Spyderco STRETCH FRN

BOOMER52

BOOMER52

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2013
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I've been on a semi-hiatus for the past month or so... finishing off backlogged requests, recharging my batteries and playing a bit with some new projects. One of those projects being the development of CNC machining files for the Stretch.

A Forum brother... deltaoutdoorsman... was generous enough to send me his Stretch FRN for the CAD/CAM/G-code files workup. It take me about 20-30 hours of effort to arrive at machinable code... involving disassembly and scanning of the critical knife components, porting those scans over to a CAD application for tracing and landmark locations, and porting the resulting CAD files over to a CAM application for creation of machinable G-code files. Then you test machine the G-code files and tweak the code where required until you can lock the code down. Et voila... prest-O change-O... new knife added to portfolio!!!

Here's a couple photos of the first set of G-10 scales resulting from that 'not-so-much' magical process. Black textured G10 with G10 coyote liners and back spacer. I did add gimping on the spine behind the blade and threw a few cogs in on the back spacer just because I could...

I just mailed off deltaoutdoorsman's knife so I'm anxious to learn what his opinion will be regarding the execution in G10. One area that might require some additional tweaking is the G10 back spacer. I may need to pin the lower tang of the bar spring slot as they do with the FRN back spacer to strengthen up the blade closure. It is a softer closure as it sits right now... not as snappish as stock. Some may like that... some may not.
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I had never seen in person nor held a Stretch prior to receiving this knife in the mail. It's the hardware that was on the knife when I got it. I do recognize that it's all Spyderco's ubiquitous stainless dome headed D-bolts and button headed Torx screws though...
 
I don't know about deltaoutdoorsman, but that is sweet. The Stretch is one of my favorite knives.
 
OK... yeah... I got the designation wrong. I'm not at all familiar with the Stretch model. Thanks Sharp Guy for keeping things accurate!!

I've edited the original post...
 
Looking good Steve!! I've always liked the stretch! I'm actually making a few scales for some too at the moment.
 
Eric,

With the Stretch liner pocket being identical to and so close to the scale profile my hats off to you for hand milling that pocket...! Slow and steady is the name of that game eh...!

U8r6ZCk.jpg

RReG3Br.jpg
 
Yea I'm really suprised that the small plastic tab that keeps the lock spring in place doesn't break more often. I bought some hardened dowel pins to use with my backspacers to make it more secure and long lasting
 
Very nice Boomer.

The new molds are finished. I received a sample a few weeks ago.

sal
 
Looks fantastic!!!
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Joe
 
I still have to work out the back spacer issue which directly affects the degree of bar spring tension and blade closure strength.

The next set of scales will be hunter orange G10 liners and natural Micarta... you just don't see a great many Stretch knives with Micarta scales. I'll be drill/milling the lower tang on the back spacer to accept a fixation pin which will index into the stainless liners (emulating the stock FRN back spacer with the molded nubs). That will solve the softer closure issue with the current G10 back spacer design. Might even go with a Micarta back spacer...
 
BOOMER52 said:
I still have to work out the back spacer issue which directly affects the degree of bar spring tension and blade closure strength.

The next set of scales will be hunter orange G10 liners and natural Micarta... you just don't see a great many Stretch knives with Micarta scales. I'll be drill/milling the lower tang on the back spacer to accept a fixation pin which will index into the stainless liners (emulating the stock FRN back spacer with the molded nubs). That will solve the softer closure issue with the current G10 back spacer design. Might even go with a Micarta back spacer...
Click to expand...

Well let me know if you need another Stretch to test out upgrades with I'd be glad to help out! :)
 
BOOMER52 said:
I still have to work out the back spacer issue which directly affects the degree of bar spring tension and blade closure strength.

The next set of scales will be hunter orange G10 liners and natural Micarta... you just don't see a great many Stretch knives with Micarta scales. I'll be drill/milling the lower tang on the back spacer to accept a fixation pin which will index into the stainless liners (emulating the stock FRN back spacer with the molded nubs). That will solve the softer closure issue with the current G10 back spacer design. Might even go with a Micarta back spacer...
Click to expand...

Told my idea was perfect ;)
 
Looks great! I was just wondering if your scales are designed in such a way that might make it easier to reassemble (versus lock-bar finnagling with the stock setup)?
 
If by 'lock-bar finagling' you are referring to the assembly of the knife that leaves the lock-bar as the last piece installed with a press insertion and alignment of the hardware holes and d-bolt...??? THEN no. Knife assembly will be identical especially when I incorporate the lower tang pin.
 
Dang, I just bought a Hap40 Orange Stretch. Putting some Micarta on it would be amazing! I've got some of your Delica G10 scales and they are perfect. Probably won't be able to pass up on these once you're ready to sell them.
 
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