Chaparral

[kennethsime]

I handled a Chapparal for the first time yesterday. Absolutely a little leaf-bladed Native.

While I do like the knife a lot, I think it might be too small for me. I’m curious how you folks (Gernot) with large hands like this guy for EDC. I guess I’d have to spend some time with it to really know.

I did miss the Boye Dent. I loved the maple scales.

[abbazaba]

I handled a Chapparal for the first time yesterday. Absolutely a little leaf-bladed Native.

While I do like the knife a lot, I think it might be too small for me. I’m curious how you folks (Gernot) with large hands like this guy for EDC. I guess I’d have to spend some time with it to really know.

I did miss the Boye Dent. I loved the maple scales.

XL hands and I love it. I've often said I thought it was possibly the most practical EDC out there. The Bugout has taken that role for me quite often since it dropped, but the Chaparral is one of my favorite drop in pocket knives and a very classy knife that slices with the best. I think about it as a more capable DF2 than a N5.

[Wartstein]

I handled a Chapparal for the first time yesterday. Absolutely a little leaf-bladed Native.

While I do like the knife a lot, I think it might be too small for me. I’m curious how you folks (Gernot) with large hands like this guy for EDC. I guess I’d have to spend some time with it to really know.

I did miss the Boye Dent. I loved the maple scales.

Hey Kenneth,

- When it comes to the handle-size:
When using the choil, its large enough for EDC, no problem.
Actually a good, not cramped four finger grip for me then.

The Chap (when using the choil!) offers clearly more grip area than a Manix (behind the choil) or a Tenacious. (see pics below)
This is even enhanced by the flat handle end (no pinky hook whatsoever.

I think the Chap is kind of a "DFly for larger hands" in that regard and meant to be used choked up (the three and a half - ish finger grip behind the choil is doable too though).

Ergos are great anyway for being so thin.
No hotspots, more stable and locked in in my hand than a Native.


- When it comes to blade length:
Whoever is happy with the cutting edge length the Native 5 offers, should be so also with the Chap. Pretty close in length (Spydercos specs say 2.42 edge on the Native, 2.35 on the FRN Chaparral)

[Dnwrghtsr]

I was able to go to the opfocus sale this month and I got a Chaparral. What a wonderful knife can’t get it out of my hands. I agree with what everybody has said about it. Definitely a keeper.

[Wartstein]

I was able to go to the opfocus sale this month and I got a Chaparral. What a wonderful knife can’t get it out of my hands. I agree with what everybody has said about it. Definitely a keeper.

Congrats, enjoy it!

And don t hesitate to use the blade "hard" (for a folder), if such tasks should arise.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Man all this Chap talk is making me want one…always thought that thin lock bar access would get old real fast, but I recently got a Centofante 3 and it’s thin but not uncomfortable at all

[Wartstein]

Man all this Chap talk is making me want one…always thought that thin lock bar access would get old real fast, but I recently got a Centofante 3 and it’s thin but not uncomfortable at all

The Centofante has 2.5 mm [EDIT :Got that wrong, actually also 2,0 mm. Thanks R100 for correcting that!) blade stock, the Chap 2.00. I am pretty sure this will be true for the lockbars too.

Don't expect the Chap lock to be the most comfortable in the world to use! It is not.
But just fine and one could always make though not the lockbar thicker, but still easier to depress.

And, man, when it comes to extremely solid, blade play free lockup the Chap lock is just on its own level imo.

Get one!
I don't think you'll regret it. And if its just about getting to know that "unique concept" - superthin, but supersolid and actually "heavy" built (for its footprint!), and of course what that thin blade can take while just being so slicey.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Thanks Brotha I can always count on you for knife specs…you mentioned earlier that it’s like a Dfly for larger hands and that got me fired up!!! also I don’t baby my knives and sounds like the Chap is solid especially with an internal stop pin…and I love the look of the lw

[Dnwrghtsr]

I purchased and was going to use a Dragonfly if I needed a small knife but I like the Chaparral so much better. I will still use my para3 lw for walking running hiking, but the Chaparral will get a lot of daily pocket time.

