Spyderco Kapara Folding Knife Review

Spyderco is one of the leading knife production companies that have been manufacturing knives for years with pride. Spyderco’s latest model was introduced to the market which is called Kapara. One of Australia’s part-time knife makers caught the attention of Spyderco company which initially designed the structure of the Kapara knife. The designer won the Best Folding Knife award in the 2012 Australian Guild show.

History Of Spyderco Kapara

Spyderco Kapara was named after a venomous Redback spider typically found in Australia, New Zealand, and some other South Asia. The design of the knife also includes the color combination of the spider. The spider has prominent red stripes on the side of its body, so Alistair Phillips, the creator of the knife also did put a red backspacer on the handle of the knife as a symbol. Phillips then uploaded the design on a website names ‘Voila”. After looking at his design on that website, Sal Glesser, the founder of Spyderco company wanted to purchase one of the knives for his personal collection, as he really liked the design. After meeting Phillips he came to know about all the details and he even liked more about Phillips’s creation. Glesser offered him a partnership for making knives, which Phillips couldn’t refuse.

Specifications of the Spyderco Kaparaspyderco kapara review

           Blade LengthBlade MaterialDeployment Mechanism
3.6 inCPM-S30VThumb Hole
Overall Length Handle MaterialCountry Of Origin
   8.25 in     Carbon Fiber    Taiwan
 Weight Locking MechanismPrice Range
 3.4 ozCompression LockAbout $200

Structure And Features

Spyderco Kapara is one of the hardest and strongest knives on the market. An attractive and sturdy design also offers safety and a high level of usability. At this point, we will discuss the structure, the features that Spyderco Kapara carries, and the possible benefit it can add to its functionality.

Blade

Spyderco Kapara Blade Design

There is no denying the fact that the blade is the prime part of a knife or any cutting tool. Kapara is made of  3.58” long  CPM S30V stainless steel. The blade is very hard and adjusted to its rounded hole. There is a drop point that helps increase the blade’s overall length. The blade’s spine of the blade is  0.118” thick which is comparatively thinner. This well-rounded steel is pretty tough, well-built, and corrosion-resistant.

Handle and Lock

Spyderco Kapara Handle Design

The handle of the Kapara folding knife is made of pure metal with stainless steel features. The liner is made of solid carbon fiber scale, which is beautifully aligned and greatly impacts the compression locking mechanism. The handle contains a finger choil on edge for your index finger to have a comfortable grip. The structure of the handle has been designed suitably to increase the functionality and easiness of the locking mechanism.

Clip

Spyderco Kapara Clip

The Kapara folding pocket knife has a deep reversible wire clip. The clip has great importance in balancing the weight of the knife and it’s also effective regarding the comfort of being carried.

Deployment & Lockup

Locking Mechanism of Spyderco Kapara

The Kapara includes a pivot bushing to its design. It is a collar that fits around the pivot barrel while providing the blade a fine lower friction surface during the rotation and making the work smoother and easier. The locking mechanism of Kapara is impressive. The compression locking mechanism is one of the most famous and endorsed ones in the knife world. Also, the lock is located in the spine of the handle, so you don’t have to put your finger in the closing path of the blade. It reduces the chances of accidents.

Features, Fit & Finish

Spyderco Kapara was manufactured in Taiwan and is considered to be one of the best knives for its stunning finishing. Everything in this knife is perfectly designed, placed, and finished at the proper angle. The screws are perfectly fitted into the handle line. The quality of the handle scales is on another level. With an outstanding pattern, these scales are made of solid carbon fiber.

Key Specifications At A Glance

SpecificationDetail
Blade Length: 3.60″
Cutting Edge:3.44″
Blade Material:CPM-S30V
Blade Style:Drop Point
Blade Grind:Flat
Finish:Satin
Edge Type:Plain
Handle Length:4.65″
Handle Material:Carbon Fiber
Color:Black
Frame/Liner:Stainless Steel
Weight:3.40 oz.
User:R/L Hand
Pocket Clip:Tip-Up
Knife Type:Manual
Opener:Thumb Hole
Lock Type:Compression Lock
Brand:Spyderco
Model:Kapara
Designer:Alistair Phillips
Country of Origin:Taiwan
Best Use:Every day Carry

Field Test

Spyderco Kapara Field Test

The Kapara 8.25 inches long knife is a perfect fit for your pocket. The weight it contains is relatively light, which is only 3.4 ounces. The carbon fiber handle and skeletonized line improve the functionality of the knife. The greatest thing about the Spyderco Kapara is that it has outstanding designs which are being copied by many other knife brands and they are also paying the royalties to this majestic knife brand. The handle provides a suitable grip. You won’t find a single difficulty to use the knife. The Kapara can never be used as an alternative to a kitchen knife, but the knife can do a remarkable job in terms of cutting something.

