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CF Caly 3 or Stretch II?
- Thread starter kshaw07
- Start date
And please, push me towards one or the other before the "just gett'em both! stuff"... I'm T-R-Y-I-N-G to give my credit card some sort of break 
For those of you that have both, could you please tell me your thoughts on each? Thanks!
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Messages
- 5,738
Both are excellent knives and offer top notch fit and finish. There are really only five differences worth noting.
The two obvious ones are the difference in overall shape of the handle and blade. I prefer the handle shape of the Stretch, as it fits my hand perfectly and positions it very reliably. I'd have to give "style points" to the Caly 3 blade shape, but the narrower blade of the Stretch does give it the advantage for deep cuts that need to curve - like cutting a plug out of a watermelon. I also find the Stretch II's edge shape, with its longer straight section and curved tip, more versatile that the almost totally curved edge of the Caly 3.
The third is the blade steel, Caly 3 is laminated ZDP and the Stretch II is solid ZDP. So, Stretch II will scratch less, but develop more of a patina if used to cut certain foods. I'll take patina over scratches any day, but you may feel otherwise.
Then theres the finish on the CF - smooth matte on the Caly 3, lightly textured on the Stretch. Again, a matter of taste, but I like the added traction the texturing provides. It is much less agressive than the texturing on the CF Military, which I find way too rough.
The final difference is size. Caly 3 is 4 /1/6" closed with a 3" blade while the Stretch II is a bit bigger at 4 7/16 closed with a 3.5" blade.
If nothing it the above pushes you firmly one way or the other then "just buy both".
As for me, I own them both, like them both, carry the Stretch II a lot more often.
Paul
My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
The two obvious ones are the difference in overall shape of the handle and blade. I prefer the handle shape of the Stretch, as it fits my hand perfectly and positions it very reliably. I'd have to give "style points" to the Caly 3 blade shape, but the narrower blade of the Stretch does give it the advantage for deep cuts that need to curve - like cutting a plug out of a watermelon. I also find the Stretch II's edge shape, with its longer straight section and curved tip, more versatile that the almost totally curved edge of the Caly 3.
The third is the blade steel, Caly 3 is laminated ZDP and the Stretch II is solid ZDP. So, Stretch II will scratch less, but develop more of a patina if used to cut certain foods. I'll take patina over scratches any day, but you may feel otherwise.
Then theres the finish on the CF - smooth matte on the Caly 3, lightly textured on the Stretch. Again, a matter of taste, but I like the added traction the texturing provides. It is much less agressive than the texturing on the CF Military, which I find way too rough.
The final difference is size. Caly 3 is 4 /1/6" closed with a 3" blade while the Stretch II is a bit bigger at 4 7/16 closed with a 3.5" blade.
If nothing it the above pushes you firmly one way or the other then "just buy both".
As for me, I own them both, like them both, carry the Stretch II a lot more often.Paul
My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2005
- Messages
- 1,549
As per usual, Deacon provides an excellent compare and contrast.
As for me, the CF Caly 3 was my instant favorite when I received it from NGK. It became my EDC and nothing bumped it from my pocket for several months.
I was intrigued by the Stretch II and anticipated receiving it. However, I never was a big fan of the original Stretch. The II has many improvements over the original, notably the CF and solid ZDP.
They are both excellent knives and great examples of Spyderco quality. At the end of the day, I still carry the Caly 3 and sold the Stretch II.
As for me, the CF Caly 3 was my instant favorite when I received it from NGK. It became my EDC and nothing bumped it from my pocket for several months.
I was intrigued by the Stretch II and anticipated receiving it. However, I never was a big fan of the original Stretch. The II has many improvements over the original, notably the CF and solid ZDP.
They are both excellent knives and great examples of Spyderco quality. At the end of the day, I still carry the Caly 3 and sold the Stretch II.
- Joined
- May 28, 1999
- Messages
- 2,606
The C3 is definately the more "elegant" of the two, and is my light duty EDC. I've had a military and current have a mini-manix (mini... hahaha) and unless I plan on demo'ing cardboard boxes that day the calypso does everything I need it to, it'll do the cardboard just fine too but that would get the 420 cladding all scratched 
and the handles aren't the grippiest. If you're looking for more of a "get your hands dirty and do some cutting" tool the stretch will be better suited.
and the handles aren't the grippiest. If you're looking for more of a "get your hands dirty and do some cutting" tool the stretch will be better suited.
Kaizen1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2006
- Messages
- 6,328
Overall I like the Caly 3 by a large margin. However, for hard use I'd go with the Stretch II only because the Caly 3's CF is on the slick side and I wouldn't trust using it hard under wet conditions. I really don't like the blade to handle ratio on the Stretch II, but that seems to be the very reason why the guys who like it, like it so much.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2007
- Messages
- 2,587
Nice pics. I have the Stretch II in ZDP as well, but I'm thinking I may acquire a Caly 3 for carrying at all those "formal" events. ;-)