Chaparral Lightweight - thoughts and pics

[Nate]

Another thanks for the write-up! The detail pics of the frn texturing and thickness vs. the Native were especially helpful.

[Mr Blonde]

Great write up! Thanks for sharing it.

[D1omedes]

Excellent review. I just received mine recently and have the exact same feelings. The only knock on the knife is the disengagement of the lock as that bar digs into the finger more deeply than other Spyderco lockbacks I own - I'm sure it's a combination of the width of the bar and the strength of the spring. Other than that, it's excellent and I look forward to testing out some XHP. :)

[Jazz]

I had to sand lightly the lock bar edges on my carbon fibre Chap. It's too sharp and narrow. Now it's fine.

[Uke]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and feedback :) Makes the time spent well worth it when people get something out of it!

Awesome review! Please do more :)

If you search my old posts you should be able to find a bunch of reviews I did a few years back. I posted the Native 5, Roadie, Caly 3, Calypso, Gayle Bradley Air, Street Beat, Bradley Folder and the Manix 2 LW if any of those interest you. I do hope to post some more in the future but its all funds allowing I'm afraid. Financial priorities have shifted over the years! I am currently trying to squirrel away the funds for a Stretch 2 Lightweight (as that seems the next logical step up in my current FRN/backlock/choil size progression!) so hopefully I'll end up posting a review of that down the road.

This is what I want all reviews to be like, even though I know most people won’t have the time to put in this level of effort. Great job, Uke!

Probably the nicest compliment I've had on a review :) Thanks so much!

Thanks - very nicely done. The relief pictures of the texturing add quite a bit.

Yeah, they're not the most exciting photos but I really wanted to include them as I was surprised at just how different the depth is compared to the pattern on the other lightweights.

Nicely done ! Hey Uke, do you have an Urban ? I'd like to see a comparison between this one and the grey k390 Urban :spyder: When I choke on the Chaparral my thumb doesn't feel as confortable and secure as on the higher thumb ramp of the Urban. Also, being so thin, the Chapie has the tendency to rotate when I use a gorilla grip for harder work.Other than that, it's a nice little folder and I suspect the frn variant will be most popular. Mine is on the way ! Can't wait :spyder:

I don't have an Urban anymore I'm afraid. Sorry about that! The thumb ramp on the Urban is indeed much more pronounced though. The best I can do is blend an old Urban pic I have together with an image of the Chap, lining up the Natives in each photo for scale...



...a substantial difference there on the thumb ramp.

Thanks for your outstanding review Uke, I can't wait to get mine in hand.

I noticed that you like the solid lock-up on your Native 5 LW (so do I!). If you ever get the urge for a larger backlock Spydie, try out the Manix 2 Backlock. Carries it to a whole nother level.

Actually I do have the urge for a larger backlock Spydie. I really like the idea of a backlock Manix but I'm sticking to FRN these days for affordability. If we end up seeing a lightweight version of the current G10 model I'll be very interested. For now I'm thinking a Stretch 2 Lightweight might be the way forward.

Excellent review. I just received mine recently and have the exact same feelings. The only knock on the knife is the disengagement of the lock as that bar digs into the finger more deeply than other Spyderco lockbacks I own - I'm sure it's a combination of the width of the bar and the strength of the spring. Other than that, it's excellent and I look forward to testing out some XHP. :)

Yeah, that's my only real gripe. Sal did mention in another thread that these break in over time so I'm going to see how it feels after some more use.

I had to sand lightly the lock bar edges on my carbon fibre Chap. It's too sharp and narrow. Now it's fine.

That's good to know, thanks. I'll see if it gets any easier on the fingers after a bit more use and if not I might give this a try.

[Sharp Guy]

The only knock on the knife is the disengagement of the lock as that bar digs into the finger more deeply than other Spyderco lockbacks I own - I'm sure it's a combination of the width of the bar and the strength of the spring.

I adjusted the spring tension by sliding the spring out of the slot in the backspacer. I only had to move it a small amount and it made the knife much more comfortable to operate. You can see how far I moved it in the pic shown in the link below. The spring was originally all the way in the slot.

viewtopic.php?p=1191817#p1191817

[cabfrank]

Thank you for posting. Your review and pictures are excellent. I will be reading the previous ones you mentioned, and looking forward to future ones you may do.

[BelgiumRofls]

Excellent. I can only resist the temptation to buy for so long.

the blade has that dull 'thuck' as it snaps back into the handle, as opposed to the sharp hollow 'snick' of the other FRN lightweights.

Sound is an underrated quality in reviews :p

[Filoso-]

Great review!

[this_is_nascar]

I'll keep that sharp unlock bar mechanism. I haven't tried it, but I bet it works well with a fire rod.

[ABX2011]

NIce write-up!
I got mine in the mail yesterday and immediately put it in my pocket.
It does not disappoint. Congrats to Spyderco and Taichung for making this thin, light weight, low cost folder. Great design and well built.

[Molle Ninja]

Well, this wasn't on my radar before, and now it is!

[gull wing]

Thank you for the great picture show.
Well done!
Makes me feel even better that I ordered one.

[Termite Toothpick]

Thank you Uke!
Great write up and great pics to enjoy, this is going on the wish list now.

[Fred Sanford]

Great review with pics. Most Excellent.

[Uke]

Excellent. I can only resist the temptation to buy for so long.

the blade has that dull 'thuck' as it snaps back into the handle, as opposed to the sharp hollow 'snick' of the other FRN lightweights.

Sound is an underrated quality in reviews :p

Haha! Maybe next time I should include a few audio files next to the pictures :D

[timlara]

Nice writeup, thanks for posting!

Got mine today and I agree, it's a winner. I *really* like the handle texture. Particularly on drawing from the pocket, the back part of the handle opposite the clip feels like it is stuck to my thumb with velcro! The pattern definitely works great and looks cool too.

[Parkourdude]

To be honest I was a pretty apathetic when I heard about this one.

But now that I've seen proper photos, I'm seriously tempted! The stainless steel backspacer looks gorgeous and the frn texturing is actually angled to provide traction like the standard Spyderco frn. That attention to detail blows me away.

[benben]

Thank you for taking the time to post this, very well done sir!

[Slicey Dicey]

Great review! Sums up my views as well. I've been carrying this and a Lil Native back-to-back the last week and I still can't figure out which one I like more. And I REALLY like them both. the Lil Native is more robust for sure but heavier and thicker.

I will say that I did have to open the Chaparral up after a few days and SLIGHTLY bend the spring to reduce the tension on that lock back. With that thin metal, it was just too much on my delicate little thumbs. Now it's amazing.