Photo request, comparing Stretch II with the FRN Stretch

[Gary W. Graley]

New Graham Knives came through with shining stars, as the box arrived today

Here are some shots taken this afternoon, VERY nice knife and agree with
all the comments I've read so far.
The edge is a little thick, but not overly so, still slices extremely well !
So colour me keen

shot of the edge, you can see a bit how thick it is from the flats of the bevels

very nice contour to the grip/guard area, some knives have TOO gradual a grip
and you find yourself too far back on the handle, this is about as good as it gets!

I will probably get the Carbon Fiber one but it will certainly have to wait, takes
a while for that money tree to blossom, plus I need to be home when it does
as people driving by just like to help themselves

G2

edited to add a close up of the texture that is put into the handles, very grippy

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Only had her a few hours but here are some thoughts regarding this new to me knife
also sliced up a nice juicy strawberry with it earlier, just had to

When closed, you have a smooth contour around the entire knife
nothing that sticks out against you, nice touch and elegant to look at
but then Spyderco and crew tend to design a lot of their knives in this manner!

The edge, I love the fact that they ran the edge bevels all the way up and
did not put in a small cutout before it starts, I really hate it when a blade has
that, the notch tends to get caught in the material as you go to cut, this blade
you can go to work and never a worry about getting it hung up on that

The 4 way clip mounting, very considerate of them to do so, I like it with tip up
so I can use the lanyard hole to it's fullest potential which is another nice feature
they made the clip so the lanyard hole is still accessible when it's mounted there.

The Spydy hole verses a thumbstud, several good things regarding that, ease of
opening, even with gloves on, depending on the size of course. And also when
sharpening, a thumbstud can be in the way of sharpening stones, the hole
elminates that problem entirely.

The Boye Detent midlock, I like the fact that they do give written credit for that as they
could probably just pay what ever royalties that are associated with it's use and not make mention, but they do.

Plus the lock back itself, pretty secure in it's locking mech, ease of closing as well, always liked the mid lock.

and last, at least for now, the addition of steel liners inside for a frame, with
lightening holes but you have a bit more than just FRN for it's makeup, which
provides a little stronger overall frame system. It is a very light but strong feeling knife.

Very nice job! Quite pleased with this purchase!

G2

 

[raindog101]

I have no clue as to how one would show edge thickness in a photo. More FRN Stretch photos HERE.

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

Paul,
You wouldn't happen to have a CF Caly3 hanging around that you could compare thickness-wise to the Stretch II, would you? I'm on the fence between the CF and FRN Stretches, but I like the notion of a Stretch as thin as my Caly3 CF... And BTW, congrats Gary, love the new addition!

 

[Jake Bauer]

Wow Gary, thanks! Great pics and review!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

You're welcome Jack!

And one final thing I noticed about the build of these folders
a minor thing but it was a nice touch, the screws used to fasten
them together, Spyderco has the allen heads on the back side
if you are right handed, they will be facing towards your palm
along with the clip.
Everytime I got a Sebenza I would switch the screws around so
the smooth sides would be on the side you see when holding the
knife, just makes for a nicer overall look to the knife, kudos again to Spyderco
for this extra little bit
G2

 

[THG]

The edge, I love the fact that they ran the edge bevels all the way up and
did not put in a small cutout before it starts, I really hate it when a blade has
that, the notch tends to get caught in the material as you go to cut, this blade
you can go to work and never a worry about getting it hung up on that

I would actually like that cut out for a couple reasons:

1. Then I can use a Sharpmaker that will sharpen the entire edge (the ricasso gets in the way for a small section of the edge to get sharpened).

2. Spyderco tends to keep a small part of the edge right next to the ricasso thick (not sharpened to an edge). This makes it difficult to sharpen with a flat stone; there ends up being a concave section until you raise an edge on that thick portion. I HATE this.

 

[Josh K]

You're welcome Jack!

And one final thing I noticed about the build of these folders
a minor thing but it was a nice touch, the screws used to fasten
them together, Spyderco has the allen heads on the back side
if you are right handed, they will be facing towards your palm
along with the clip.
Everytime I got a Sebenza I would switch the screws around so
the smooth sides would be on the side you see when holding the
knife, just makes for a nicer overall look to the knife, kudos again to Spyderco
for this extra little bit
G2

I remember something special about those screws, being round on one side with the TORX head on the other.

Can't put my finger on what it is exactly though.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I would actually like that cut out for a couple reasons:

1. Then I can use a Sharpmaker that will sharpen the entire edge (the ricasso gets in the way for a small section of the edge to get sharpened).

2. Spyderco tends to keep a small part of the edge right next to the ricasso thick (not sharpened to an edge). This makes it difficult to sharpen with a flat stone; there ends up being a concave section until you raise an edge on that thick portion. I HATE this.

THG...think about that for a second, IF there was a cutout,
there would be nothing to be sharp there anyways, so, if you pretend
that the notch is there, meaning just sharpen as best you can as
close as you can get, you aren't losing anything, BUT gaining in that
you won't be hanging up the knife when you go to cut and to me that
can be dangerous. It's one pet peeve that for me isn't just cosmetic
but non user friendly.

