The Spyderco Kapara Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

Today, we're going to take a look at a very interesting new knife from Alistair Phillips and Spyderco: The Kapara.

[@drewestes]

Everyone in 2019 has the CQI version and it is a great drop-shut action now with the new pivot bushing. Everything is perfect on the Kapara now.

[@bach5780]

I adjusted my Kapara to be drop shutty with no play. It can be done. I love the rough edges on spydie holes. Way easier to get a good hold with your thumb or middle finger. Especially when wet

[@aaronwolfe9640]

"That back spacer really tied the knife together" -Walter

[@d4mdcykey]

Haha, any Big Lebowski reference is a win in my book.

[@andysteele4056]

Actually, that was The Dude, but way to go on picking up the reference.

[@Stahlwerk88]

SHUT THE FUCK UP DONNY.

[@kellyforeman13]

Did it not!

[@LuckStuck]

Forget it, Donny, you're out of your element!

[@knottheory79220]

They finally came back in stock, got mine on the way. lol price went up like $40+ since 2019

[@mikesatteson1534]

I'm a lefty and very much appreciate a good looking functional knife that works well in my hand. I got myself a Kapara as soon as they became available because it looked so promising. The Kapara has delivered on that promise. My copy does drop shut nicely and got that way quickly without any need to fiddle with it. I do like the Spyderco compression lock and find it friendly enough to left handed use. (Though the very smooth scales on the Kapara make solo left hand closure a bit more difficult than it is with a G-10 scaled Para 2.) I'm happy with this knife and carry it regularly. It certainly gets a left handed thumb up.

[@bobbybridges4408]

Think I may have already commented? I got mine today and love it beautiful carbon fiber, great slicer. I wanted to mention that when I was researching the knife and maker I read that his inspiration for this design stemmed from a want for a food prep knife. When he was designing the blade he measured the foods he would be cutting and that's how the blade got its shape and size. So it many not be a legal carry in every place the design was to accommodate a specific need.

[@ssunfish]

EXCELLENT work doing that research and coming back here with it! Bravo!

[@Lieu10antDan]

Love my Kapara. Tis a thing of beauty. After a few months of use, sharpening, tear down and spa treatment, better than ever. Drop shut smooth, yes. Extremely sharp with perfect even grind, yes. Easy to sharpen, yes. Cuts better than nearly everything, an instant fave. Try to put it down, just try. Try to forget it. My next may very well have to be an Alistair custom. Not sure if I want anything else. It’s really doing my head in.

[@liquidcobra1450]

I got the big fingers and do find the lock cutout a little small for my index finger. But I close it with my thumb most of the time so it works for me. Thanks for the review nick.

[@anon6952]

This is Spyderco’s best folding knife

[@JoeyDoingThings]

For sure top 3. I wonder if the Spydiechef gives it a run for its money? I have both knives, and I really dig the Spydiechef.

[@anon6952]

@@JoeyDoingThings I don’t care for that knife lol but I have a dislike for titanium

[@JoeyDoingThings]

@@anon6952 ah, well, I love a titanium scale! I love that the Spydiechef is something you can swim in the ocean with. And I love the Spydiechef’s shape. But I also love the Kapara. I think those two knives are my top two. I also love the Gayle Bradley Advocate, but that is another titanium knife, so you probably wouldn’t like it.

[@anon6952]

@@JoeyDoingThings well fortunately Spyderco has a bunch excellent folders that we can all enjoy 🙂

[@dunkanbee8648]

Ive been loving my kapara for the last few years. Definitely one of the best all round edc folders. So easy and comfortable for so many tasks. Plus its just damn fun to use.

[@jerrymcgovern4848]

I love my kapara. I saw it and had to have it. Favorite knife of last year.

[@mikefitzpatrick5190]

Thanks for the review Nick. I really like the ergonomics of this one. Out of a dozen Spyderco knives from the past couple of years I've bought this was my most surprising favorite as far as "it just feels good and looks even better" knife. Yeah, it's not perfect for everyone but dang, it's pretty slick.

[@333turdferguson]

2 minutes of polishing the washers got the action dropping shut smoothly for me.

[@calvinburns6024]

What did you polish them with?

[@333turdferguson]

@@calvinburns6024 On a leather strop with black, then white compound

[@SliceyDicey]

I 100% agree that this is not a knife you know you need until you have it.

[@ottergt]

The Kapara is my first compression lock knife. I'm a lefty, and can easily operate this knife with the left hand...using my left thumb to disengage the lock and kicking the blade down. The blade shape allows me to use my pointer finger as a stop on the choil. Nice solid grip, no accidental cuts. I was expecting this to break in and drop shut...been disappointed and wondering how long the break in has to be. Know I know this likely won't happen without disassembly and polishing. Not something I intend to do though.

