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Have had an SE Chaparral since they first came out. I've EDC'd it a bit but it's never touched anything but but Amazon boxes. Honestly by chance it just has not seen a lot of use and never any material but paper and maybe a couple plastic packages.

I was starting to notice it doesn't cut great. There's no reason of any kind for it to be dull at this point so I got out a loupe and started looking at it. All kinds of edge damage! How strange.

In any case, time to sharpen it. I think that's for the best. I've not enjoyed the scalloped serrations so far but perhaps I'll be able to put a coarser edge on it that will bite how I want it. Or maybe I'll "power strop" it until it's hair popping sharp. Will have to play with it.

Here's some photos. Also note that the PE portion has essentially been flattened the entire length. Bizarre.

Mine did the same thing on the factory bevel, I blamed it on an extremely thin apex. I sharpened it out and it's been great ever since.

Same as @Evil D.

Only difference- when I resharpened with 15deg on grind side/as shallow as possible on the non-grind side I had edge damage again.

When I resharpened with 15deg on grind side/15deg on the non-grind side the problems went away. Not sure if this was bc of the angle change or second sharpening but it made a significant difference.

Not sure if the source was burr or thin edge, but guessing its thin edge given the stock thickness and factory bevel angle.

I think once you have a stable apex you'll be more pleased with these serrations.

A burr is a likely culprit. Though I couldn’t see one.

Ok, well I sharpened this up at 15 degrees on the bevel side and minimal angle on the flat side. Spent quite a bit of time grinding out the chip in the first scallop on a medium sharpmaker stone. That chip in the small scallop in the last picture rounded out a bit but I didn't focus on sharpening it out. Maybe I should have.

Took about 30 minutes overall with medium, fine, extra fine, and then dremel polished with green polishing compound. It's pretty wild what this knife does to paper now.

Will keep an eye on this and see how it does going forward.

I'm often recommending the Chap LW as one of the best knives Spyderco makes. It's not outrageously expensive and is exceptional. I think the PE version is a great knife for EDC for most people. I don't think I'd recommend the SE version for the general population -- it really has an enthusiast level grind and I'm guessing doesn't come out of the factory with the edge fully baked.

Interesting. Most people have really loved the SE. I'm glad to hear your comments as well. I'm still getting the SE eventually, but maybe I'll need to try a PE too.

Got a chip in mine when I twist cut a ziptie like a dope. Sharpened out after a while but only took one or two rounds on the rods to stop hanging up on whatever I cut. Lesson learned

cabfrank wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 19, 2025 3:50 am

Interesting. Most people have really loved the SE. I'm glad to hear your comments as well. I'm still getting the SE eventually, but maybe I'll need to try a PE too.

I think I posted this in the main Chap SE thread but I just haven't come around to the rounded serrations vs pointy teeth yet. Let's see how I like it now that it's got a proper edge on it. It could be it's just difficult to do production grinding and sharpening at that angle on that steel without creating a wire edge/burr. However that does not explain the edge damage.

The PE Chap is really good. I've only sharpened it once since I got it (when it came out).

Only once is very impressive. I've never owned XHP, but I am looking forward to trying it.

As far as I can tell XHP is a good steel. I don’t know if I could tell the difference between it and S30V.

I'm sure it is. I wonder what the upcoming Chap XL will use.

Get you some CBN rods and really shave down the timing required to get those chips out!