Love the Chaparral. My first 'real' knife and the one that sent over the edge into the knife world. Don't understand why she isn't more popular. She is just a few bucks more than the Delica. XHP, an early generation powder steel, is way better than the Delica's VG10. The Chaparral has better ergos, full forward choil, slicier edge. She's a beauty.
Agreed🍻 For me, my first 'real' knife was the Native 5LW. Before that I had a Ganzo F759, which led to the Byrd Robin which brought me to the Cara Cara and things just escalated from there on🥱 I still don't understand why people would buy a Dragonfly or a Delica rather than save up a bit for a Chaparral (or get the Byrd variant ... imho the Meadowlark is actually a better design than the Delica, and then the Ganzo copy actually improves on that with 440C bladesteel🤫). But, now that my knife collection is getting saturated it might be time to replace my Byrd Robin with a Dragonfly wharnie😏
I got one out of curiosity about a year ago. I never had a FRN Spyderco before. I was surprised how nice it is and I love it. It has a lot better edge retention than the VG10 or BD1n.
I think the Chaparral is a brilliant knife. It's a design classic for it's size, shape, weight and carryability. It's not the best looker or the most fidget friendly knife but it's so handy and punches well above it's weight. I have a lot of knives but the Chappy gets the most pocket time as it fulfills my daily needs in a discrete fashion. I am left handed so backlocks are probably my favourite for that reason. You are right in your comments, the frn on this knife is really well done. It's true that the backlock is more uncomfortable than a Delica but I have got used to it. I have the Chaparral in carbon fiber which is classier and more expensive but I carry the frn much more. I have been carrying the Chaparral for a few years but never got close to spydy-flicking it. It's a nice slow-roller but I do admire your technique. I my opinion, Spyderco got the price right on this knife (I generally consider them overpriced).
I stopped by a store today to purchase a Spyderco Delica. After handling both, I left with the Chaparral. I still want to get a Delica, but after handling both, the Chaparral was obviously (for me) better.
FME the stiff lock bar breaks in significantly over time and use. I’d recommend leaving the knife open overnight in various positions. This, and repeated openings and closings with maybe minimal lubrication seems to do the trick. It’ll never be a flickable knife, but it is satisfying when it snaps fully open. Such a great well designed, well made knife.
There’s an easy mod that you can do to cut that spring tension down to a very acceptable level. It makes a WORLD of difference in comfort. Let me know if you’re interested. Great knife, it’s the second knife that I ever got to whittle hair!
Yeah i could take the tension down i thought about it, but im just going to let it break in naturally its not that big of a deal, but i think making the lock bar comfortable is a smart move from the company
@@NeevesKnives unlike a Cold Steel, on this knife you can just slide the tension spring forward slightly (too much will interfere with closing) and it's an amazing difference. I'm not sure if you could ever get it that good with use.
@@mayscat44 no probably not, but i found that if you leave it half open when your not carrying it, for a few weeks makes it break in incredibly fast, and in all reality its not that bad
@@NeevesKnives that’s really interesting. I just picked one up and I was thinking about moving the tension spring a bit bc it feels pretty tight and impossible to flick at this point. So all you did was leave it half open for a few weeks to get it to where it’s at in the video? Bc that looks about perfect
I think a comparison to one of the other handle types is good. I see on bladehq that the wood and sun/moon are thicker than frn version therefore better ergonomically
Here’s a complaint- the wire clip does not sit properly in the little grooves. Bit of a pain in the ass and the first time I’ve experienced this issue on a Spyderco.
I really don’t understand the back lock hate. The dragonfly and chappy are two of my favorite Spydercos and I feel like they’re actually better *because* of the back lock. Slow roll open, CLICK, good to go. IMO, they would feel too dinky with a less substantial lock. And if it’s a “fidget” thing, back locks are as fun to play with as any other lock...to me at least. On top of the authoritative opening, that smooth disengage is really satisfying.
Fidget factor is a gimmick made up by BladeHQ and KnifeCenter to sell more expensive knives like Benchmade with the axis lock. People lived quite well with slip joints or back locks for a long time
Bought this knife a while back...never really liked it that much, as the action was just so awkward...Your flipping pointers are very helpful and I see now that if I pay close attention to how I am flicking the knife it helps overcome my main complaint about the Chaparral . THANKS!
Try the Spydie backflip Bob. It is the only way to go with my chaparral. Tip up, Forefinger and thumb pinching the hole, flick the handle downwards swinging free.
Great little slicer, I just seldom carried it. My shaman is just as thin bte, but has more blade length, so the little Chappie just got stuck in a drawer. I'd rather see somebody have it who will use it. I hope you enjoy it bro.
Para 3 lightweight if you care about action, if you want something small for a 5th pocket thats super slicey then the Chaparral, you will probably be happier with the para 3, and when your looking for a great 2ndary knife then get the Chapparal
@@tomfury6276 yes it will, the chaparral is very well known by knife enthusiast as one of the best slicers available. The cold steel is not know at all for being a good slicer. You just think so because you own it and its probably the only decent knife you own. What's the blade stock on that knife? I can tell that's the only decent knife you own because you choose that to compare to a chaparral. There aren't even in the same category. So why would you choose a cold steel to compare to a chaparral. Because it's the only knife you have. Like I said the chaparral is commonly rank among the best slicers on the market but experts that get to handle thousands of bvb the best knives available. No of them .not a single one has ever ranked that model cold steel as one of the best slicers. That's like saying a f250 has better handling then a honda civic.
