Spyderco Forums

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 11:58 am**

So far over the many years The Chaparral has been out we’ve got blade steel available in CTS-XHP… and that’s all…

Where are all the other steels for this model?

I thought the little Chap with its supremely performance orientated blade geometry would be the perfect showcase for the many different steels in Spydercos lineup?

Why just the one steel for this model?

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:05 pm**

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 11:58 am
So far over the many years The Chaparral has been out we’ve got blade steel available in CTS-XHP… and that’s all…

Where are all the other steels for this model?

I thought the little Chap with its supremely performance orientated blade geometry would be the perfect showcase for the many different steels in Spydercos lineup?

Why just the one steel for this model?

Because the Chaparral line isn't about showcasing steels? There's a plethora of other Spydercos with a plethora of different steel options.
"Spyderco’s unique Chaparral series of gentlemen’s folding knives expresses the same basic design platform with a variety of unique handle materials and treatments."

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:24 pm**

There’s not a plethora of other models with the same low edge geometry. It’s lower than even the UKPK or Delica.

Why omit the Chap from receiving the good blade steels? Surely you can give it fancy covers and upgrade the blade steel too. Or just give it plain old mono-colour G-10 (which ironically appears to be lacking from its line up) and a steel upgrade.

I’d personally choose The Chaparral platform over every Spyderco that has 3.2mm stock to showcase a steels performance.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:26 pm**

I wouldn't be upset with a slight upgrade in steel. It doesn't need to be MagnaCut -- LC200N would do just fine.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:33 pm**

Magnacut and yellow FRN?
Rex and burnt Orange G10?
Spy27 and Blue?

Even the steady old reliable vanilla S30V and black combination would be appreciated at this point.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:35 pm**

I love the Chap, and sure, I wish they'd have a Cruwear option, but honestly, for what I use them for, the XHP or S30V does just fine. The FRN version is a standard gift I give, People love them.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:18 pm**

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:24 pm
There’s not a plethora of other models with the same low edge geometry....

This anyway.

But as I always say: The Chap is generally unique in Spydercos lineup, just by its special features (the thin, but strong blade being just one of those) and even more so their combination and "sum".
It sure ALSO is a great gents knife... but everyone who does not see that it can be much more can´t really have tested it to its limits imo.
It´s just an extremely well performing cutting tool that can handle (folder-)hard use pretty well.

Now to me everything speaks for giving that top platform even in Spydercos lineup more variants and thus perhaps bring it in more peoples hands.
Luckily Sal is apparently at least considering just that ... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80989&p=1613137#p1613132

I once started a thread about various variants viewtopic.php?p=1614611#p1614611 - more steel options being one of those, a serrated version actually HAS come true meanwhile (and as far as I read amazes pretty much everyone who tries it), a wharnie and a Salt version would be very cool...
And the best of the best, well, of course a Chap XL...viewtopic.php?p=1377379#p1377379

Now, concerning the topic of this thread:
An MC Salt version (sure, this would mean "saltifying" all the metal parts ,cause I don´t think a linerless Chap is possible while remaining that thin) and perhaps a REX 121 version could get more people interested and would be cool.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:27 pm**

I'll prepay right now for a Chaparral Salt in SE MagnaCut.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:33 pm**

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:33 pm
Even the steady old reliable vanilla S30V and black combination would be appreciated at this point.

What is it you think S30V would improve over CTS-XHP?

CTS-XHP is a very good steel. I think it would be more productive to say in what way the Chaparral is underperforming rather than just rattling of names of steels.

I know forum policy generally prohibits commerce but I would like to announce a new service where I will engrave any steel alphabet soup you want on a Chaparral blade for $100. Just send in your Chap and I’ll send it back sporting the whiz bang steel of your choice plus a print of the “so hot right now” meme with the steel name. But I’m running a promo right now for ZHYLA-25 steel, only $50.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:36 pm**

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:33 pm
Magnacut and yellow FRN?
Rex and burnt Orange G10?
Spy27 and Blue?

