Spyderco Kapara Modification - Choil

[@jackfarmboy]

Ive only ever added one choil to one knife... i used a dremel. And it was nerve wrecking. Im glad ya put this video together. Very informative and helpful to show how simple and unintimidating the process actually is and can be.

[@jolness1]

This is a great design. I ordered one that should be here next week and will be doing this. I get why people don't like a coil but I find it so so much easier to sharpen and I like the look. Excellent work Alistair!

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

Exactly why I have it on mine, so much easier to sharpen.

[@jolness1]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders 100% agreed, last thing I want is some recurve that slowly appears over time and I haven't ever experienced a choil getting "hung up" when cutting personally. Great design, gonna need to order a brighter red backspacer from you.

[@jolness1]

Finally got this guy today and wow. I thought it was beautiful in a functional sort of way but it's just beautiful period. Have some diamond files on the way so I can put a choil on. I ended up being able to grab the exclusive version with 20CV steel for pretty cheaply still new in box, I do wish it was still black instead of gray but definitely needs the bright red backspacer from you. Only downside is it's going to take awhile to get here haha. Great design, going to be perfect for on the go food prep for me and the kiddo. I don't think I've ever had a pocket knife that was so easy to cut up an apple with. Even some of the thinner fixed blades don't do what this does. Very very impressed! Thanks for a great design. So glad I was able to get one of these

[@jagpilotohio]

Love your knife! Nice work. I got mine last week. The factory did an amazing job of sharpening too. Absolutely razor sharp out of the box.

[@Luke-mz5zt]

Thanks mate. Very clear video to follow. Looking forward to the back spacers.

[@nicks8026]

Thanks for the video, Alistair! I picked up a Kapara yesterday and love it. This morning, I used a Dremel tool and diamond bit to add a choil. I had my heart in my throat worrying that the tool might slip and destroy the edge but it all turned out beautifully. Cheers!

[@bobbybridges4408]

Thanks for the video, I do prefer a sharpening choil. Was already thinking about doin it and stumbled on the video. Thanks for your design Alistair it's a great edc.

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

No worries.. glad you found the video useful.

[@dewarner12]

I just bought this knife and was hoping to make this modification. Your video was incredibly well done and helpful. Thanks -

[@markcase7892]

Thank you brother from down under. Love your knife by the way.

[@donmcron3334]

I ordered this knife the other day. Can't wait to get it it's a beautiful design.

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

Sweet.. I hope it arrives for you to get plenty of use out of it over the holidays

[@abc456f]

Love my cqi kapara. I always though I'd need a dremel and a vise to do this, but you show how easy it can be done. Thank you. Every spyderco knife needs this mod.

[@sealevelbear]

Very cool, a 3mm diamond file, and 400 grit sand paper, great to see how to do it myself. Thank you!

[@mistersmith3986]

Hey man. I just saw this video. I wanted to put a sharpening choil on my Zero Tolerance ZT 0804CF. I've seen other videos of guys using rotary tools but I don't want to go that route. Anyway, I have the same diamond file which I used to put a detent ramp on my knife. I did it your way on a Steel Will Bruiser 500 and CRKT M16 and it came out great. That was practice before I do my Zero Tolerance knife. Thanks for the video my Bladed Brother 👍 ⚔️ ✝️ 🇺🇲

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

No worries. Things can go South very quickly using a rotary tool.

[@tonycanniffe2360]

Nice job! Now I know why I couldn’t put a choil in before- I just used a regular file, doh! Nice Canberra Raiders green tape too. Hopefully reviewers will link to your channel. Fabulous knife btw!!!! Congratulations! 💪🔪👍

[@kennethtape3362]

Nice one mate, loved the video, thanks 👍😃

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

I hope you have a go at adding a choil yourself

[@michaelcheshareck3275]

I had my Kapara reground to a much thinner edge (~.008”) and added a choil. Such a great knife, very classy and really cuts nicely, even in factory form. The regrind just makes it that much better if a sliver.

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

That is awesome. I go for a thinner edge on my customs as well. It is designed for slicing so might as well give it the best geometry for that task too.

[@gregbartrom413]

I love my Kapara's Nice swap !!

[@larrymarsico4059]

What a FINE, FINE blade Sir!!!

[@lotriguitarist]

cool to see the face behind the knife i just ordered yesterday ;) i'm very excited for it!

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

That is awesome.. I can't wait until the second batch starts coming out.

[@wilboardman]

Yes! Great job, I was wondering what tool to use for my edc. Thanks for the info.