[@jimm244]

I think you nailed this review. I had one within a week of availability and it does break in. Mine is a free dropper, but yeah, access to the compression lock is a little restricted compared to a PM2. This is very ergonomic and very slicey with a relatively long blade that doesn’t weigh much and carries great.

[@jamesconroy7030]

I've just gotten into collecting (I always carried a nice knife, but wasn't collecting) EDC style knives recently. It took me a while to find a Spyderco that I like. Most of them have medium size blades with X large handles, and the big finger choyles on so many of them make it more noticeable. This one is nice, and slim to carry. The pocket clip is perfect, and the red spacer really sets it off.

[@MrBlessed70]

The blade shape reminds me of The Spyderco Stretch only looks more refined. Another awesome review Nick.

[@davidsuchan593]

Great review as always, I really like this knife and want to get one but was waiting for your review.

[@pendulousphallus]

I hadn't considered the geometry of the handle in relation to getting things in and out of your pocket. I've only ever worn a little Swiss Army Knife on my keychain (Spartan sized), but I hadn't thought of losing a pocket potentially with a dedicated pocket knife. That's a very thoughtful feature. I don't know how much of an occlusion a standard sized dedicated pocket knife represents, however. The Ontario RAT 2 still seems like the best choice for a pocket knife regularly spoken of on this channel, but I super appreciate the safety features included here. This is a tempting item. If I were seriously considering this I would hope it were available on a different handle.

[@anthonyp7051]

I’m liking how we all seem to favor the micarta. It’s the unpolished canvas in hand that’s hard to beat. High end makers almost have to stay ti for keeping their price tags justified. I solute makers who are also collectors or at least enjoy using their knives and strive to create more real world user knives. That’s where I see you shine the brightest Nick. This review backs this up. It’s a design you’ll use happily and carry often. Finding micarta scales for her shouldn’t be too painful. We need more guys putting in work out of their basement,shops designating their tools just for scale work.

[@lo_que3827]

They really fixed the open closing action on the second run. Absolutely flawless now.

[@shadeshiest22]

How can you tell the difference from first run or second run?? Different model numbers?? I was about to order one of these but want the smoother second run...

[@jolness1]

I have a CQI one in 20CV and it is one of my very favorite knives. Such a slice blade, carries nice and slim like my first EDC the 940 but cuts much much better. I added a choil to mine and it trades days with my sebenzas (sometimes I carry both because I want both of them with me haha)

[@timnichol6566]

Hey Nick, I've had my Kapara for 3 days now. It's still not quite like the pm2 but it's good. It still ends up in my pocket now. Great video!

[@oscarschiff9180]

how does it fell in pocket compared to the pm2?

[@davidparker3346]

I have this knife . And I LOVE it. Nice thin slicer blade, and love the compression lock. The only thing i would add is jimping .

[@ssunfish]

I love a "slicey" one!!!

[@ViaMatt47]

Thanks Nick, great review.

[@TheCosaNostra13]

I’m just glad they used actual CF versus that peel ply nonsense

[@jojojaykay]

Got this knife just last week and it is by far one of the favorite in my collection; gives me quite the stiffy. Thanks again for a good review knife daddy.

[@convex7456]

Is it slicey

[@jojojaykay]

@@convex7456the knife or my stiffy?

[@rudolfsix6158]

I would love to see spyderco do M4 and micarta on this beauty as well!!

[@dr0psy]

ooo thatd be so nice

[@rudolfsix6158]

FRN would be great as well considering price

[@oceanwaves83]

At this price it should have been M4 to begin with lol

[@edrader]

micarta and especially frn suck. that CF is among the best i've seen

[@BDSwaim]

Dlt 20cv goes hard.

[@smithsquared]

The compression lock is servicable in standard configuration for left handed, but I will stick with my lefty PM2

[@barkingspider2007]

Living in the "Box" with my other knives... Great Review, Thanks Nick.

[@Washyourbellybutton]

The curve right after the thumb ramp is a place to but your thumb when choking up on the blade, brilliant design choice 👍

[@jtoth1995]

It cracks me up when people use S30V as a negative as if it’s a bad steel. What a time we live in when premium powdered-metal “super steel” isn’t good enough for their folding pocket knife they are going to use to cut open boxes, trim loose threads off their clothes and maybe cut a sandwich.