Even the steady old reliable vanilla S30V and black combination would be appreciated at this point.

It seems to me like they did tweak their heat treat on their S30V. I still wouldn't say it's anything groundbreaking but the other steels I've used the most in plain edge lately are Microtech's MK390 and I don't think I could tell them apart in a blind text.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:52 pm**

The Sage only being a showcase for locks, and the Chaparral only being a showcase for scale materials was always a mystery to me. If they were eccentric or unpractical leaning designs where the main selling point would really only be new locks or scales I could see the thinking. To handcuff two of their best designs that are also coming out of their best factory with the excuse of "we can't because we said so" always struck me as very odd.

Glad to see it ending though. Settling on a Sage variant and releasing it in different steels is something I've hoped to see for a long time. Hopefully the Chap will follow since the steels are already in Taichung, and the release of the SE variant is encouraging.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:56 pm**

Fastidiotus wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:52 pm
The Sage only being a showcase for locks, and the Chaparral only being a showcase for scale materials was always a mystery to me. If they were eccentric or unpractical leaning designs where the main selling point would really only be new locks or scales I could see the thinking. To handcuff two of their best designs that are also coming out of their best factory with the excuse of "we can't because we said so" always struck me as very odd.

Glad to see it ending though. Settling on a Sage variant and releasing it in different steels is something I've hoped to see for a long time. Hopefully the Chap will follow since the steels are already in Taichung, and the release of the SE variant is encouraging.

Very well put!

And concerning a Chaparral Salt (I guess something many who tried the Chap FRN would like to see): They could transfer a lot of the technology, materials and knowledge how to do this from the Sage 5 Salt (or the Caribbean, also Taichung made)

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:03 pm**

Fastidiotus wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:52 pm
The Sage only being a showcase for locks, and the Chaparral only being a showcase for scale materials was always a mystery to me. If they were eccentric or unpractical leaning designs where the main selling point would really only be new locks or scales I could see the thinking. To handcuff two of their best designs that are also coming out of their best factory with the excuse of "we can't because we said so" always struck me as very odd.

Glad to see it ending though. Settling on a Sage variant and releasing it in different steels is something I've hoped to see for a long time. Hopefully the Chap will follow since the steels are already in Taichung, and the release of the SE variant is encouraging.

The Chaparral series will still continue to feature new handle materials but Sal has said the FRN model was introduced as a way of introducing more variety to the Chaparral series. Chances are good that there will be a Chaparral LW in a steel other than CTS XHP in the future.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:16 pm**

Wartstein wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:18 pm

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:24 pm
There’s not a plethora of other models with the same low edge geometry....
This anyway.

But as I always say: The Chap is generally unique in Spydercos lineup, just by its special features (the thin, but strong blade being just one of those) and even more so their combination and "sum".
It sure ALSO is a great gents knife... but everyone who does not see that it can be much more can´t really have tested it to its limits imo.
It´s just an extremely well performing cutting tool that can handle (folder-)hard use pretty well.

Now to me everything speaks for giving that top platform even in Spydercos lineup more variants and thus perhaps bring it in more peoples hands.
Luckily Sal is apparently at least considering just that ... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80989&p=1613137#p1613132

I once started a thread about various variants viewtopic.php?p=1614611#p1614611 - more steel options being one of those, a serrated version actually HAS come true meanwhile (and as far as I read amazes pretty much everyone who tries it), a wharnie and a Salt version would be very cool...
And the best of the best, well, of course a Chap XL...viewtopic.php?p=1377379#p1377379

Now, concerning the topic of this thread:
An MC Salt version (sure, this would mean "saltifying" all the metal parts ,cause I don´t think a linerless Chap is possible while remaining that thin) and perhaps a REX 121 version could get more people interested and would be cool.

An XL version is intriguing. I hope Spyderco maintain the 2mm stock / low geometry for it. I’d be Very interested in that one once it’s released.

