I Like The Stretch!

anthony cheeseboro

anthony cheeseboro

Joined
Aug 8, 1999
Messages
5,094
I just picked up a Stretch today and I am very impressed. This is by far the thinnest and lightest SS Spyderco I have ever seen. The opening is very slich and the kraton definitely gives this knife a great grip. The blade is a thin, long one, not unlike the blade on the Centofante III except is a full flat grind. It never ceases to amaze me how Spyderco can keep reworking the basic lockback concept and come up with such great knives.
 
DARN YOU, I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER KNIFE RIGHT NOW!!!!
This is the one knife that I really didn't want to like, because I like it so much, now that you're telling me how light it is....
doggone it....
sniff, moan, sniffle.....
:(
 
Thank you Anthony. I appreciate your appreciation.

The Stretch design is very refined. We spent several months on the design itself. And the current design is based on 4 prior designs. Everyone involved in the construction of the model also did an excellent job.

Unfortunately, from a sales point of view, it is not loud or flashy. Most knife buyers buy by eye primarily and the Stretch gets little attention. It's not "cool" looking. Once the model is held, carried and used, it takes on a new position of respect.

Hopefully, we willbe able to convince the market that it is a valuable and highly functional design.

sal
 
Are you talking about the holes for changing the clip? If so, I think that's a small price to pay for making a knife lefty friendly.
 
I don't mind the swiss cheese. Love the thiness.Wish the insert was G10, but I LOVE it. Too bad I don't have enough. It'd make a GREAT edc
 
I got mine when they first came out, and it has virtually displaced all the other knives from my EDC rotation. Slim, smooth operating, handle feels just right in my hand and it would take a magician to pack any more blade length into that handle. The kraton works great, and I can live with the looks of it, but in light of Sal's comment I wonder if replacing it with checkered stabilized wood might coax more folks to buy one. Perhaps just checkering the kraton, if that could be done and would be more economical, might increase eye appeal.
 
Paul,

I like the checkering idea, either way. This is truly a special Spyderco. Big enough for large hands, but light enough that it doesn't drag the pants pocket down on trousers.

Kudos Sal - This is an Outstanding knife!!

Chris
 
Sal,

I found that the sticky kraton was the single drawback of the design, it makes the knife hard to get in and out of my pocket. Why was kraton chosen as a material?

On paper, I'd second Deacon's suggestion of replacing the inserts with someting smoother which also adds looks (wood, G10 etc.) ?

Thanks,

Wouter
 
Mr Blonde said:
Sal,
I found that the sticky kraton was the single drawback of the design, it makes the knife hard to get in and out of my pocket. Why was kraton chosen as a material?
Click to expand...
HaHa,
that's nothing, bro.
Be very glad that you never got stuck with a Progrip that had Kraton on the INSIDE of the clip. Biggest Pain I've ever had. Other than that it was a good knife.
 
The steel oval where the clip contacts makes a nice area for engraving. I am just waiting for an event celebrating someone I like enough. :p
 
Hi Wouter. I bent the clip out a l bit on mine to loosen the "grip". Some like more "grip". Some like less.

I selected Kraton because it solved the problem of stainless steel being "slippery". I thought obout a machined texture, but I think the Kraton is more comfortable in use, doesn't damage the pocket like rough texture, and the clip could always be bent to reduce tighter grip.

sal
 
I can't imagine a more perfect folding knife.
Unhappily, I have several almost-perfect knives and not much discretionary money right now, so I guess almost-perfect will have to do for awhile. :)

Actually, I'd put up my Chinook II as another candidate for perfect knife, except I think the Chinook II has too much "presence" for some social settings.
The Persian comes close, but lacks the true ambidexterity of the Chinook II and the Stretch.

Anyway, what a great Christmas (or some other special occasion/event) gift for the right person.
You just couldn't go wrong.
Everything about it looks so perfectly thought-out and executed.
If the recipient liked knives at all, he would immediately recognize this knife as a once-in-a-lifetime special gift.
I think this knife will have collector value someday.
 
Bending out the clip a little eyh? I'll give that a try. I didn't think about that one even though I appreciate that feature on my Chinook II, which came that way out of the box...

Actually, I also didn't stop to think that kraton doesn't damage the pockets, with a tight clip it certainly feels like it does.

Thanks for the tip Sal!

Wouter
 
Ken Cox said:
...If the recipient liked knives at all, he would immediately recognize this knife as a once-in-a-lifetime special gift...
Click to expand...

Very true indeed! And I speak from experience


Wouter
 
Great job on the Stretch Sal! :D

I love mine so much that I bought a spare. It is my most carried EDC large folder now. I did find it slow out of the pocket at first due to the kraton, but I ended up shaving off flush four rows of the 'volcanos' on the clip side ride right around the steel oval. Still grips well to dress pants but now it works great with jeans also.

I think that a limited run with either cocobolo or colored G10 scales would be a hit.

Danny
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top