Spyderco Kapara VS PM2

Spyderco Kapara VS PM2

There are a good number of differences between these two giant knife brands. The quality apart, we can differentiate them in usability, functionality, and design. The blade sharpness and the handle are also a matter of comparison. Here we have brought up an ultimate difference between Spyderco Kapara and PM2.

SpecsSpyderco KaparaPM2
Overall Length8.25 in8.28 in
Blade Length3.6 in3.44 in
Blade SteelCPM-S30VCPM S30V
Knife Weight3.4 oz3.75 oz
Blade StyleThumb HoleThumb Hole
PriceAbout $200$189 – $209

Spyderco Kapara VS Spydiechef

Spyderco Kapara VS Spydiechef

These two knives have extreme competition on the market and get the most amount of sales equally. As the Spydiechef is basically made for kitchen purposes, the structure is quite different from the Spyderco. Hence, the price of Spydiechef is also higher than that of Kapara.

SpecsSpyderco KaparaSpydiechef
Overall Length8.25 in7.78 in
Blade Length3.6 in3.32 in
Blade SteelCPM-S30VLC200N
Knife Weight3.4 oz0.23 oz
Blade StyleThumb HoleClip Point
PriceAbout $200$335

Spyderco Kapara VS Benchmade 940

Spyderco Kapara VS Benchmade 940

Bench 940 is a classic knife that is much heavier than the Spyderco Kapara. The price is also higher for the high-quality material and steel used in the knife. The most important thing is Benchmade is twice the weight of Kapara and Spydiechef. So you might feel the knife is taking place in your pocket, while you might not feel the same in the case of the other knives on our list. Here is the ultimate difference between Spyderco Kapara and Benchmade 940.

SpecsSpyderco KaparaSpydiechef
Overall Length8.25 inch7.87 inch
Blade Length3.6 inch3.40 inch
Blade SteelCPM-S30VCPM S90V
Knife Weight3.4 oz2.90 oz
Blade StyleThumb HoleClip Point
PriceAbout $200$320

If you love Spyderco knives, you can read my article about 10 Best Spyderco Knives

Final Thoughts

The majestic design of Kapara was introduced on the market in 2018. The designer Phillip, was a pro knife designer who was working on a friendly pocket knife design and Kapara really fits the bill here. The Kapara is a comfortable pocket knife with many practical features while not in the high price range. Even though Spyderco Kapara is not the cheapest among the other models of Spyderco, the features and functionalities really suit the price well. Let’s just confess that $200 is not a bad deal compared to the quality and features that we just mentioned in the article.

 
Spyderco Kapara Review
  • Blade
    (3.5)
  • Handle
    (4.5)
  • Quality
    (3.5)
  • Value
    (3)

Spyderco Kapara Review

Kapara came with high expectations regarding how well it would perform. Some of those expectations were met and some weren’t. Regardless, we’ll now take a closer look at its features and what you can expect from this pocketknife. I wanted to like the Spyderco Kapara. I really did. I love Spydercos, and I loved the shape and design of this knife. It was a bit outside of my usual “style” preferences for a knife, but I really loved the look. It was a knife that I thought would be a great addition to my collection. I even talked a friend into buying one a couple of months ago.

Overall
3.6
User Review
  • Blade
    Sending
  • Handle
    Sending
  • Quality
    Sending
  • Value
    Sending

Pros

  • The blade is beautiful to behold, with amazing scales and smooth action without any bearings. It works well for cutting up food as intended. Overall, the knife might be the most agile of its kind with a comfortable pocket clip that is remarkably fitted.
  • Smooth and quick action.
  • One- handed use.
  • Quality materials like carbon fiber.

Cons

  • Sometimes, when you bend this blade backwards, it will bounce back into place without letting you know if it’s actually closed.
  • The price is a bit high.

1 thought on “Spyderco Kapara Folding Knife Review”

Leave a Comment