[@oceanwaves83]

While that does apply to most people in the knife community, some of us actually need higher performance cutting tools. Aside from Buck and a few Benchmade models, s30v isn't anything special. But really, the biggest issue is the price. Look at the price of a Shaman or Subvert. If those models were in M4, no one would be complaining.

[@clintcolt5786]

I like S30V, but not at $190. That’s really expensive for that blade steel, to me. At that price I would expect a better steel. At $70 less no problem for that steel, at that price it feels like a negative because there are M390 blades with carbon fiber scales... Giant Mouse Ace Biblio is the same price.

[@oceanwaves83]

@@clintcolt5786 it's actually cheaper

[@MegaThenman]

Its moreso a price and performance issue, s30 is a good steel, but not at a price where much better is the standard

[@oceanwaves83]

@@MegaThenman Exactly. And it's been shown in testing that Spyderco's s30v, while perfectly acceptable, is certainly not a shining star regarding performance. But they believe their heat treat is optimal for all these steels they offer, so they probably won't be changing it any time soon.

[@ToddGajewski]

Great review as usual Nick!

[@thefactor6909]

Great review ! Have one on the way since you gave me the gentle nudge I needed 😁

[@ocomegashadowstacking5886]

Really awesome knife review.

[@ssunfish]

Your review brought this on my radar and your opinon actually fed mine to elevate it. That's weird! I like that it's a personal food prep knife! This would ROCK with CTS-XHP. Carbon fibre...never had it. Paired with Spyderco Wire clip that I freakin' LOVE is compelling! Big? Thick? Hmnnn... I am a yuuggge fan of Spyderco Hundred Pacer so Kapara doesn't begin to phase me. It IS different. I like the way you can get close to the start of the edge or not. It's not so much like on other Spydercos, in that area. Good difference!! Now comparing it to Benchmade 940 (if I got that right) oh spot, SPOT on! Yes! This knife is MEASURABLY more appealing. I cannot get behind why people are nuts for the 940!! I CAN get behind this knife! Thank you for the review and your advice and knowledge. You have a perspective that works even though not aligned with mine. You done great with this video!

[@davidmcmichael8843]

I'm a lefty and I've always been fine with spyderco's compression locks in general. Second only to the Axis lock as far as ambi IMO.

[@samdungan03]

The compression lock works great left handed I just use my thumb to depress the lock bar. Simple. I love my cqi kapara

[@buckwylde9567]

Love the Big Lebowski reference. Picked one up today

[@727shane4]

Great review

[@AndyMcGehee]

I was starting to despair for 2018's offerings, and then both the Kapara and the ZT 0470 hit towards the end. Totally redeemed the year.

[@UchuujinSan]

I find that if i use my fingertips to close the Kapara i can sometimes cut myself when the knife closes as the blade where it meets the plunge line is just barely reachable at the compression lock cut out. i reckon a small sharpening choil will fix that right up, and i plan to add one eventually. Other than that, it's a stellar knife. Bought it initially cause it looked great and to support a fellow Aussie, but it's barely left my pocket for the last few months.

[@mitch8988]

I’m left handed and I genuinely have no issue with the compression lock. I’d love it if the blade was slightly smaller tbh but I just like small knives

[@mitch8988]

Great review too, as always

[@DivByZer0]

You scratched the blade with your ceramic rod action.

[@domgreco7]

Thanks Nick.

[@jojojaykay]

Regarding the "recurve" that's starting to form: I usually use this as an indication that my knife has been overground by the factory, which I find REALLY annoying and have had it on almost every spyderco I've owned, including my Kapara. I hate it so much and it's the equivalent of several cycles of sharpening just gone from the life of the knife.

[@ssunfish]

Food for thought!!! Very compelling point! It is like a LOT less knife in that situation!

[@tory6733]

Wow.. going over the 940, I gotta check this one out

[@zankelley]

lefty here. don't have the kapara but do have a smock and sage...no problems with the compression lock.

[@BDSwaim]

Glad to see new dlt 20cv fixed almost all of nicks gripes. Props to spyderco.

[@NDeemz]

I love the sharp edges on the back of the knife! I can strike a rod on it, and it's so amazing for scraping!

[@austrofinn4524]

CQI really focused on the action for the second batch. Based on what I hear the new ones all seem to be super drop shutty. Mine certainly is!

[@mttwss]

Thanks!

[@SliceyDicey]

I GOT YA GIGANTIC FINGER RIGHT HERE!!! (You asked for this)

[@MetrologyEngineer]

My attention to detail makes me want the Trademark Round Hole™ (Spidey-hole) to be a little bit further from the handle when the knife is closed so it would line up better or past the edge of the liners so your thumb can contact its entire circumference.

