Do you carry a Stretch 2 or Stretch 2 XL?

el gigantor

el gigantor

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If so, which variant do you have and what do you think of it?

(I'm currently choosing between the CTS-PD#1 and K390 XLs and wanted to start a conversation about the pattern.)
 
Cruwear and pd1 are close to the same steel. My understanding is the differences aren't going to be measurable without doing "scientific testing".

Cruwear, pd1, and z-wear are roughly equivalents.

K390 is great; it keeps an edge forever, but it will chip before cruwear/pd1 will. Cruwear/z-wear/pd1 is one of my absolute favorite steels. Takes an excellent fine edge, strops back easily, and is pretty tough so it doesn't chip very easily. It won't hold an edge even close to as long as k390 though.
 
I have multiple stretch xl (cruwear/g10, lw in pd1, k390, spy27) I really enjoy all of them - large forward choils, great ergos, thin bte, very efficient design blade to handle ratio...the only nitpicks are that the g10 version feels very "butt heavy" and the lws feel blade heavy. If the lws had a very thin liner, it might be a perfect knife. I prefer the cruwear/pd1 steels just a little over k390, but that is just because I prefer a fine edge over a working edge on a thin knife.
 
The Stretch 2XL is one of my favorite Lightweight models, Great size and only 2.70 ounces! My sample also has the least lock movement of any Seki City variants in my collection. Here’s some pictures compared to other larger Spyderco blades.
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I use the k390 straight spine stretch (the pm2 with a backlock) around the house, in the yard/garden. I like it a lot even though it cut me badly and i wanted to sell it for a while. glad i didn't. it's a workhorse.
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I carry the cruwear gray g10 xl when away from home like a large gentlemans folder. I like it even more than the sss. two very different knives.

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I have a handful of them.. great platform. Steel liners make the Stretch 2s feel sturdier, though in practice I haven't had any issues with the XLs.. they are plenty solid and I don't think I have many (maybe any?) knives as large that weigh so little. I agree that the XL LWs are a touch blade heavy, especially the Salt, but it's an acceptable tradeoff to have so much blade in a featherweight package and doesn't really bother me in use.

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What has always been impressive to me about the Stretch 2 XL is how it manages to pack so much more blade into an overall (closed) outline that doesn't really feel that much larger than the Stretch 2.
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Can't go wrong with any variant of the Stretch, imo..
 
I have a stretch 2 K390 and two different XLs (PD1 and K390).
Really great knives (both models).

As someone previously mentioned, the stretch 2 is very similar to a PM 2 with a back lock and lightweight.
 
The one(s) with liners. 1/2 an ounce, one ounce - does not make much difference in my use.

No liner = just a plastic knife ✌️

Just kind of kidding - but a knife with liners just feels better to me. G10 is not bad either.
 
I've got them both and think very highly of them. I prefer the Stretch over most other models because the handle is designed so well that it fills my hands perfectly, giving a secure grip (or, at least, it feels more secure, which is good enough for me).

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I like the XL because it's a reasonably large knife that is light, thin, discreet and perfectly capable. I was initially apprehensive about the lack of liners, but it really doesn't feel flimsy in use. I did not expect to enjoy the XL LW version as much as I do, I have carried it almost daily since I received it. FRN is good stuff.

That said, the regular Stretch 2 does feel a bit more solid (probably due to the extra weight from the liners) and is my go-to folder for when I anticipate rougher use.

Here they are in comparison to the Military 2 and PM2:

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I will agree with earlier commentary in that I have learned to dislike forward choils. They reduce the length of the cutting edge and make the handle a bit awkward to me. If I'm in a rush, I don't want to have to think about how/where I'm going to hold the knife and fiddle around to get it right. I can, however, look past it for these models because they do everything else properly.

Truth be told, I seem to gravitate towards Spyderco's FRN models in almost every instance. If they were to offer any of the above models without the forward choil I think I would have to double my collection right away.

As for the steel options: I love K390 but prefer Cruwear/PD1 as it requires less maintenance. I have, however, been pleased with SPY27 so far and wouldn't hesitate to buy another knife made with it.

In short, you can't go wrong.
 
I own the two knives in my collection. They're essentially the same. The Stretch 2 is comparable in size to the PM2, the XL is more comparable to the larger Military model. Both great knives, it just depends on what feels more comfortable in hand for you.
 
Did anyone here ever play stretch throwing a knife into the ground and requiring your opponent to stretch their leg out that distance?
 
kobold said:
lol, furnace and AC. Sounds like those are nice to have, but do you really NEED them? :)
Click to expand...

Now that it's winter, I can just wear more, so you make a strong point. When spring rolls around and I start sweating, the balance will shift! When rhino sweats, everyone loses!
 
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