Do I need a Chapparal?

JerryIsAlive said:
(One of) my lasy question(s) before I make up my mind. The blade on the Chaparral is .078 inches (2 mm) thick. Is it too thin? As in, when you are using it, does it feel fragile? Any and all responses welcome. Thanks
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I have not been babying mine and so far it has been up to all the tasks I have thrown at it which includes breaking down an appliance box. Never once felt the blade was in any danger of damage. Unless you plan on doing some prying I don't think you will run into any issues with the blade width and I actualy feel it is a positive making it a wicked slicer.
 
What is this "need" thing of which you speak?

Proper answer is always buy both.;)

So far I've been able to resist the Chaparral, though it is certainly loved by many.

Got the ZDP Stretch with BRG handles a few weeks ago and it is awfully nice. :cool:
 
I ended up buying it. It was between the sage and chaparral. since i dont plan on doing any heavy cutting and I work in a law office, i figured the chap would be the best choice. If i find the knife too small, i plan on exchanging it out for the sage, but hopefully i like it. :) ill keep you guys updated on first impressions. should be here next week
 
I had a Chapharral and I thought it was a beautiful knife. The blade did seem too thin to me though. I know it is a slicer and by no means a heavy duty knife, but a thicker spine would have been more reassuring to me.
 
Did you end up returning it? Were you using it and thought it was too thin for something you were doing, or just thought it was thin in general?
 
I sold on Bladeforums. I know the knife would have held up, I just feel better with a blade at least as thick as a Dragonfly.
 
I EDC a Chaparral, like many here - love the knife and I love the name. I suspect that Spyderco originally must have intended to name it "Chaparro" which is an idiomatic term in Mexican Spanish, as "shorty" is in English. But they settled for the more dignified Chaparral, in honor of that diehard weed. Anyway, I like to think so.
 
JerryIsAlive said:
I ended up buying it. It was between the sage and chaparral. since i dont plan on doing any heavy cutting and I work in a law office, i figured the chap would be the best choice. If i find the knife too small, i plan on exchanging it out for the sage, but hopefully i like it. :) ill keep you guys updated on first impressions. should be here next week
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Let us know your impressions and how you like it once you receive it.
 
My Chaparral is a demanding, insistant little sonofabitch.

It keeps demanding to be put back in my pocket... right in front if all my other knives, no less!
 
I think I've decided to forego the Chaparral for now and go with the Stretch. I don't really find myself needing a smallish, gentlemanly knife all that often. And when I do, I carry my Sage. So, ZDP Stretch it is!
 
Orion's Belt said:
I think I've decided to forego the Chaparral for now and go with the Stretch. I don't really find myself needing a smallish, gentlemanly knife all that often. And when I do, I carry my Sage. So, ZDP Stretch it is!
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:thumbup: Good choice. I think you will be quite happy with it.
 
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My Chaparral just arrived (with a Root Beer Dum Dum) and I really like this knife! I am still in the "honeymoon" stage, but the size is perfect for an EDC, the carbon fiber scales are beautiful, the blade is razor sharp and the fit and finish is perfect. Well done Spyderco!
 
So my Chap was supposed to arrive today. I get home from work, no package. I check my tracking info. Says attempted delivery but I did not receive a notice. :( Looks like ill be heading to the post office tomorrow morning
 
Ill be waiting for this one :)

spyderco_amsterdammeet2012_prototype_chaparraltistealth.jpg
 
Well I just got my Chap in hand and I must say, I am very impressed. I do not have much to base my opinions on as this is the 2nd knife I have ever purchased (first was Dfly 2), but it feels great in the hand. It is in my pocket right now, in jeans, and I dont even notice it is there. That is one thing I was worried about, but boy is it easy to carry. The action on the knife is very smooth. Although the handle is similar in length to the Dfly, it packs such a bigger punch. The thin blade does not bother me bc i dont plan on doing any heavy lifting. I am a law student, but wanted a nice looking knife that I would have no qualms about carrying around, but also big enough to put it to use when the time comes, and I am very pleased with my purchase.


Only downside is that it is so small and light in my pocket that I may end up returning my Dfly 2. Thought i would keep the Dfly since it is so small, but the Chap is great. F+F is great, blade is perfectly centered. No complaints. I am at work right now, but will try to take some pics this weekend.
 
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