Spyderco byte December 2024 - Chaparral® SLIPIT™ Birdseye Maple C152NLWDP
Tech Specs
- Closed Length: 3.60 in / 91 mm
- Overall Length: 6.33 in / 161 mm
- Blade Length: 2.77 in / 70mm
- Edge Length: 2.30 in / 58 mm
- Blade Thickness: 0.079 in / 2.0 mm
- Weight: 2.2oz / 62 g
- Blade Steel: CTS XHP
- Edge Type: PlainEdge
- Blade Grind: Full Flat
- Handle Material: Birdseye Maple
- Lock Mechanism: SLIPIT
- Carry Option: Left/Right Tip-Up
- MSRP: $276.00
- Origin: Taiwan
Chaparral Family History
Designed to be the consummate gentleman’s or lady’s pocketknife, Chaparral models are exceptionally thin to minimize weight and ensure ease of carry. Their leaf-shaped blades are precision machined from Carpenter® Technology Corporation's premium CTS® XHP blade steel. CTS XHP is an air-hardening, high-carbon, high-chromium alloy that can be described as either a high-hardness 440C stainless steel or a corrosion-resistant D2 tool steel. As a blade material, it offers superior edge retention and surface finish and can be sharpened to a very fine edge. It is also extremely resistant to corrosion and easy to maintain.The 2mm-thick blades of the various Chaparral models take full advantage of this steel’s properties, using full-flat grinds and handsome satin finishes to create outstanding edge geometry for near-effortless cutting performance. Their acute points excel at detailed work, while the Trademark Round Hole™ in their blades facilitates easy one or two-handed opening, as well as proudly proclaiming their Spyderco lineage.
The highly evolved handle shape of the Chaparral design balances a full-sized grip and user-friendly ergonomics with a slim, easily carried profile that tucks neatly into any pocket. In the open position, the juncture of the blade and handle features an index-finger choil and a subtle thumb ramp on the spine of the blade. Both surfaces have jimping (textured grooves) for enhanced traction and allow the option of a forward or “choked up” grip for increased control during fine cutting chores. A reliable back lock mechanism ensures that the blade stays securely locked in the open position, while a reversible deep-pocket wire clip balances unobtrusive carry and instant access on either side of the body. Combined with the blade’s fully accessible Trademark Round Hole, these features make every aspect of the Chaparral’s carry, deployment, and operation completely ambidextrous.
Chaparral Models:
Released in 2011, the original Chaparral featured skeletonized full stainless steel liners, subtly textured carbon fiber scales, and a blade crafted from CPM® S30V® stainless steel. It found an immediate audience with fans of sleek, stylish, gentleman’s folders and the first production run was quickly followed by subsequent runs that featured Carpenter’s CTS XHP, establishing that blade steel as the standard for the family.In 2012, Spyderco introduced the Chaparral Titanium. This unique knife combined all the proven qualities of the original design with solid titanium handle scales that were precision machined with an intricate geometric pattern reminiscent of custom engraving. Continuing this theme, in 2013 Spyderco released the Chaparral Stepped Titanium model. This knife also showcased solid titanium scales, but the CNC-machining featured a breathtaking “stepped” design consisting of multiple levels of perfectly straight, machined lines that created an intricate three-dimensional pattern.
A year later, the sophistication of the stepped pattern was elevated even further with the Blue Stepped Titanium Chaparral. Although the complex multi-level design was essentially the same, midway through the machining process, the handle scales were anodized a brilliant blue color. The machining process then continued, removing portions of the anodizing to create a spectacular color contrast that further accentuated the pattern’s detail.
In 2017, we introduced a Chaparral featuring scales made from Raffir® Noble. This remarkable composite material consists of fine layers of brass and bronze mesh encapsulated in a translucent epoxy resin. When machined and polished to finished form, the intricate folds of the metal mesh are revealed to create a stunningly beautiful appearance.
That same year, Spyderco released the Chaparral Lightweight, which features fiberglass-reinforced-nylon (FRN) handle scales with a sure-grip Bi-Directional Texture™ pattern and nested stainless steel liners. Its lightweight, injection-molded construction reduces the manufacturing cost of the knife and makes the unique concept of the Chaparral family affordable to all budgets. It also provides a “working” version of the design for daily carry that can be swapped for a “dress” version in one of its upscale formats on special occasions.
In 2020, the Chaparral family grew again with the Chaparral Sun and Moon model. Reminiscent of an Asian yin-yang symbol, its unique asymmetrical design showcased a smooth white G-10 scale with a red G-10 inlay on one side and a black G-10 scale with a genuine mother-of-pearl inlay on the other.
One year later, we added the Chaparral Birdseye Maple. Its genuine birdseye maple scales highlight the dramatic grain pattern of this natural material and satisfy traditionalists with a distinctly “old-school” expression of the Chaparral design.
The Chaparral SLIPIT
The Chapparal’s slim, pocket-friendly design and convenient size have earned it a devoted following among fans of “gentleman’s” pocketknives. For those who live in Europe and other areas that prohibit the carry of lock-blade folding knives, it has also inspired a consistent demand for a non-locking version. Announced in Reveal 15 in early 2024, the answer to that calling is the Chaparral Birdseye Maple SLIPIT.Like all SLIPIT designs, the Chaparral combines a non-locking mechanism that keeps the blade open by spring tension with the convenience of top-of-the-pocket clip carry and the one-hand opening of our Trademark Round Hole feature. In addition to its notched-joint non-locking mechanism, the Chaparral SLIPIT also retains the design’s signature forefinger choil as an extra measure of safety against accidental closure during use.
Because of the traditional appeal of the birdseye maple back lock Chaparral, that classic handle material was also chosen for the scales of the Chaparral SLIPIT. Its stunning polished scales are supported by full skeletonized stainless steel liners. A full-length stainless steel backspacer also serves as the spring for the notched-joint mechanism. The spring and handle liners are beautifully blended to a smooth satin finish and the “walk and talk” of the non-locking mechanism rivals that of the finest classic pocketknives.
Like the other members of the Chaparral family, the Chaparral SLIPIT features a full-flat-ground, satin-finished blade crafted from CTS XHP stainless steel. The jimping on the index-finger choil and thumb ramp ensures positive control during detailed cutting chores, while the symmetrical design, reversible deep-pocket wire clip, and fully accessible Trademark Round Hole make the knife completely ambidextrous.
Spyderco’s Chaparral series has been redefining the boundaries of the gentleman’s pocketknife genre for more than a decade by constantly evolving to incorporate distinctive handle materials and manufacturing methods. A truly remarkable synthesis of functionality and style, the Chaparral Birdseye Maple SLIPIT continues that proud tradition and sets a new standard in non-locking pocketknives.