as it should be.

[wrdwrght]

Given complaints in this thread, I was worried that the Chaparral I ordered from CS would be similarly vexed. Perhaps the fact that CS got my order to me so quickly (in two days for the fourth straight time) put me in a happy mood. The grit I encountered didn't piss me off.

But, primed to look for grit (I could both feel it and hear it in the pivot and in the backspring), I was very tender in the lubrication routine I go through with a new knife.

After rubbing the blade with Tuf Glide-bearing Tuf-Cloth and letting it dry, I then sprayed Tuf Glide into the liners and underside of the backspring, then to the topside. I let this spray evaporate a bit and wiped off the excess. Then I put waxy KryTech in the pivot and backspring and worked each gently perhaps ten times. Progressively, the feel and sound of grit lessened. I repeated the KryTech application a few more times and sensed I was almost grit-free in the moving parts.

Lubricant being what it is, though, the grit got transported somewhere. Sure enough, I ran a popsicle stick I had shaped between the liners and under the pivot and it came out covered in greyish gunk (grit in excess lubricant, I presume). I repeated the popsicle stick until no more gunk, then twisted a piece of tissue and shoved it between the liners just to test for remaining gunk. None.

The knife still feels new, that is, the contacts of moving parts still need to wear down together, as with any new knife. As they do, more gunk will occur, but not because of the initial grit.

FWIW, my blade has yet to show signs of scratching or even rubbing at the pivot after many satisfying openings and closings.

I hasten to add that I did not loosen the pivot screws, but may do so later so that the blade, for one-handed closure, can drop to gravity when the lockback is depressed, as Eric demonstrated in a YouTube video.

The fit and finish of the knife is typically Spyderco. Provided you take steps such as mine to prevent it from damaging the F&F, the grit is just a temporary annoyance, but one I'd like to think Spyderco will address.

[jackthedog]

I should have a Chaparral waiting for me at home this evening so I will report back on my version.

[1623]

I should have a Chaparral waiting for me at home this evening so I will report back on my version.

I'll do the same; mine should be in the mailbox as we speak.

[NaturalMystic]

Just got a call from my buddy who owns a local knife/EDC gear shop, advising me that he's got his stock of Chaparrals. I'm meeting him this evening to pick mine up. Can't wait!!

[dsmegst]

Mine just arrived. Once again, flawless F&F from Taichung and the knife is as close to perfect as I can expect from a production knife. No rubbing, no gritty opening, perfectly centered blade. It won't displace my SB Caly3.5 from my pocket but it's a great little knife.

[dj moonbat]

I'm already starting to develop a callous at the joint in my finger where the choil rests. The combination of the sharp jimping and the thin blade definitely puts some friction on that spot.

Love this knife. I doubt I'll EDC anything else after this.

[salimoneus]

The fit and finish of the knife is typically Spyderco. Provided you take steps such as mine to prevent it from damaging the F&F, the grit is just a temporary annoyance, but one I'd like to think Spyderco will address.

Nice summary and post. The one thing I might take issue with, is the grit that is supposedly showing up in some knives, appears to be metal shavings, rather large chunks at that. Big enough that they have marred the finish on more than one knife.

Sure there is going to be normal wear and tiny particles from the brand new parts breaking in, but nothing equivalent to what is apparently causing the gritty action and visible scrapes shown in previous posts, even just after a few days of use.

Under normal use, you aren't going to end up with large metal shavings inside the knife's internals, at least I normally don't cut metal with my folding knives. So I do not see this as a normal cleaning circumstance where you're mostly just dealing with dirt and dust that easily washes out, not larger metal particles, especially on a brand new knife.

If people feel they are skilled enough and don't mind taking the time to clean the metal out of the washers/cracks/action/whatever else themselves on a brand new knife, I say go for it, but for me, I'd rather leave that job to the professionals who have a full arsenal of proper cleaning products.

[Denix]

Got mine from Howe's Knife Shop yesterday. Fit and finish is perfect, very smooth action, no grit or rubbing with the blade. Oddly enough though, some very minor rubbing with the lock bar spring when I unlock it. Very minor and not something that bothers me at all. Very nice knife :)

Guy

[1623]

I just got home and opened my Chaparral from CS; I'm diggin' it straight away.

Mine has a very subtle grittiness to the action until the 90° point and then it's smooth until lock up.

Fit and finish are excellent as expected from Taichung and I have only one minor gripe.

There is some slight scuffing on the lock bar just behind the blade. I'll attempt to polish it out as it seems fairly superficial:



The grind is well done and appears almost perfectly even on either side of the blade, perhaps just a bit shallower on the :spyder: side.





Overall, I'm stoked to own this knife. It has quite a unique feel to me; it is at once stout and solid, yet airy and fluid in the hand. A certain heft that lets you know your holding it, but the thin construction really makes it feel effortless to handle. I love it and I will carry it often.



Thanx Sal, you've done it again :cool:

[wrdwrght]

...the grit that is supposedly showing up in some knives, appears to be metal shavings, rather large chunks at that.

We agree that grit and metal shavings are not the same thing, or rather they are different degrees of neglect. My procedures aimed to correct only the annoying first. The damaging second calls for an immediate return to the factory.

[jackthedog]

Just got mine earlier today. Mine is pretty smooth and not at all gritty. If I hold it up to my ear, I can hear a bit of friction, but in terms of use, I can't notice anything at all.

All in all, a great knife. I really like it.

[coelacanth]

Just received mine today.

As far as the grittiness goes, what jackthedog said is about right with mine. If you listen to it, you can hear it a bit of friction, but operation is very smooth. You can gently "flick" a tad and catch the lower jimping part with your indexfinger to safely close it right out of the box. The blade is, if you care, perfectly centered. Probably the most perfectly centered Spyderco I've had, matching CRKs I have.

I had a little hard time swapping the pocket clip to left side carry. The fitting is extremely, EXTREMELY tight and removing the catch side of clip screw, and putting it back from opposite side was PITA. And because this screw is holding the entire bottom end of the handle including the liner, CF scales and the part of lock block, the SLIGHTEST misalignment won't let the catch go in. Don't force things, Make really really sure things are aligned and make sure the the liners and the center piece should look like one piece of metal. I if you can tell the gap without looking extremely closely, the parts aren't aligned.

Overall, my first impression way very positive although the clip swap made me sweat a bit.

[coelacanth]

Oh BTW, a little exercise and air blower to the pivot/lock back made the operation extra smooth.

And I LOVE the twill CF's 3D texture is amazing. I had been a not big fan of CF scales, but this changed my mind entirely.