[@joet.plumber3771]

🎶 “Everybody Taichung Tonight” 🎶

[@ssunfish]

Howling laughing

[@NikeaTiber]

Across the nation, around the world!

[@Dale_Higgins]

I just got mine and it is so close to great, except for the detend being so so weak. It's the only real flaw to me. I'm still trying to decide if I'm brave enough to try to slightly enlarge the detent hole to make it better.

[@jacksonperocfrenchzfourtou4283]

nice review

[@alexp974]

Just picked one up in 2024, I have liked this knife since it was released.

[@kermit980]

I am lefties and I use shaman with compression lock and No problem at all - work really good with my thumb.

[@FindersKeepers88]

Nice build, nicer when it's contoured CF, but it certainly could have come in just under 3.5"

[@calebgips2135]

As a lefty with a PM2 the compression lock is certainly do-able. However it’s not as easy as the axis lock. Still love spyderco but lately I’ve been carrying a benchmade for edc.

[@jtoth1995]

Caleb Gips get a left hand PM2, they make them

[@kimmonshandtools6849]

“Let me know if you have gigantic fingers” 😂. In all seriousness though, great review of a great knife. Probably my favorite knife. The CQI version is freakin sweet.

[@MountainManThan]

I am IN LOVE with this knife 😂 I’m going to buy one ASAP. lol

[@faretheewell3711]

Its a fantastic knife!

[@Chappa36]

Hit or miss with action mine was perfect drop shut out of the box My sage 5 not so much 🤷🏼‍♂️ I only have 15 or so knives but the Kapara could be my favorite

[@Grumps5]

I really. Really wanted to keep this knife. I loved the build quality and overall design. However I had to sell it for 2 main reasons. 1. I carry knives mainly in my right front pocket along with my cell phone. The rear end of the kapara was too pointy and kept stabbing my hand everytime I reached in my pocket to grab my phone. 2. It was just too thin for my hands, it felt like I was waving around a stiletto. I have an 8" wrist for watches to give you an idea of hand size. Real shame because it is a very attractive knife.

[@Daikini88]

Same.. The handle feels awkward. I can't get a comfortable grip on it.

[@cliffcox7643]

I just got one from Arizona Custom Knife, on installment plan.

[@ssunfish]

NICE!

[@budzee313]

A mini kapara would leave me drooling

[@Hunter357mag]

I might have lucked into a CQI newer model, mine drops shut perfectly.....

[@tonghe6899]

The drop shut action might due to the Taichung factory compression lock construction is a little bit different from Golden factory. Golden compression lock has a pivot which also serves as a bushing, the Taichung compression lock's pivot is just a straight normal pivot. Therefore, it is easy to tune Golden compression lock to drop shut without blade play.

[@MichaelDurell]

Tong He actually the kapara has double-sided screws too, just like golden. So it’s not the pivot’s fault.

[@tonghe6899]

@@MichaelDurell I am not talking about the double-sided screws. I am talking about the shape of the pivot. Based on Nick's disassembly video, the pivot of the kapara is same as my Caribbean which is a normal (straight) cylinder. But the golden one is not a straight cylinder, better to check out in Nick's shaman video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/al7MmqONaNd8b9k . You can compare this to kapara one kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2a9qGR6lLehj7c .

[@themawsjawz_9491]

That red back spacer is very attractive

[@ssunfish]

This spacer is Ruby Red G-10. Cherry Red is an option and ghost red too

[@The_Dans]

You like to see a scaled down version, I’d like to see a 4.25 inch version lol

[@faretheewell3711]

Yes! A Lebowski quote! You are entering a world of pain smoky!

[@Stahlwerk88]

Ryan M mark it zero, Dude.

[@jacknemo8021]

I like the handle but tbh I want true leaf shaped blade out of Spyderco knives. Put an up-scaled Chaparal blade (LC200N) on that handle and I'm in.

[@andyrichardson6188]

This is what the D'Allara 3 should have been. Surprisingly similar blades between the two. (Love my D'Allara but the lock is hard to use.)

[@JJDITALIA]

Does anyone know what Flashlight Nick pulls out in this video? That rotary design is slick!

[@NickShabazz]

The first version of the JetBeam RRT01

[@bobb.9917]

Love the knife! Was not even on my radar...Reviews drew me to it and I am so glad that I picked one up. It's a unique folder, truly. Got one for $153 so I am smiles all around!!! :-) I agree with you that the knife seems like nothing all that spectacular "at first"...and the more you have it, the more you appreciate it. Very cool blade. It's special.