[@anteck7goat]

Thank you for doing this! Can't wait to get mine!

[@freedomring6364]

Very nice video , help me a a lot , thank you sir.

[@RicBergstrom]

Is there any reason not to reduce the depth of the area immediately behind the choil so the blade can sit flush on a cutting board?

[@RicBergstrom]

Alstair designed it for food prep. I already use it around the kitchen and would like the blade to sit flush on what ever I am cutting on. Look at a spydie chef (also a "pocket knife") and notice that nothing comes down below blade lever. You should try it as a food prep knife. Very handy. Used it just last night to divide some delicious baclava......

[@robohawk_us]

Silly question, but can you use this same method to add jimping on the ramp? Possibly with a smaller file?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

Yes that would work fine

[@quique7764]

I ordered everything I need to do this but I am a bit hesitant as I'd hate to crew it up. It seems easy then again I imagine Alistair could make knife making look easy. I guess I'll try it on some older knives before I dive in head first.

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

Yeah good idea. The only real things to worry about is dulling the edge if you file along it. That isn't the end of the world since you can just sharpen it again. The other thing is to be sure where the choil meets the plunge, looks much better it you get that lined up well.

[@quique7764]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders Finally received all the needed materials but more importantly the nerve to do this & it was surprisingly easy if someone followed your instructions step by step. Thanks now onto the red spacer.

[@wartstein8814]

Hello Alistair, I have the Kapara for about a month now, I guess it is my favorite folder of all times... simply perfect! May I ask a maybe silly question concerning choils? : I understand how a choil makes it possible to sharpen the whole length of the cutting edge easily. BUT: If you do NOT have a choil: The first little part of the edge (where you would apply a choil) would stay unsharpened. So: Wouldn´t you end up with the same amount of sharp edge, regardless if the knife has a choil or not?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

Yeah I guess it depends on how close you can bring that un-sharpened section to the plunge of the grind. It would depends also on what sharpening system you are using.

[@wartstein8814]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders Thanks a lot for the quick reply! So it is as I thought: A choil does not necessarely enhance the length of the sharpened edge; than I do not see the advantage of the choil, or I personally would prefer a little part of unsharpened edge over a notch in the blade... Howsoever, with or without choil, the Kapara is maybe the best knife design I ever experienced. / Merry Christmas to you (from Austria (where I live) to Australia ;)

[@SeanLiu888]

The difference is that without the choil, the unsharpened portion stays below the height if the edge, leading to an eventual recurve.

[@valkyriesurvives5109]

Without a choil, the potential for a recurve in the edge increases also, because the plunge will tilt the corner of your stone into the edge in the middle of the knife

[@danielducu]

Sean Liu above , not bellow

[@StoneHands25]

Are there more kapara exclusives in the works?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

I wish I could tell

[@Taukasauva]

Hi, thanks for making this knife. Kapara is going to be my first and hopefully only folding knife for the rest of my life (I already own a leatherman wave and heavy-duty fixed blade for bushcraft). I just have a few questions before I make the purchase. 1. Are there any new versions of Kapara on the horizon? (Smaller version? New blade steels other than S30V or 20CV? Micarta handle?) 2. In your original knife the choil is half on the edge and half on the thicker part behind it, would you see any negatives/do you have any tips/thoughts if I tried to make the choil modification in that manner instead of only on the edge like you do here. I would be very pleased with the current version, just want to know there isn't a version out right after that I would have liked better.

[@aldogressa6708]

Well, can you explain the main advantage of having the choil in the selection? It is my doubt. thankful

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

The main reason is to make sharpening the knife easier.

[@aldogressa6708]

Grato . Inscrito no canal.

[@Daniel-yj3ju]

Hi Alistair. Do you know what brand of needle file you're using? Thanks

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

I am using a diamond file that I got with some quadcopter carbon fibre.

[@Daniel-yj3ju]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders Thank you. Also, love, the knife

[@PatrickDustman]

Great video, it looks amazing. SurvivalAustria

[@bigpoppa578]

Very helpful video. I tried my local Home Depot for a diamond file but they didn’t have any. I see some sets for sale on amazon. Would you recommend those?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

I am using one that came with a quadcopter spares kit. Specifically this one impulserc.com/collections/helix-spares/products/helix-accessory-kit I am sure the ones on Amazon would be fine though.

[@bigpoppa578]

Alistair Phillips thanks. I’ll see what I can find. I see that’s Australia, I’m in Canada. Great knife. Looking forward to the backspacer.