But I know it is quite controversial, I sharpen using many different tools/stones
ceramic rods and strops and I've not found it to be a detriment not having the
cut out at all, but again, that's just me
G2

 

[The Deacon]

The "Spanish notch" is definitely one of the many polarizing topics in the knife world. I'm a bit of a mugwump, when it comes to them. On the one hand, I like them for purely esthetic reasons. IMHO, they do give the knife a more finished look, since a blade without one almost inevitably has a less than perfect transition between the tang and the sharpened edge. On the other, I agree with Gary that, from a practical standpoint they can be downright annoying at times when cutting. Something as simple as opening a letter works better without the notch. As for sharpening, I'm not in full agreement with him. There are times where the rough transitional spot snags on the edge of a stone. Not a really big deal, more of a minor annoyance, but can't recall that ever happening while sharpening a Kiwi.

I'd consider the presence of a notch to be a plus on a "collectible" knife and its absence to be a plus on one I wanted for EDC, but the reverse is not a deal breaker in either case. Love my Kiwis in spite of it, but am very happy the Stretch II and Caly 3 don't have one. Hope the mid-lock Sage, when it arrives, will emulate its Walker and Reeve lock counterparts in that regard as well.

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

 

[THG]

THG...think about that for a second, IF there was a cutout,
there would be nothing to be sharp there anyways, so, if you pretend
that the notch is there, meaning just sharpen as best you can as
close as you can get, you aren't losing anything, BUT gaining in that
you won't be hanging up the knife when you go to cut and to me that
can be dangerous. It's one pet peeve that for me isn't just cosmetic
but non user friendly.

I have thought about that, actually, and I still would prefer the notch ("sharpening choil," I think they call it.) If there's nothing there, then I can sharpen the entire edge correctly. If there is a hunk of thick, unsharpened steel, then it's going to give me a big convex area on the bevels, and the edge won't get sharpened.

I'd personally rather deal with a "hole" in the edge and just start cutting further up the blade than to have a thick spot.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

And that's why it's controversial

all a matter of preference, good for me, not good
for others, I guess one could always use a very small
round file to put that in.
G2

 

[hardheart]

just thin out the edge all the way up to the ricasso

 

[gunmike1]

just thin out the edge all the way up to the ricasso

That is what I do.

Mike

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks guys, we'll just leave the edge to another thread

I did press cut easily down through a thick phone book this morning
gave the resulting little book to a lady in purchasing, as a quick
pocket book size phone book
A lot of knives don't like press cutting down through material easily
this one didn't have that trouble...
G2

 

[Gary W. Graley]

And now, I have a Carbon Fiber ZDP with old style jimping inbound
that'll be nice !
G2

 

[gunmike1]

And now, I have a Carbon Fiber ZDP with old style jimbing inbound
that'll be nice !
G2

Congrats! You are really going to like the Stretch CF and the greatness that is ZDP 189, I know that knife is one of my top all time great knives. I just resharpened mine this weekend and brought it's 7 degree per side bevel up to 16000 grit on my brand new Shapton Glasstone 16K. Talk about a mirrored edge, it shames my previous 8000 grit bevel badly. The k edge was a mirror as well, but the .92 micron 16K Glasstone brings it to another level. I finished on .3 and .05 micron lapping film at a slightly higher angle and now my Stretch CF is ready for some serious cutting again after getting brought to mere shaving sharpness after some EDC cutting over the last couple weeks. It can't wait for it's ZDP/FRN brother to join it. Every time I look at pictures of the FRN Stretch I have to restrain myself from buying it because I know it is coming out in ZDP 189 shortly, and I just love ZDP 189.

Mike

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks Mike, looking forward to that for sure, I'll probably hang onto the FRN model
as well, just love the blade and handle shape, a great EDC.
G2

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Got the ZDP one today, very nice,
grippy scales
thinner handles
thinner blade not a lot thinner edged but a little
ZDP blade, I can tell that rascal is a HARD sucker! diamonds will be the order of the day I'm sure!

Very nice knife!
G2

 

[dc50]

Thanks Mike, looking forward to that for sure, I'll probably hang onto the FRN model
as well, just love the blade and handle shape, a great EDC.
G2

Received my FRN Stretch Tuesday, I'll tell you what, this is without a doubt one of the best edc 3.5" carrys out there. Sure I have the CF model, but the FRN will be the bull worker.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

My pockets are really having trouble deciding what to put where!!!


Here are a few shots of what they are having to contend with lately!
Spyderco Stretch FRN with VG-10
Spyderco Orange Military, S30v, very nice!
Spyderco Carbon Fiber Stretch with ZDP-189 wow
Buck Vantage Pro, S30v also a rugged knife

and just the Milly and CF Stretch

and putting them on their backs too

Nice knives, right now about all are riding in various pockets !
G2