[@MichaelDurell]

To get the kapara drop shutty - clean all lube off the washers, and squeeze the compression lock between your thumb and middle finger. Mine’s mint now :)

[@kylem4898]

You really have to use all of the available space on the compression lock in order to get it to drop. It can do it, but it's finicky.

[@jonathanrogers9961]

im so thankful to live in Indiana, i can have whatever blade length I want

[@Pablito46]

Yeah... but you live in Indiana.

[@jonathanrogers9961]

@@Pablito46 been here most of my life. Not bad really. Better than some of the other places I have been.

[@feenanay4866]

It took a while, but with some fiddling, disassembly and re-oiling with KPL, and repeated micro-adjustments of the pivot screw, I finally got the drop-shut action I was looking for. It resulted in the blade being ever so slightly off center, but that's a trade-off I can certainly live with. Love this freakin' knife! BTW, Nick....what kind of ceramic rod do you use to knock down the sharp edges on the Taichung spydieholes?

[@abc456f]

He showed it on the disassembly video. A round ceramic rod made by Spyderco. Haven't googled it yet.

[@buckwylde9567]

The Redback spider in Australia is essentially a black widow spider 🤔

[@notawix8542]

mine drops shut but like you said lock access is very small

[@1B1ueyedwo1f]

In 2017, S30V was the hot ticket. Last year, it was S35VN Titanium frame-locks. Six months ago, tactical slipjoints were all the rage. Now, everyone's gushing over M390 and hating on S30V. And people call the fashion world fickle.

[@watches.]

Will Leigh underrated commented.

[@no1up]

Now it's s45vn

[@sambrown4424]

I don’t like the look of this knife or the 940, but who is breaking omega springs? Like how old do they have to be to break? My edc is running up close to 2 years with zero issues

[@nicholsliwilson]

The right handed compression lock is not a big problem for me as a lefty, it’s a perfectly useable compromise in exchange for the left hand carry option on an otherwise ambi knife. My Benchmade 940-1 went back for a refund. One of the scales had a kink in it like it had been taken out of the mould before it was entirely set and the edge looked like it had been ground by a caffeine addicted chimp covered in itching powder on a ship in high seas. Seriously that passed QA on a £279 knife! 😐

[@TheCrunchyCrouton]

I haven't bought a knife with a blade over 3.25" since I was a teenager, but this is giving me second thoughts. Do you think this design would translate well to a mini version?

[@antoinedoinell]

same, i'd be all over a mini.

[@TKO593]

ThroatScratch Are you alluding to buying larger than 3.25” blades to be juvenile?

[@TheCrunchyCrouton]

@@TKO593 not at all. Just a matter of personal preference.

[@thewaterwarrior9817]

What's the utility of this blade shape ?

[@jamessilly6837]

I just finished watching the disassembly a few moments ago lol

[@chrisng2095]

Deciding between this and the pleroma. Which would you go for?

[@NickShabazz]

Kapara

[@David-js6sl]

If you had to choose between the Smock and the Kapara which would you go with?

[@PockeTanK]

David Gonzalez this one IMHO

[@spyhunter6411]

Wow I like that a lot...

[@Tyler-sl6vg]

Compression lock is a little too awkward left handed to have ambidextrous counted as a plus.

[@kennethtape3362]

Nick, I know that this has no right to be here especially two years after the review was posted, but I don’t care, I snagged one (cqi version) this afternoon 😄😄👍 I am happy.

[@1marmith1]

The Dude abides Nick!

[@souldude13]

I believe Sal said the Sharp edges are a feature and he won't change it. Shows quality of machining apparently

[@ssunfish]

I'm totally down with not champering more! I like crisp even if it means less refined!

[@jfnurod]

In the mail I just received the last kapara that was still in stock in the US and its sickkk!!! Thanks for the review it made me pull the trigger.

[@quique7764]

I really wish this was smaller like the para3 size.

[@brucemcintyre2383]

Golden compression locks are the best. I’ve found that the overseas comp lock action is sub-par. That said, I should have one next week. If mine is like yours, I’ll lap the washers on a packed strop... As always, well done. Tuxedo Endura.

[@bigaspaulo]

Tuxedo Endura! Bloody brilliant description!

[@Gaston-Monescu]

My Taichung Sage 5’s compression lock is dropping beautifully. It can happen.

[@PatrisDev]

I find the liner lock much more lefty-friendly, but maybe that's just me. I just can't close the compression lock one handed without slicing off my fingers.