Yeah that would be awesome, but its such a thin compact knife that i think the compression lock might hurt some of the beauty, or it would possibly be even more badass
I guess Spyderco have their reasons. Maybe the blade isn’t heavy enough...., then again they put it on the lil native! Spyderco make some strange decisions. I guess they want to tick every box and not just be a one trick pony. 🤷♂️
@@Quagmire925the blade stock on the lil native is almost 2x as thick as the blade on the chaparral. Spyderco's best slicers are back lock knives. The compression knives are fun as hell but they tend to have thicker blade stocks. So it depends on what your after in a knife. Do you want a thicker blade fidget toy or a thinner blade that can slice really well?
I got one a month or so ago. It has become my daily carry for work. Perfect size, razor sharp, and totally non-threatening.
Love the Chaparral. My first 'real' knife and the one that sent over the edge into the knife world. Don't understand why she isn't more popular. She is just a few bucks more than the Delica. XHP, an early generation powder steel, is way better than the Delica's VG10. The Chaparral has better ergos, full forward choil, slicier edge. She's a beauty.
Really thats awesome! I could see this being that kind of knife
Agreed🍻 For me, my first 'real' knife was the Native 5LW. Before that I had a Ganzo F759, which led to the Byrd Robin which brought me to the Cara Cara and things just escalated from there on🥱 I still don't understand why people would buy a Dragonfly or a Delica rather than save up a bit for a Chaparral (or get the Byrd variant ... imho the Meadowlark is actually a better design than the Delica, and then the Ganzo copy actually improves on that with 440C bladesteel🤫). But, now that my knife collection is getting saturated it might be time to replace my Byrd Robin with a Dragonfly wharnie😏
Where were the titanium screws acquired please?
I predicted you'd like it. I owe myself a beer.
You do yes my friend you do
I got one out of curiosity about a year ago. I never had a FRN Spyderco before. I was surprised how nice it is and I love it. It has a lot better edge retention than the VG10 or BD1n.
Yes i prefer the xhp over many steels i think its a fantastic steel
I think the Chaparral is a brilliant knife. It's a design classic for it's size, shape, weight and carryability.
It's not the best looker or the most fidget friendly knife but it's so handy and punches well above it's weight.
I have a lot of knives but the Chappy gets the most pocket time as it fulfills my daily needs in a discrete fashion.
I am left handed so backlocks are probably my favourite for that reason.
You are right in your comments, the frn on this knife is really well done. It's true that the backlock is more uncomfortable than a Delica but I have got used to it.
I have the Chaparral in carbon fiber which is classier and more expensive but I carry the frn much more.
I have been carrying the Chaparral for a few years but never got close to spydy-flicking it. It's a nice slow-roller but I do admire your technique.
I my opinion, Spyderco got the price right on this knife (I generally consider them overpriced).
I agree, the price is ok on this one and its so useful in day to day obstacles
I stopped by a store today to purchase a Spyderco Delica. After handling both, I left with the Chaparral. I still want to get a Delica, but after handling both, the Chaparral was obviously (for me) better.
I love the Chap I have a Delica on the way that I won, both are great edc, the chap imho is perfect for its size between the grind, carry, shape exc..
Better in every way by a lot.
FME the stiff lock bar breaks in significantly over time and use. I’d recommend leaving the knife open overnight in various positions. This, and repeated openings and closings with maybe minimal lubrication seems to do the trick. It’ll never be a flickable knife, but it is satisfying when it snaps fully open. Such a great well designed, well made knife.
There’s an easy mod that you can do to cut that spring tension down to a very acceptable level. It makes a WORLD of difference in comfort. Let me know if you’re interested. Great knife, it’s the second knife that I ever got to whittle hair!
Yeah i could take the tension down i thought about it, but im just going to let it break in naturally its not that big of a deal, but i think making the lock bar comfortable is a smart move from the company
@@NeevesKnives unlike a Cold Steel, on this knife you can just slide the tension spring forward slightly (too much will interfere with closing) and it's an amazing difference. I'm not sure if you could ever get it that good with use.
@@mayscat44 no probably not, but i found that if you leave it half open when your not carrying it, for a few weeks makes it break in incredibly fast, and in all reality its not that bad
@@NeevesKnives that’s really interesting. I just picked one up and I was thinking about moving the tension spring a bit bc it feels pretty tight and impossible to flick at this point. So all you did was leave it half open for a few weeks to get it to where it’s at in the video? Bc that looks about perfect
Really cant beat it for what it is. Just a plain simple small edc knife no frills nothing exciting just a simple effective tool. Great review 👍
Exactly
Looks great. I have not been disappointed with any Spyderco I've handled. ✌️
Just wait til you need to send in a knife for warranty. You'll see how bad their warranty sucks.
