Got this one in trade a few weeks ago when the 'bay wouldn't let me sell an old butterfly knife. I figured I'd list the Stretch instead- but I think this one is a keeper.
At first I had to wonder why a company that sells 4.5" folders would call a 3.5" knife "Stretch," but now I get it. It has the longest blade to handle ratio of any knife I've ever owned, and is genuinely surprising the first time you open it. The usable blade length is barely distinguishable from my 1st gen Endura wave, and I find the blade design much more utilitarian with a little bit of belly and a full flat grind. Edge retention has been predictably similar.
This is my first experience with Spyderco's latest FRN construction. I'm impressed with the comfort and grip of the new texturing, and while I'm not sure how much strength they add, the metal inserts make me think of it less as a plastic handled knife than the old Endura. The jimping is well-placed and perfectly balances comfort and traction. The choil created by combining a small amount of jimping at the base of the cutting edge and a small portion of handle material is pretty ingenious. You end up with a full 3/4" index finger groove for fine work, but neither the blade nor the handle gets the full length of a choil added to its dimensions. The handle length is dead on. I wear 2x or 3x surgical gloves depending on the weather for a hand size reference. With my thumb on the jimping my pinky barely overhangs the grip, and is still comfortable. With my thumb wrapped in a full grip I can just get all four fingers completely on.
The only major disappointment was that I was looking forward to improved pivot action over the old Endura rivet. Unfortunately the pivot is quite stiff, regardless of lube or pivot screw tightness. I'm guessing that the clip screws might be affecting it (the application for this one necessitates tip-down- I carry it near my neckline in a ballistic vest pocket), but it was also stiff before I moved the clip. It will not flick open with just your thumb, and requires a purposeful accompanying flick of the wrist to open reliably. The Spyder drop method works, but again requires some force. Lock-up is excellent, and I'm happy to own another Spyderco lock-back w/Boyle dent.
Fit, finish, and perceived quality are acceptable, but nothing to write home about. If I'd spent the $80 or so that these seem to be going for new I might be slightly disappointed at first glance that I didn't get more for my money due to the plasticky appearance of the FRN scales, but I don't know what would be objectively better at that price point when you consider the metal liners, design, and ergonomics.
As I said, the Stretch has taken up residence in my vest pocket, which means its my primary "clean" utility knife for half of my life. I keep a Gerber tool on my belt for anything that I wouldn't want touching my food... It replaced an old Blackhawk cheapo frame lock and is a much better knife by every measure. Its more capable, and I use it more often. When I read the description of the knife on Spyderco's website I assumed it was mostly marketing hype, but its dead-on.
At first I had to wonder why a company that sells 4.5" folders would call a 3.5" knife "Stretch," but now I get it. It has the longest blade to handle ratio of any knife I've ever owned, and is genuinely surprising the first time you open it. The usable blade length is barely distinguishable from my 1st gen Endura wave, and I find the blade design much more utilitarian with a little bit of belly and a full flat grind. Edge retention has been predictably similar.
This is my first experience with Spyderco's latest FRN construction. I'm impressed with the comfort and grip of the new texturing, and while I'm not sure how much strength they add, the metal inserts make me think of it less as a plastic handled knife than the old Endura. The jimping is well-placed and perfectly balances comfort and traction. The choil created by combining a small amount of jimping at the base of the cutting edge and a small portion of handle material is pretty ingenious. You end up with a full 3/4" index finger groove for fine work, but neither the blade nor the handle gets the full length of a choil added to its dimensions. The handle length is dead on. I wear 2x or 3x surgical gloves depending on the weather for a hand size reference. With my thumb on the jimping my pinky barely overhangs the grip, and is still comfortable. With my thumb wrapped in a full grip I can just get all four fingers completely on.
The only major disappointment was that I was looking forward to improved pivot action over the old Endura rivet. Unfortunately the pivot is quite stiff, regardless of lube or pivot screw tightness. I'm guessing that the clip screws might be affecting it (the application for this one necessitates tip-down- I carry it near my neckline in a ballistic vest pocket), but it was also stiff before I moved the clip. It will not flick open with just your thumb, and requires a purposeful accompanying flick of the wrist to open reliably. The Spyder drop method works, but again requires some force. Lock-up is excellent, and I'm happy to own another Spyderco lock-back w/Boyle dent.
Fit, finish, and perceived quality are acceptable, but nothing to write home about. If I'd spent the $80 or so that these seem to be going for new I might be slightly disappointed at first glance that I didn't get more for my money due to the plasticky appearance of the FRN scales, but I don't know what would be objectively better at that price point when you consider the metal liners, design, and ergonomics.
As I said, the Stretch has taken up residence in my vest pocket, which means its my primary "clean" utility knife for half of my life. I keep a Gerber tool on my belt for anything that I wouldn't want touching my food... It replaced an old Blackhawk cheapo frame lock and is a much better knife by every measure. Its more capable, and I use it more often. When I read the description of the knife on Spyderco's website I assumed it was mostly marketing hype, but its dead-on.
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