The FRN model has been one of my go to lock knives since the it was released. CTS-XHP has performed well but with my particular use it has rusted, so a Salt (preferably Magnacut) version would be top of my preference list, I’ve been very happy with my UKPK Salt in Mag. so could only see it being as good if not better on a Chap.
I understand there would be more to a salt version than meets the eye, so looking at the current Sage 5 line up Taichung now have Spy27 would be not as big a problem… also pretty much the perfect platform to maintain a screaming sharp edge with ease whilst having a good balance of everything else. G-10 it and it’d be approaching grail territory for me.

Rex 121 for the extreme edge enthusiasts.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:29 pm**

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:16 pm

Wartstein wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:18 pm

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:24 pm

An XL version is intriguing. I hope Spyderco maintain the 2mm stock / low geometry for it. I’d be Very interested in that one once it’s released.

An XL (roughly Endela size) could become the best knife they ever made imo - and it should absolutely maintain everything that makes a Chap a Chap. So not "just" the thin blade, but also the thin handle, the overall handle and blade height, only made longer (handle and blade), nothing else changed.

This would bring out the extreme "sliciness" and performance of the Chap even better (thin blades imo suit LONGER folders even better than shorter ones)

/ Concerning new steels for the current Chap: MC and/or REX 121 could be a good choice also because they have those already for the Sage (though not in 2mm of course)

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 5:04 pm**

Evil D wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:27 pm
I'll prepay right now for a Chaparral Salt in SE MagnaCut.

same!

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 5:11 pm**

Wartstein wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:29 pm

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:16 pm

Wartstein wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:18 pm

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:24 pm

An XL version is intriguing. I hope Spyderco maintain the 2mm stock / low geometry for it. I’d be Very interested in that one once it’s released.
An XL (roughly Endela size) could become the best knife they ever made imo - and it should absolutely maintain everything that makes a Chap a Chap. So not "just" the thin blade, but also the thin handle, the overall handle and blade height, only made longer (handle and blade), nothing else changed.

This would bring out the extreme "sliciness" and performance of the Chap even better (thin blades imo suit LONGER folders even better than shorter ones)

/ Concerning new steels for the current Chap: MC and/or REX 121 could be a good choice also because they have those already for the Sage (though not in 2mm of course)

I absolutely agree with all of the above. My one additional request would be for a full SE version from the start.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 5:28 pm**

For a knife that was created to show case handle scales, we really haven't gotten many. Frn, cf, two titanium versions, the sun and moon, maple (none of them that exciting to me, maybe the machined titanium) - would like to see more micarta, maybe camo carbon, bone, etc

On top of that, the thin geometry is begging for other steels. ****, I'll take it in aeb-l.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 7:38 pm**

zhyla wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 2:33 pm

Flash wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 12:33 pm
Even the steady old reliable vanilla S30V and black combination would be appreciated at this point.
What is it you think S30V would improve over CTS-XHP?

CTS-XHP is a very good steel. I think it would be more productive to say in what way the Chaparral is underperforming rather than just rattling of names of steels.

...

XHP stains faster and in my experience doesn't sharpen as nicely as S30V. At this point I see S30V as a better steel than XHP and weigh purchasing decisions accordingly.

This opinion from carrying a Hungarian for a while a few years ago, including gutting and skinning several deer with it. I have a Chap but haven't really found a niche for it.

Note that this coming from someone who also doesn't really like D2 or PSF-27 so make of that what you will.

Posted: **Fri Jan 03, 2025 8:04 pm**

I like smaller knives in ultra-hard steels, so REX-121 a Chap for me!

Wartstein wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:29 pm
An XL (roughly Endela size) could become the best knife they ever made imo - and it should absolutely maintain everything that makes a Chap a Chap. So not "just" the thin blade, but also the thin handle, the overall handle and blade height, only made longer (handle and blade), nothing else changed.

For the folks who haven't seen a mockup of your stretched-chap idea yet, the "Chapastein" (or was it the "Wartarral"? I forget which):

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