All of the dimensions from the Spyderco website match this knife quite precisely except that currently they list blade length at 3 1/8, it should be 3 ½. The only ones which arent given are as follows:
Handle thickness without the rubber inserts: .300
Handle with the inserts: .330
Handle with the clip and inserts: .478
I find this knife to be very well made in its price class. The blade is centered when closed and the lock up is tight. There is a tiny amount of blade play when the knife is not locked, which I believe is necessary in a lock back without thrust washers. The back spring is flush with the handle when the blade is closed, and very slightly (.005) above the scales when the blade is open. There are quite a few good features about this knife and just a few negatives. The handle is nicely contoured and the rubber inserts give a good grip. The scales have pockets milled into them for the inserts, which should help to keep them from coming loose over time. Being able to mount the clip in any of four positions makes the knife truly ambidextrous. The milling behind the opening hole makes a very nice thumb rest and adds security. The grooves milled into the choil allow you to choke up on the blade comfortably. Although adding the clip is not as comfortable for extended periods of time a going without the clip, it is still quite ergonomic when installed. The overall finish is well done and even, as are the blade grinds. The blade has an interesting orange peel finish, similar to what D2 often does. Being all stainless steel, the knife is hefty and quite solid; I placed the blade in a padded vice and gave the handle some fairly stout twists without any significant flex or loosening of the pivot.
I havent spent any time with Spyderco products in the past, so this has been a very interesting experience for me. I have to agree with Spyderco that the opening hole is a very nice way to make a knife one hand opening. The 9/16 diameter hole was very easy and comfortable to use, even for repeated openings and closings. I could also open and close this knife with heavy winter gloves on with no problems. Closing a mid-lock like this is quite simple with one hand as well, simple press the lock and let the blade fall, then close the rest of the way. As long as you keep the handle parallel to the ground so the blade only falls 90 degrees, or you keep your index finger toward the front of the handle, (this way the choil bumps you finger instead of the serrations) the edge wont hit you fingers.
The only true negatives that I could find on this sample are that I would put a slightly larger radius on the edges of the lock bar where the thumb makes contact and I would also do a better job at smoothing out the inside edges of the handle slabs. Both of these are items that I would not necessarily expect on a knife at this price level, but would be nice additions. The rubber inserts also add to the grip of the knife as well as the grip in your pocket. I carried the knife most of the time without the clip, as I found it to difficult to pull out of my pocket easily; this, however, is more a matter of personal taste than anything.
As far as taste goes, I find the knife a bit thin in the hand, but this makes it that much more comfortable in the pocket; and we carry our knives in our pockets much more than we use them in our hands. If you are looking for a thin, solid knife with a 3 ½ blade, the Stretch is definitely worth a look.
Handle thickness without the rubber inserts: .300
Handle with the inserts: .330
Handle with the clip and inserts: .478
I find this knife to be very well made in its price class. The blade is centered when closed and the lock up is tight. There is a tiny amount of blade play when the knife is not locked, which I believe is necessary in a lock back without thrust washers. The back spring is flush with the handle when the blade is closed, and very slightly (.005) above the scales when the blade is open. There are quite a few good features about this knife and just a few negatives. The handle is nicely contoured and the rubber inserts give a good grip. The scales have pockets milled into them for the inserts, which should help to keep them from coming loose over time. Being able to mount the clip in any of four positions makes the knife truly ambidextrous. The milling behind the opening hole makes a very nice thumb rest and adds security. The grooves milled into the choil allow you to choke up on the blade comfortably. Although adding the clip is not as comfortable for extended periods of time a going without the clip, it is still quite ergonomic when installed. The overall finish is well done and even, as are the blade grinds. The blade has an interesting orange peel finish, similar to what D2 often does. Being all stainless steel, the knife is hefty and quite solid; I placed the blade in a padded vice and gave the handle some fairly stout twists without any significant flex or loosening of the pivot.
I havent spent any time with Spyderco products in the past, so this has been a very interesting experience for me. I have to agree with Spyderco that the opening hole is a very nice way to make a knife one hand opening. The 9/16 diameter hole was very easy and comfortable to use, even for repeated openings and closings. I could also open and close this knife with heavy winter gloves on with no problems. Closing a mid-lock like this is quite simple with one hand as well, simple press the lock and let the blade fall, then close the rest of the way. As long as you keep the handle parallel to the ground so the blade only falls 90 degrees, or you keep your index finger toward the front of the handle, (this way the choil bumps you finger instead of the serrations) the edge wont hit you fingers.
The only true negatives that I could find on this sample are that I would put a slightly larger radius on the edges of the lock bar where the thumb makes contact and I would also do a better job at smoothing out the inside edges of the handle slabs. Both of these are items that I would not necessarily expect on a knife at this price level, but would be nice additions. The rubber inserts also add to the grip of the knife as well as the grip in your pocket. I carried the knife most of the time without the clip, as I found it to difficult to pull out of my pocket easily; this, however, is more a matter of personal taste than anything.
As far as taste goes, I find the knife a bit thin in the hand, but this makes it that much more comfortable in the pocket; and we carry our knives in our pockets much more than we use them in our hands. If you are looking for a thin, solid knife with a 3 ½ blade, the Stretch is definitely worth a look.
