thinking about a Chaparral in FRN

B

bryan123

Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Messages
264
Hi,

I currently EDC a Dragonfly 2 in FRN and I like it alot. I used to own a FRN Delica 4 but wound up selling it because it didn't really connect with me in terms of lack of choil, clip style, height, so I gifted it to a friend.

I'm seriously considering the new FRN Chaparral to use for EDC when I'm not in Boston with its crazy 2.5 inch blade limitation.

Should I get one or just stick with my Dragonfly which isn't that much smaller? I'm a light to medium use EDC kind of guy.

Thanks
 
bryan123 said:
Hi,

I currently EDC a Dragonfly 2 in FRN and I like it alot. I used to own a FRN Delica 4 but wound up selling it because it didn't really connect with me in terms of lack of choil, clip style, height, so I gifted it to a friend.

I'm seriously considering the new FRN Chaparral to use for EDC when I'm not in Boston with its crazy 2.5 inch blade limitation.

Should I get one or just stick with my Dragonfly which isn't that much smaller? I'm a light to medium use EDC kind of guy.

Thanks
Click to expand...

The Chaparral is a great value, extremely well built and with great blade steel for the price, but the better knife for one person may not be the better for you.

I also found the Delica 4 just didn't work for me ergonomically. It was too small around for me to grip well. The Native 5 and Chaparral are both much better in my hand, and both have less than 2.5 inches edge length, but I don't know whether total length or edge length is the critical factor in Boston.

I haven't held the Dragonfly. From the smaller handle, I'd expect it not to be as good for my hand as the Chaparral, which is just big enough for a good grip using the forward choil. Plus the Chaparral's blade is a little longer.

I have the CF/G-10 Chaparral, not the LW/FRN version. Like mine, the LW has steel liners and by all reports is of very high construction quality. Also the CTS-XHP steel is excellent. The super/thin blade is a great slicer -- not the best for hard duty, but with this blade length, how hard will tasks get?
 
I really enjoyed the chap and will eventually get one of the FRN models. I thought the carbon/g10 one was nice but I could never bring myself to carry it simply based on looks of the handle. I have a preference to get something that is colored to wear it says "tool" instead of knife (brighter colors).

I EDC'ed a dragonfly for a while but I just didn't like it for the tasks I did most often at the time, cutting plastic wrap and plastic pouches. I found I would frequently miss the far side of pouches so I was cutting both sides separately. Similar situation with the plastic wrap.

While the blade lengths aren't significantly different I do think the cutting edge feels a lot bigger on the chap since so much of the dragonfly's blade is taken up with the choil. The chap feels nearly as packable as a dragonfly and I liked it a lot more than a delica. I think the dragonfly, chap, native and sage are my favorite spyderco's for EDC... notice a trend on the 50/50 choil? The native is the one I ended up keeping long term, however.

The chap is an amazing slicer, like the dragonfly. The one thing I didn't like on my chap was that the backlock felt very thin and combined with the spring tension, it just irritated me a little. Nothing bad but when I had other great options to choose from, it was a factor.
 
Definatly get it. The DF and Chap are similar in size, bit so are a ton of other knives. They are still very different knives and both a pleasure to use! Im planning to buy a cf Chap again in the future. Still one of my favorites!
 
Chaparral is one of the best EVER and everyone needs one <or more>! ;)

n3rjhvH.jpg
 
Get one! I have the cf/g10 version of the chaparral and will not part with it. I also have a dragonfly that never gets carried. The chaparral just feels that much better in my hand.
 
That Chaparelle is one of the nicest frn spydercos in terms of looks.

I know the bitexture on most the FRNs is very functional and I like it too, but it’s nice to see some different textures.
 
I have the FRN model and several Dragonflies. The Chap is much bigger in the hand. For a small EDC it would be hard to beat.
 
I've owned two Chaps in CF and Raffir Noble. I bought my buddy one in FRN as a gift and ended up much preferring it to mine. I've since sold the other two and bought a LW and have no regrets. The action is noticeably smoother as well. Get one!
 
Last edited:
It fills the hand nicely while being small.
xu5SPybh.jpg

Its got that little belly and a nipple on the handle, i can even grip it in hammer grip without using the choil and it feels more substantial than a delica.
It also has internal stop pins so the lockbar is not the only stopper for the blade. Its got durable construction, having thin blade is a plus and the steel is excellent. Sits well in pocket, doesn't obstruct the hand.
I layed back the edge on mine, its a lazer and excells at most jobs. My CF chap is my office go to.
 
Just was delivered a FRN Chappy from the Exchange...VERY IMPRESSED! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

One of your best designs EVER Sal, thanks a lot!
 
Although mine's a CF/G-10 version, this would be relevant to the FRN Chaparral as well.

I rounded the corners on the finger choil a bit with sandpaper, and I find a firm grip is more comfortable now. Before, those points of contact felt a little sharp.
 
Last edited:
Thought I was the only one... Fairly new to Spydercos and the Chaparral has completely blown me away. Just ordered an FRN, which will be my third Chap. I don't have two of any other knife and I'm about to have 3 of this one if that tells you anything. It makes the Delica and the DF redundant for me, and it cuts better. Possibly the best cutting folder I've used.

Not a hard-use blade if that matters to you.

If you want the DF I'd recommend the ZDP-189 blade.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top