CF Skyline vs Spyderco Chaparral...Or Other?

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Apr 19, 2014
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Hello! I'm looking to spend about $100 or less on a new knife to replace the small/classy knife in my rotation after trading my BM 940. I'm looking for a new knife that is very easy to carry and is a good slicer so FFG is ideal. I'm currently looking at both the new CF Skyline and the Chaparral. I'm leaning towards the Chaparral as ive heard the fit and finish on the new Skylines aren't perfect. Which should I choose? Or should I get something else or save for somethingout of my budget? Thanks everyone!
 
I have just bought a Chaparral, myself. Awesome little knife!

Nothing bad to say about the Skyline, I just don't own one.
 
According to bladehq website:
CF Skyline = Made in USA, S30V
CF Chaparral = Made in Taiwan, CTS-XHP

The fit and finish is great on my CF Skyline #315 Stonewash.
I have never held a Chaparral.
Have fun either way!
 
Another vote for the chaparral! It's light but well built with good fit and finish and quality materials. I have lots of knives (too many my wife says!) but the chaparral ends up in my pocket as often as knives that cost several times more. Great knife for the money:thumbup:
 
According to bladehq website:
CF Skyline = Made in USA, S30V
CF Chaparral = Made in Taiwan, CTS-XHP

The fit and finish is great on my CF Skyline #315 Stonewash.
I have never held a Chaparral.
Have fun either way!

Don't forget that the CF on the Chaparral is laminate CF over G10, not real CF.

I didn't like my Chaparral personally. Wasn't finished particularly well (sharp edges everywhere), didn't open very smoothly. I actually had to send my first one back because it was so gritty.

I love the Skyline platform but the one thing the Chap has over it is the pocket clip. That was my favorite part of the Chap.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone and the Chaparral looks to be the clear favorite here! Aren't all Chaparral 1's S30V?
 
Don't forget that the CF on the Chaparral is laminate CF over G10, not real CF.

I didn't like my Chaparral personally. Wasn't finished particularly well (sharp edges everywhere), didn't open very smoothly. I actually had to send my first one back because it was so gritty.

I love the Skyline platform but the one thing the Chap has over it is the pocket clip. That was my favorite part of the Chap.

What would you recommend instead?
 
I own the CF Chaparral, a regular Skyline and the Blade Forums Skyline. You mentioned wanting Full Flat Grind and only the Chaparral is. The Skyline has the longer blade but I think the Chap is the classier of the two.
 
I own the CF Chaparral, a regular Skyline and the Blade Forums Skyline. You mentioned wanting Full Flat Grind and only the Chaparral is. The Skyline has the longer blade but I think the Chap is the classier of the two.

The CF Skyline is a high flat grind like the BFC Skyline.
 
Don't forget that the CF on the Chaparral is laminate CF over G10, not real CF.

Nothing wrong with that, and it is real carbon fiber. G10 is tougher CF, and is better suited for a knife handle, in my opinion. Besides, it ensures the carbon fiber overlay is perfectly flat, even, and it's textured. Sometimes the sanded faces of CF plate look funky if the layers beneath are wavy.
 
Both great but since you had a Benchmade 940 the Skyline CF/S30V would probably fit you better.
 
Nothing wrong with that, and it is real carbon fiber. G10 is tougher CF, and is better suited for a knife handle, in my opinion. Besides, it ensures the carbon fiber overlay is perfectly flat, even, and it's textured. Sometimes the sanded faces of CF plate look funky if the layers beneath are wavy.

It still bears pointing out considering Spyderco had to adjust their catalog to reflect that. The Taiwan Spydercos have cf laminated over G10 to save money.

I never said there was anything wrong with that, the knife (like almost every other knife made) was designed to meet a price point.

But I think it's worth noting considering a lot of people on here were griping about the price of the CF Skyline when the fact that it's full CF is a large contributor to the extra cost.
 
Oh thanks, didn't realize that. That said, I mentioned that only the Chap was FFG because that's what the OP requested. I recall the issues some had with the BF Skyline not being FFG as originally promoted, and the number of refunds that followed after they got them.

The CF Skyline is a high flat grind like the BFC Skyline.

ETA: I stand corrected again, I just re-read the OP and see he mentioned "good slicer or FFG".
 
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Thanks for the responses everyone and the Chaparral looks to be the clear favorite here! Aren't all Chaparral 1's S30V?

No spyderco upgraded to cts xhp on the chap 1 sometime last year.

And the carbon fiber on the chap is basically identical to that on the sage 1. I have both
 
I guess my favorites are the Spydie Caly Series and the Sage series...I really LOVE all of those knives.
A Caly 3.5 in SuperBlue, Caly3 in ZDP, Sage 1,2,or3 (particularly the titanium 2)...life doesn't get much better than that.
Sonnydaze
 
The Skyline and Chaparral are pretty different knives. If you're looking for something smaller and very thin, the Chaparral might fit the bill better. I like the size of the Skyline more for general EDC use. Between the two, I'd pick the Skyline over the Chaparral. If you throw the Caly3 into the mix, I'd probably pick that over either. The Caly3 is currently my favorite Spyderco knife.

Skyline_Chaparral_open_800x415.jpg


Skyline_Chaparral_closed_800x486.jpg


Skyline_Chaparral_thickness_800x548.jpg


Skyline_Chaparral_pocket_800x542.jpg
 
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