I think a comparison to one of the other handle types is good. I see on bladehq that the wood and sun/moon are thicker than frn version therefore better ergonomically
Here’s a complaint- the wire clip does not sit properly in the little grooves. Bit of a pain in the ass and the first time I’ve experienced this issue on a Spyderco.
Yeah it could Def sit deeper, but it does work great
I really don’t understand the back lock hate. The dragonfly and chappy are two of my favorite Spydercos and I feel like they’re actually better *because* of the back lock. Slow roll open, CLICK, good to go. IMO, they would feel too dinky with a less substantial lock. And if it’s a “fidget” thing, back locks are as fun to play with as any other lock...to me at least. On top of the authoritative opening, that smooth disengage is really satisfying.
I love doing slow rolls, but people like fast action with opening and closing so i think thats the biggest thing
Fidget factor is a gimmick made up by BladeHQ and KnifeCenter to sell more expensive knives like Benchmade with the axis lock. People lived quite well with slip joints or back locks for a long time
Can't go wrong with spyderco frn or g10 if you want grippy scales.
I think the little divot or whatever in the back lock is called the Boyle Dent. Great review! Cheers! Stay sharp!
this is a great design. I do wish they updated the steel to like a magnacut or s45vn
Bought this knife a while back...never really liked it that much, as the action was just so awkward...Your flipping pointers are very helpful and I see now that if I pay close attention to how I am flicking the knife it helps overcome my main complaint about the Chaparral . THANKS!
Try the Spydie backflip Bob. It is the only way to go with my chaparral. Tip up, Forefinger and thumb pinching the hole, flick the handle downwards swinging free.
Are you going to be checking out the new LC200N Pacific Salt? I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Idk i dont have one planned yet
love the Chaparral. I have the beautiful ruffier Noble version.
Same here. Slippery when wet but definitely the best looking version.
@@SeemsLogical right. very slippery but absolutely beautiful in the sunlight
Not bad. I like it better then the sun and moon! I’d carry it as a secondary for sure. Sounds like you might have a cold 🤧 brotha.
No late night! 😉 good Times but i still made it to the show 👍 lots of yelling
Great little slicer, I just seldom carried it. My shaman is just as thin bte, but has more blade length, so the little Chappie just got stuck in a drawer. I'd rather see somebody have it who will use it. I hope you enjoy it bro.
Thanks Tim! And yeah a shaman at 10 thou bte, 🤤🤤🤤🤤 man i bet that cuts like a champ
willing to sell it @timbo4374
This one or para3 lightweight? Please help, can’t make a choice
Para 3 lightweight if you care about action, if you want something small for a 5th pocket thats super slicey then the Chaparral, you will probably be happier with the para 3, and when your looking for a great 2ndary knife then get the Chapparal
@@NeevesKnives thanks a lot!
Nice folder, but try the Ikuchi from Spyderco 😉
Ooh neat knife
It's neat, it's sweet, and without it, you're not quite complete😜
boyd dent
My cold steel broken skull with CTSXHP steel is less expensive and will kick the shite out of that little knife!
That's a no-brainer😜
😆
That not what this knife was made for bud. I guarentee this knive will get alot sharper and will slice better then you cold steel ever could dream of
@@brandens7615 No it will not!
@@tomfury6276 yes it will, the chaparral is very well known by knife enthusiast as one of the best slicers available. The cold steel is not know at all for being a good slicer. You just think so because you own it and its probably the only decent knife you own. What's the blade stock on that knife? I can tell that's the only decent knife you own because you choose that to compare to a chaparral. There aren't even in the same category. So why would you choose a cold steel to compare to a chaparral. Because it's the only knife you have. Like I said the chaparral is commonly rank among the best slicers on the market but experts that get to handle thousands of bvb the best knives available. No of them .not a single one has ever ranked that model cold steel as one of the best slicers. That's like saying a f250 has better handling then a honda civic.
Your voice sounds different. Is something different? Or are you just sick
Lol Thanksgiving was a blast voice is coarse from yelling and having fun, hangover fun but hey i didnt miss a vvideo so thats whats important
Fantastic knife if it had a compression lock. If it don’t fidget it ain’t legit!
Yeah that would be awesome, but its such a thin compact knife that i think the compression lock might hurt some of the beauty, or it would possibly be even more badass
I guess Spyderco have their reasons. Maybe the blade isn’t heavy enough...., then again they put it on the lil native! Spyderco make some strange decisions. I guess they want to tick every box and not just be a one trick pony. 🤷♂️
@@Quagmire925 yeah i know leftys like using back locks over compression esp on smaller knives
@@Quagmire925 You can't have everything that you want in one single knife, because you that would make you stop buying other knives😖
@@Quagmire925the blade stock on the lil native is almost 2x as thick as the blade on the chaparral.
Spyderco's best slicers are back lock knives. The compression knives are fun as hell but they tend to have thicker blade stocks.
So it depends on what your after in a knife. Do you want a thicker blade fidget toy or a thinner blade that can slice really well?