[JSumm]

Chaparral is a great knife! It's the model I gift the most. I like the ergos better than the dragonfly too. If you find yourself wanting slightly more grip the Sage 5 LW minus the lock is essentially a larger Chaparral.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Well I like my Sage 5 lw too so Chap just moved up my list, maybe to the top spot cause I can’t find a Salt 2 wharnie SE or a Tasman in H2 and I wanted to compare it to H1…plus I don’t have any CTS-XHP

[Wartstein]

Thanks Brotha I can always count on you for knife specs…you mentioned earlier that it’s like a Dfly for larger hands and that got me fired up!!! also I don’t baby my knives and sounds like the Chap is solid especially with an internal stop pin…and I love the look of the lw

Yes, it kind of is a "DFly for large hands" ... but in some ways also not, tbh

- It is much "heavier" in relation to the overall size (but still not actually "heavy" with its 2.1 oz), but also really solid - steel liners, steel backspacer, steel lockbar.
- It offers a lot more blade and edge (close to a Native 5) than the DFly, while actually being not that much longer.

And yes, the LW looks really classy for an FRN knife!

Should you get one: You might want to thin it out a bit behind the edge to get the full benefit of the thin blade (not that it would not cut well out of the box, but at least mine still could be optimized)

[kennethsime]

…

…

Gernot, just wanted to say thanks for your thorough rundown. I haven’t bought one yet, but it’s definitely on the list!

[cabfrank]

It has been on my list for a while too. At this point, I might just wait for SE.

[R100]

Man all this Chap talk is making me want one…always thought that thin lock bar access would get old real fast, but I recently got a Centofante 3 and it’s thin but not uncomfortable at all

The Centofante has 2.5 mm blade stock, the Chap 2.00. I am pretty sure this will be true for the lockbars too.

Don't expect the Chap lock to be the most comfortable in the world to use! It is not.
But just fine and one could always make though not the lockbar thicker, but still easier to depress.

And, man, when it comes to extremely solid, blade play free lockup the Chap lock is just on its own level imo.

Get one!
I don't think you'll regret it. And if its just about getting to know that "unique concept" - superthin, but supersolid and actually "heavy" built (for its footprint!), and of course what that thin blade can take while just being so slicey.

The Centofante 3 has 2mm blade stock, the same as the Chap, but has less lock tension.

Dan

[Wartstein]

Man all this Chap talk is making me want one…always thought that thin lock bar access would get old real fast, but I recently got a Centofante 3 and it’s thin but not uncomfortable at all

The Centofante has 2.5 mm blade stock, the Chap 2.00. I am pretty sure this will be true for the lockbars too.

Don't expect the Chap lock to be the most comfortable in the world to use! It is not.
But just fine and one could always make though not the lockbar thicker, but still easier to depress.

And, man, when it comes to extremely solid, blade play free lockup the Chap lock is just on its own level imo.

Get one!
I don't think you'll regret it. And if its just about getting to know that "unique concept" - superthin, but supersolid and actually "heavy" built (for its footprint!), and of course what that thin blade can take while just being so slicey.

The Centofante 3 has 2mm blade stock, the same as the Chap, but has less lock tension.

Dan

You are right of course and I was wrong!

The Delica has 2.5 mm, but the Centofante just 2 .

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Thanks Brotha I can always count on you for knife specs…you mentioned earlier that it’s like a Dfly for larger hands and that got me fired up!!! also I don’t baby my knives and sounds like the Chap is solid especially with an internal stop pin…and I love the look of the lw

Yes, it kind of is a "DFly for large hands" ... but in some ways also not, tbh

- It is much "heavier" in relation to the overall size (but still not actually "heavy" with its 2.1 oz), but also really solid - steel liners, steel backspacer, steel lockbar.
- It offers a lot more blade and edge (close to a Native 5) than the DFly, while actually being not that much longer.

And yes, the LW looks really classy for an FRN knife!

Should you get one: You might want to thin it out a bit behind the edge to get the full benefit of the thin blade (not that it would not cut well out of the box, but at least mine still could be optimized)

Thank you for all your help Gernot…I’ve been away from my phone doing family stuff and landscaping or I would have gotten back sooner…definitely getting a Chap now

[BigFishShamu]

I think I’ve found my next Spydie! I was actually looking at the DF2 wharncliffe in VG-10, but the Sage I have sports my fav FRN. That Taichung FRN is soooo nice

[RamZar]

Hopefully, the enthusiasm for the FRN Chaparral will translate into some Dealer or Distributor Exclusive FRN Chaparral in different colors and steels. For instance, LC200N Green FRN, 20CV Blue FRN, MagnaCut Yellow FRN, Dark Blue FRN K390, etc.

[TheGiant80]

That's how the PM2 looks in my hand!