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Spyderco Chaparral vs. Ritter Mini Griptilian
Introduction
I recently received a Spyderco Chaparral as part of a pass around here. Thanks to Sal Glesser and the fine folks at Spyderco for making the knife available and for BladeForums member JH for coordinating the pass-around. The Chaparral is a mini version of the Sage and Spyderco describes it as a gentleman’s folder.
I thought it might be useful to compare the Chaparral to my current EDC folder, the Ritter RSK MK1, commonly called the Ritter Grip. It’s really a Benchmade Mini Griptilian with a blade designed by Doug Ritter -- survival expert and founder of www.kniferights.org. The table below shows the difference in detail, but generally, the Ritter is the more useful knife and the Chaparral is the easier to carry and the more elegant.
Pocket Carry
I work in an office and would prefer that co-workers not notice my knife unless I want them to. I don’t use a clip and carry a knife in my dress pants. The Ritter Grip, however, is thick enough that it may be pretty recognizable as a knife. Not the Chaparral, though. The knife is remarkably thin -- especially if you remove the pocket clip. If you do prefer using a clip, though, the results are mixed. The Chaparral’s bronzed wire clip is less obtrusive, but the painted black old school clip on the Ritter Grip is more secure. Advantage: Chaparral.
Locking System
The best feature of the Ritter Grip (and of any Benchmade knife) is the AXIS lock. It is ultra smooth and effortless to open and close. The Chaparral is also very smooth and opens easily, but to me, the Ritter Grip is just a little better. The Chaparral uses a traditional back lock, which might be more secure, but I’ve never had an AXIS lock fail. Advantage: Ritter Grip.
Aesthetics
The twill carbon fiber scales and polished steel liners on the Chaparral just look a lot better than the stock plastic scales on the Ritter Grip. If you add $160 WilkinsGRIPS http://wilkins-knives.com/wilkinsgrip-stocklist, though, I think it becomes a toss-up. Of course, that more than doubles the cost of the knife. Advantage: Chaparral.
Handle Utility
I wear XL gloves and can (barely) get four fingers on the Ritter Grip handle. To get four fingers on the Chaparral, I have to use the choil. The Chaparral’s carbon fiber scales provide plenty of grip, but not as much as the checkering and jimping on the rounded Ritter Grip scales. Plus, I find the Chaparral’s liners a little sharp on my hand. Advantage: Ritter Grip.
Blade Utility
Which blade you find more useful will depend on what you like to cut. The Chaparral is the thinner, pointier, blade and scalpel sharp -- great for office work and light food prep. You lose about .30 in. of the blade length to the choil, however. The Ritter Grip blade is thicker with a stouter tip. You get more cutting edge, but it’s not the slicer that the Chaparral is. Overall, my preference is for the Ritter Grip. Advantage: Ritter Grip.
Intangibles
Spyderco is a great company with great products and has an active presence here on BladeForums. Its customer service has been terrific when I have needed it. Benchmade makes great products, too, but doesn’t participate in this forum and its customer service has been unresponsive when I have reached out. On the other hand, Doug Ritter has been leading the charge to protect our knife rights. Advantage: Spyderco
Conclusions on the Chaparral
Even as a Spyderco aficionado, I find the product line over the last few years to be a bit confusing. The carbon fiber versions of the Caly 3, Native, Sage, and now the Chaparral are awfully similar. The Chaparral is a great knife, but if you already have one of others I mentioned, I think you’ll be just fine. If you don’t have one though, and are looking for a very nice looking, very easy to carry, sharp little slicer, the Chaparral could be for you.
Conclusions on the Ritter Grip
The Benchmade Griptilian is an iconic knife for a reason, and the Ritter blade design makes it even better. If you don’t like the Ritter Grip, however, you can customize your own here: http://www.benchmade.com/customize/. You can choose from:
Introduction
I recently received a Spyderco Chaparral as part of a pass around here. Thanks to Sal Glesser and the fine folks at Spyderco for making the knife available and for BladeForums member JH for coordinating the pass-around. The Chaparral is a mini version of the Sage and Spyderco describes it as a gentleman’s folder.