[@quique7764]

Alistair I'd like to pick up the red back spacer do you plan on restocking them any time soon?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

I am making a bunch today

[@quique7764]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders Great. DO you happen to know when they will posted on your website? Ty.

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

Quique with any luck on Friday. There is a knife making symposium this weekend that I am attending so if I don’t get them done before then it won’t be until next week

[@quique7764]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders No worries I'll keep an eye out. I've yet to receive the knife but it's in the mail & I'm very excited which is rare as I no longer buy knives the way I use to because no design as of late has captured my attn other than yours. Also, since these seem to be flying off the selves do you believe their will be a sprint or exclusive for the Kapara? I hope so but either way kudos for the remarkable design.

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

@@quique7764 I am not sure about any sprint or exclusive runs but they are definitely doing another run of knives at the moment

[@riffs66]

As you are the designer of this model, may I ask why Spyderco chose NOT to include a choil?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

It is super easy to add one in. I believe Spyderco in the past have given this as the reason.

[@Lazzoboy]

Why? What is the meaning to have a choil?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

The choil makes it easier to sharpen the knife

[@Lazzoboy]

@@AlistairPhillipsFolders Okey, but don´t you loose a bit of edge instead?

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

@@Lazzoboy yeah about 3mm if you don’t have it though you sometimes create a bit of a recurve when sharpening.

[@draylton77]

Ficou muito bom...

[@NeblagodariMe]

Сегодня, 23 февраля 2022 года, сделал себе подарок в день, когда у нас, в России, отмечают День защитника Отечества ( в этот день поздравляют всех мужчин, а также чтят память солдат, погибших в военных действиях), то есть в праздник настоящих мужчин. Купил себе kapara! У нас его уже трудно найти в продаже, но мне повезло и теперь он мой новый помощник в повседневной жизни. Желаю всем мирного неба над головой. Всех с праздником!

[@Keith_the_knife_freak]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@915knife4]

SURE WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SHARPENING CHOIL STRAIGHT OUT!!! COME ON SPYDERCO, get with it! Theres cheap ass knives that get it right and you guys cant cant or wont do it for whatever reason. Its not like you dont charge enough!!!!!

[@fsdesignify]

Not putting in a choil is getting it right. A choil ruins a knife. It's only for sharpening purposes right?? (or please educate or enlighten me) I feel A choil will only cause your knife to get hung up on something possibly in an emergency. I've gone spearfishing and had to take a folder with me because i forgot my diving knife and I definitely wouldn't want a knife with a choil (sharpening choil) in case i got wrapped up in seaweed, fishing string, fishing net...etc. when i'm at the bottom holding my breath and not have much time to get out of that situation. A choil isn't sharpened anyway, why not just leave the space unsharpened? Is it because it looks pretty? I've never understood a choil. YOu will have the same sharpened area without it and have a MORE capable/functional knife

[@915knife4]

@@fsdesignify if you sharpen your own knives you might understand a little better. Without the sharpening choil(not finger choil) you can’t really sharpen the entirety of the edge which means you have an unsharpened portion of the edge anyway. ( not much but its still something). Now a finger choil i can completely understand what you’re saying. A sharpening choil and a finger choil are two different things. One takes away from your capable sharpened edge significantly more than the other. I don’t necessarily care for finger choils all the much because they really do take away from your overall cutting edge. Now having said all that i dont think a 1/16 of an inch sharpening choil is gonna get hung up on a whole lot if anything at all.

[@fsdesignify]

@@915knife4 yes its unsharpened anyway...why make it worse? 1/16 of an inch is plenty of room to hang up on a fishing line used to catch a 500 pound fish. Why why why...I'd rather it glide at the end than catch...its really useless & if you're sharpening its not sharpened or cutting in that area anyway. Spyderco knows whats up

[@915knife4]

@@fsdesignify I love spyderco knives they do know whats up. I myself like having a small sharpening choil to get the entire edge really sharp. I get what you’re saying though. You’re entitled to your opinion and likes and dislikes as am I. If you keep your knives incredibly sharp like i do there wouldn’t be wouldn’t be any sliding. Just the touch of a sharp knife will cut through that line-no problem. If you’re trying to cut line thats thicker than the choil itself its not gonna get caught up in a small choil. Just sayin. Put a sharpening choil in my spyderco kapara and I LOVE IT. nice chat.

[@RandallSwain1]

Alistair - what was the EDCI formula lube you used? Where do I find that??

[@AlistairPhillipsFolders]

This is their website aegissolutionsusa.com/ it is a corrosion inhibitor not a lubricant though. I got it from Lion Knives at the last Sydney Knife Show.