Spyderco Stretch Blue Nishijin Glass Fiber 3.5" Damascus blade (C90GFBLPD)

[RamZar]

I pre-ordered one of the Spyderco Stretch Blue Nishijin Glass Fiber 3.5" Damascus blade (C90GFBLPD) from BladeHQ today. Any insight on ETA?

Always wanted a Stretch but not a big fan of FRN handles (C90PGRE & C90PBK) so this one with Damascus blade and Blue Nishijin Glass Fiber should fit the bill instead of the original with CF handles (C90CFPE).

 

[RamZar]

I meant to put this in the Spyderco forum: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/726-Spyderco

Can a mod please move it there? Appreciate it.

 

[kershawguy]

I pre-ordered one of the Spyderco Stretch Blue Nishijin Glass Fiber 3.5" Damascus blade (C90GFBLPD) from BladeHQ today. Any insight on ETA?

Always wanted a Stretch but not a big fan of FRN handles (C90PGRE & C90PBK) so this one with Damascus blade and Blue Nishijin Glass Fiber should fit the bill instead of the original with CF handles (C90CFPE).

I have a few of these on order also, sweet looking knives.

 

[Accelerator]

Very nice. Does it list what blade steel the cutting edge is?

 

[RamZar]

Very nice. Does it list what blade steel the cutting edge is?

Here's what it says about the blade:

The blade is a unique VG-10 Damascus steel with fifteen laminated layers of erosive and non-erosive material over a VG-10 core center that come together in a Suminagashi pattern. The erosive layers are hard martensite stainless steel and the non-erosive layers are anti-corrosion nonferrous metal. These layers block carbon particles in the core from spreading to the outer layers. After layering the blade is forged to intentionally distort the layer-lines making a complicated, artistically beautiful pattern called Suminagashi. Suminagashi is a traditional Japanese art form of ripples of Chinese ink on the surface of water. This steel mimics the artistic pattern with interesting results on a knife blade. Once the layers are distorted, the blade is bathed in acid, etching a vivid relief pattern.

 

[J_Curd]

These look super sweet.

 

[Zidfeldts]

That is nice!

 

[retzius]

I am a big fan of the Stretch but I am not too fond of how Spyderco has been pimping out some of its very utilitarian designs like the Delica, Endura, or Stretch. It kind of reminds of what would happen if Liberace decorated a Jeep.

 

[Goosey]

I am a big fan of the Stretch but I am not too fond of how Spyderco has been pimping out some of its very utilitarian designs like the Delica, Endura, or Stretch. It kind of reminds of what would happen if Liberace decorated a Jeep.

I like it, sometimes it seems that all the high-end / "pimped" knives are frame or liner locks, good to have some lockbacks in the mix.

 

[RamZar]

I am a big fan of the Stretch but I am not too fond of how Spyderco has been pimping out some of its very utilitarian designs like the Delica, Endura, or Stretch. It kind of reminds of what would happen if Liberace decorated a Jeep.

The Suminagashi-pattern Damascus blade and the Nishijin-pattern on the handle are Japanese-inspired not Liberace-inspired.

This version of the Stretch features black Nishijin glass fiber handles. The name Nishijin references a specific weave pattern, used in the production of silk Kimono cloth. It is manufactured by weaving glass fibers (thinner than a human hair), together in a geometric pattern and then impregnating the fibers into polymer base. The outcome is a lightweight, ultra-strong handle material that has an attractive three dimension appearance.

The blade is a unique VG-10 Damascus steel with fifteen laminated layers of erosive and non-erosive material over a VG-10 core center that come together in a Suminagashi pattern. The erosive layers are hard martensite stainless steel and the non-erosive layers are anti-corrosion nonferrous metal. These layers block carbon particles in the core from spreading to the outer layers. After layering the blade is forged to intentionally distort the layer-lines making a complicated, artistically beautiful pattern called Suminagashi. Suminagashi is a traditional Japanese art form of ripples of Chinese ink on the surface of water. This steel mimics the artistic pattern with interesting results on a knife blade. Once the layers are distorted, the blade is bathed in acid, etching a vivid relief pattern.

 

[J_Curd]

I'm really surprised these didn't get a bigger following.

 

[Fanglekai]

That looks really cool but I'd hate scratching one up. Plus with the high cost it looks more like a collector's piece than a user. Still always fun to see something different.

 

[RamZar]

Honestly, in my opinion solely, the Japanese Spydercos have become much overpriced. Sal is too loyal to his knife roots.

 

[Cursum Perficio]

I have one of these (in blue), carry and use it as part of my rotation. I really like it, well centered, very smooth, excellent lock up, great ergonomics, overall solid feel, VG10 edge gets very sharp.
I don't mind the marks and scratches that come with use, it's just plain nice to handle and use and therein lies the value of it for me.
The handle scales are very smooth yet it grips securely in hand. It doesn't clip as securely in pocket as FRN or G10 scales do and I'm conscious of that when carrying it.

 

[T_MAC686]

This is a cool looking knife- I've always been a fan of the stretch blade shape but wish it was a little smaller like the Delica

 

[endgamer]

they make a smaller version in sliphoint

 

[SaintlyBrees]

I don't much care for that particular Damascus blade pattern, but I love the Stretch and the blue Nishijin handle (I've got the black Nishijin Dragonfly). I'm thinking about getting one and switching my ZDP-189 Stretch blade into the Nishijin handle. Haven't decided yet....

 

[RamZar]

I like mine for both the Damascus pattern and the Blue Nishijin.

See these two related threads with accompanying pictures:

• Damascus Stretch's
• Blue Nishijin GF VG-10 Damascus Stretch

 

[SaintlyBrees]

I like mine for both the Damascus pattern and the Blue Nishijin.

See these two related threads with accompanying pictures:

• Damascus Stretch's
• Blue Nishijin GF VG-10 Damascus Stretch

I'm familiar with the Damascus pattern as I have an Endura with that same (or very similar) blade pattern. Don't much like it either. I like Damascus normally, but this particular pattern seems darker and far less pleasing to my eye. I guess that is why they have choices.

Anyway, here is a borrowed photo of the same knife that I have:

Same/similar pattern. It is hard for me to find something about a Spyderco knife that I don't like. This is a very rare exception - and it is on a knife that I like very much (I have 3 Stretches, love 'em all) with a handle that I also like very much. In fact that blue Nishijin is gorgeous.

 

[RamZar]

I'm familiar with the Damascus pattern as I have an Endura with that same (or very similar) blade pattern. Don't much like it either. I like Damascus normally, but this particular pattern seems darker and far less pleasing to my eye. I guess that is why they have choices.

Anyway, here is a borrowed photo of the same knife that I have:

Same/similar pattern. It is hard for me to find something about a Spyderco knife that I don't like. This is a very rare exception - and it is on a knife that I like very much (I have 3 Stretches, love 'em all but missed out on the ZDP-189/CF) with a handle that I also like very much. In fact that blue Nishijin is gorgeous.

Admittedly, not the nicest-looking Damascus pattern but if you happen to catch some sunshine rays in the pattern, like I did, it doesn't look half bad.