I thought it might be useful to compare the Chaparral to my current EDC folder, the Ritter RSK MK1, commonly called the Ritter Grip. It’s really a Benchmade Mini Griptilian with a blade designed by Doug Ritter -- survival expert and founder of www.kniferights.org. The table below shows the difference in detail, but generally, the Ritter is the more useful knife and the Chaparral is the easier to carry and the more elegant.
Pocket Carry
I work in an office and would prefer that co-workers not notice my knife unless I want them to. I don’t use a clip and carry a knife in my dress pants. The Ritter Grip, however, is thick enough that it may be pretty recognizable as a knife. Not the Chaparral, though. The knife is remarkably thin -- especially if you remove the pocket clip. If you do prefer using a clip, though, the results are mixed. The Chaparral’s bronzed wire clip is less obtrusive, but the painted black old school clip on the Ritter Grip is more secure. Advantage: Chaparral.
Locking System
The best feature of the Ritter Grip (and of any Benchmade knife) is the AXIS lock. It is ultra smooth and effortless to open and close. The Chaparral is also very smooth and opens easily, but to me, the Ritter Grip is just a little better. The Chaparral uses a traditional back lock, which might be more secure, but I’ve never had an AXIS lock fail. Advantage: Ritter Grip.
Aesthetics
The twill carbon fiber scales and polished steel liners on the Chaparral just look a lot better than the stock plastic scales on the Ritter Grip. If you add $160 WilkinsGRIPS http://wilkins-knives.com/wilkinsgrip-stocklist, though, I think it becomes a toss-up. Of course, that more than doubles the cost of the knife. Advantage: Chaparral.
Handle Utility
I wear XL gloves and can (barely) get four fingers on the Ritter Grip handle. To get four fingers on the Chaparral, I have to use the choil. The Chaparral’s carbon fiber scales provide plenty of grip, but not as much as the checkering and jimping on the rounded Ritter Grip scales. Plus, I find the Chaparral’s liners a little sharp on my hand. Advantage: Ritter Grip.
Blade Utility
Which blade you find more useful will depend on what you like to cut. The Chaparral is the thinner, pointier, blade and scalpel sharp -- great for office work and light food prep. You lose about .30 in. of the blade length to the choil, however. The Ritter Grip blade is thicker with a stouter tip. You get more cutting edge, but it’s not the slicer that the Chaparral is. Overall, my preference is for the Ritter Grip. Advantage: Ritter Grip.
Intangibles
Spyderco is a great company with great products and has an active presence here on BladeForums. Its customer service has been terrific when I have needed it. Benchmade makes great products, too, but doesn’t participate in this forum and its customer service has been unresponsive when I have reached out. On the other hand, Doug Ritter has been leading the charge to protect our knife rights. Advantage: Spyderco
Conclusions on the Chaparral
Even as a Spyderco aficionado, I find the product line over the last few years to be a bit confusing. The carbon fiber versions of the Caly 3, Native, Sage, and now the Chaparral are awfully similar. The Chaparral is a great knife, but if you already have one of others I mentioned, I think you’ll be just fine. If you don’t have one though, and are looking for a very nice looking, very easy to carry, sharp little slicer, the Chaparral could be for you.
Conclusions on the Ritter Grip
The Benchmade Griptilian is an iconic knife for a reason, and the Ritter blade design makes it even better. If you don’t like the Ritter Grip, however, you can customize your own here: http://www.benchmade.com/customize/. You can choose from:
- Griptilian (3.45 in. blade) or Mini-Grip (2.91 in.)
- 12 different colors for the right side scale and 12 colors for the left
- Plain edge or partially serrated
- Drop-point, tanto, or sheepsfoot blade shape
- Thumb stud or thumb hole
- Satin or black blade finish
- 154CM, D2, N680, or S30V steel
- Silver or black AXIS lock and/or liners
- Silver or black clip in standard or split arrow design and silver or black screws
- Your own image or message laser etched on the blade
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