Spyderco Stretch

AF said:
I am one of the people who find the Stretch's blade shape to be displeasing to the eye. I love the handle shape and its thinness. As with the photo posted above, a blade with less of a dropped point appeals to me more. I carefully ground down the hump on my Stretch and for me the difference is night and day. A slight removal of material and suddenly my ugly but effective Stetch is both functional and beautiful. Just my opinion of course.
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I love my blue FRN ZDP Stretch, and have considered removing the hump. The pointier tip on the Para 2 gets used a lot for things the Stretch can't do. Could you post a pic of your humpless Stretch?
 
Frankly, the Stretch was not as popular as I had hoped. In fact, I lost a bet to Eric and Susan on sales. Mine gets a lot of carry time (BRG-ZDP).

As I remember, we have a higher line version in-the-works. Stretch (regular blade shape), bolster, Takefu Damascus blade. I don't know that we've pulled the trigger yet. We talked about a Super Blue version, but the minimum amount of steel required is a lot at this time. I'm open to discussion though.

sal
 
AF,

Thanks for posting Gary Graley's mod. I like the looks of it a lot and may de-hump my own Stretch.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Frankly, the Stretch was not as popular as I had hoped. In fact, I lost a bet to Eric and Susan on sales. Mine gets a lot of carry time (BRG-ZDP).
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Well, Sal, if it makes you feel any better I love mine. I would take the Stretch over an Endura any day. Perhaps it just got diluted in the offerings. It is a fantastic knife.
 
I love my Stretch FRN. It's been my predominant carry knife for the past two years. I hope it stays in the catalog for a long time.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Frankly, the Stretch was not as popular as I had hoped. In fact, I lost a bet to Eric and Susan on sales. Mine gets a lot of carry time (BRG-ZDP).

As I remember, we have a higher line version in-the-works. Stretch (regular blade shape), bolster, Takefu Damascus blade. I don't know that we've pulled the trigger yet. We talked about a Super Blue version, but the minimum amount of steel required is a lot at this time. I'm open to discussion though.

sal
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Sal,

I never considered purchasing a Stretch due to the blade shape, it just didn't look right to me. That all changed once I handled one and it shot to the top of my must have list. The blade shape doesn't bother me one bit now after handling a Stretch on multiple occasions. In my opinion the biggest detractor from increased sales of the Stretch is due to its looks. Most brick and mortar shops don't carry the model so that customer base doesn't get a chance to handle the Stretch and when looking at the Stretch online it doesn't jump out at you and say try me. It is truely a model you need to handle to appreciate. I think if the Stretch was offered with an additional blade shape like the picture below you would see an uplift in sales. The below photo is not my knife and I did not take the photo.

SpydercoStretch.jpg
 
These three statements right here:
Sal Glesser said:
1.Frankly, the Stretch was not as popular as I had hoped.
2.Mine gets a lot of carry time (BRG-ZDP).
and most importantly
3.I'm open to discussion though.
sal
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1. When have you heard ANY other manufacturer being completely honest about the whys and wherefores of a particular models fate?

2. When have you heard ANY other manufacturers rep, much less the owner, talk about EDC'ing an admittedly not 'top-o-the-line' model?

3. This one just blows me away. The owner is willing to be TALKED INTO producing a knife and gambling that it will sell just well enough to justify the time and effort.

This is a large part of why I have bought more Spydercos in the last year than any other brand, any other brands combined actually.

and finally...my CF Stretch is one of my favorites.
Cheers!
Russel
 
I would love to see a Stretch with a compression lock or even a titanium frame lock. Personally I do not like back lock knives and I am sure there are others that feel the same way. I love the blade shape and I love the ZDP, I don't like $100 knives made with FRN.
 
Sal,

There is a following out there so don't despair. :) I'd have to agree with the other commenter, that if people got a chance to handle the stretch they'd be hooked. I would love to see this in some different steel/scale combinations but damascus and bolsters don't interest me. Super blue and earth brown g10 sounds good though. BTW, three of my favorite spydies are ones with your sig: a paramilitary 2, UKPK drop point and of course the stretch. Thanks a bunch.

Oddly enough, I don't like the ones with hump ground off. I also wasn't overly fond of the original shape until I got one and now I like it just fine but the clincher was how it feels: solid, lightweight and super comfy.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Frankly, the Stretch was not as popular as I had hoped. In fact, I lost a bet to Eric and Susan on sales. Mine gets a lot of carry time (BRG-ZDP).

As I remember, we have a higher line version in-the-works. Stretch (regular blade shape), bolster, Takefu Damascus blade. I don't know that we've pulled the trigger yet. We talked about a Super Blue version, but the minimum amount of steel required is a lot at this time. I'm open to discussion though.

sal
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Sal,
I can only speak for myself, but I looked seriously at the Stretch and did not buy it. The reason? For the same price as the ZDP-189 Stretch, I can get a Para 2 with G10 scales and a lock I like better. They are both 3.5" blades and I think the Para 2 is just a better deal. The VG-10 knife is cheaper, but it isn't enough of a savings to get me to buy it over a Para 2. I think if the street price was closer to a Delica or Endura, it would sell well. I think it is a nice size that fits well between the Delica and Endura but I just don't see it being worth the price. That is just one man's opinion, but it tells you why at least one Stretch didn't sell.
 
Hi Spdct & Davis297,

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

Thanx much for all of the comments and kind words. it's appreciated. We'll keep working with the stretch and refine as we've done in the past.

sal
 
Adding it to the ClipIt list would be amazing Sal. Including G-10. :thumbup: I love the wire clip! Switched my polished clip from my grey UKPK with the blasted one on my Techno. Looks great....the blasted really goes well with the grey handles on the UKPK! And the polished contrasts well with the Techno's stonewashed titanium. Nice!
 
Given the challenges in producing a new Stretch I at least hope to see a SuperBlue/VG10/or ZDP in G10 sometime down the road. I just want to see one made, my preferences notwithstanding. Is it impossible to make the Stretch in Taiwan or Golden, where steel/material choices can be expanded? Sales are ultimately the limiting factor and hope the Stretch continues on and doesn't disappear for an extended amount of time like the Starmate.
 
First off, the unique blade shape is what drew me to the Stretch but I can see how why it is polarizing.

I think the Stretch is also less popular because for a few bucks more, you can get some other higher-end Spyderco's. Paying that much for a Stretch is kind of hard to stomach paying for a knife with FRN to most people. It is odd to me that the Stretch is about $20 more than an Endura. It is made of the same materials and about the same amount of materials if not less than the Endura, and made in the same factory. For me, I basically paid $20 more over an Endura because I liked the looks of the Stretch way more and I prefer choils. I also do like that it is not as popular as other Spyderco models, and its cool knowing that Sal uses the Stretch as one of his common EDC's. I like to think I am in good company when choosing my knives.

Also, why is Super Blue the common steel that keeps being brought up for future use? Is it just because it is Japanese and available for the Stretch? Because I would like to have a Stretch with G10 or Carbon Fiber and one of the newer CTS steels.
 
nccole said:
Also, why is Super Blue the common steel that keeps being brought up for future use? Is it just because it is Japanese and available for the Stretch?
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Exactly. The Japanese feel they make the best steel in the world and insulted if asked to use any foreign steel.
 
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