Stretch 2

Knifeoholic

Knifeoholic

Joined
Feb 8, 2016
Messages
1,145
Hey everyone! Just curious about your thoughts on the new ergonomics of the stretch 2? Does anybody know if there's plans in the works for an FRN version? Also, what are your thoughts on a titanium version of the stretch? Maybe with a little jimping toward the tip of the blade for the forefinger? Anyway let me know what ya think!
 
I believe the production of a frn Stretch2 will largely depend on sales of the current G10 Stretch2 so only time will tell.

There are really three main changes to the new Stretch2. One is the blade shape, one is a longer handle and one is a bigger choil. I do like the new blade shape a lot but also had no issue with the old blade shape. This is subjective but I think I favor the newer shape a little bit. The choil is bigger. Not really deeper but just bigger in most ways. This left me underwhelmed. I wanted it deeper but not really just a little bigger. The handle is also a little longer. The original Stretch fit me very well and this one does too. It seems like someone took a Stretch which fit me perfect with bare hands and made one for me with G10 that would fit me better than the original with a glove on. I definitely don't regret picking up a Stretch2 and enjoy carrying it. It should be a big improvement for those with large hands.
 
I haven't handled a Stretch 2, but would be disappointed if it takes the place of the current FRN Stretch. I personally wouldn't care for a larger handle and think the blade is just fine. If they want to deepen the choil a little bit, that'd be fine with me.
 
Here's a comparison shot of the 3 generations of the Stretch.

3%20Generation%20Stretch%20Compare.JPG


To me, the blade shape changes between them have been minor and inconsequential. The Stretch 2's choil is both larger and deeper than the two previous versions. It does feel a bit more secure to me, although I'd agree with BFK that even deeper would have been nice. The handle is definitely longer. That was a disappointment to me, as the older ones fit my hand perfectly, so this one just takes up more space in my pocket. However, I have fairly small hands so I'm sure it will increase the number of people whose hands it fits.

Took me a while to get use to the differences, but I'd been carrying one Stretch or another almost every day for the past 11 years. Peel ply G-10 is not my thing, but this customized version has seen it's share of pocket time....

SKetchen%20BP%20Stretch_21.JPG


...scales are textured Black Palm, by Steve Sketchen.
 
The Deacon said:
Here's a comparison shot of the 3 generations of the Stretch.

3%20Generation%20Stretch%20Compare.JPG


To me, the blade shape changes between them have been minor and inconsequential. The Stretch 2's choil is both larger and deeper than the two previous versions. It does feel a bit more secure to me, although I'd agree with BFK that even deeper would have been nice. The handle is definitely longer. That was a disappointment to me, as the older ones fit my hand perfectly, so this one just takes up more space in my pocket. However, I have fairly small hands so I'm sure it will increase the number of people whose hands it fits.

Took me a while to get use to the differences, but I'd been carrying one Stretch or another almost every day for the past 11 years. Peel ply G-10 is not my thing, but this customized version has seen it's share of pocket time....

SKetchen%20BP%20Stretch_21.JPG


...scales are textured Black Palm, by Steve Sketchen.
Click to expand...

Those black palm scales have always been a looker. I saw you post this a few months back and I loved them then too.

Is this a recent pic or old. Curious how its held up all this time.
 
I m a little underwhelmed also by the changes in the Stretch2 , given the price tag.
 
Nice piece Deacon!

Hi Darby,

The finger choil on the new stretch 2 is also deeper. That was my first beef with the FRN version. The handle isn't much longer and the blade shape is not a major change.

The new pattern will replace the old FRN pattern. So if the old pattern is preferred, you may want to get one before the new one comes out. Probably a year.

sal
 
Yeah, to be clear the choil is in fact deeper. It is both deeper and longer. The finger guard is also a little bigger which is part of the deeper choil. I guess I was expecting it to be more like the Native5 or Para2's choil when I heard deeper. The new choil is more secure like Deacon said and it is an improvement. I like this thing enough that I am carrying it way more than my Blurple Para2 that I bought the same day. I also agree that nobody should let the changes steer them away from the Stretch 2 if they liked the Stretch because the changes really are pretty subtle. I love the Stretch and have four different ones. ;)

The lighting is terrible in these pics but it shows the choil and handle changes well.

DSC02882_zps8zsaeh4t.jpg


DSC02884_zps3cgmvjtg.jpg
 
Sal Glesser said:
Nice piece Deacon!

Hi Darby,

The finger choil on the new stretch 2 is also deeper. That was my first beef with the FRN version. The handle isn't much longer and the blade shape is not a major change.

The new pattern will replace the old FRN pattern. So if the old pattern is preferred, you may want to get one before the new one comes out. Probably a year.

sal
Click to expand...

That's good to hear Sal. I just got my first Stretch (hap40) and am really enjoying it so far. I had to do a little grinding on the spine to "make it mine" but other than that i'm very pleased with the design. I got to hold the Stretch 2 when I was out in Golden last year and for my hand it is a big improvement. The changes in the handle and choil are not extreme but they make it much more comfortable for me. I'll be getting one when the frn version comes out. Hope you have some more great Japanese steel lined up for us. I'm quite enamored with hap40!
 
And let me take another opportunity to plaster photos of my little mod on the internet since I'm so happy with it. :rolleyes: :D

 
bearfacedkiller said:
......

DSC02884_zps3cgmvjtg.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey Darby, what I really like about the change in the choil is that it makes the handle just a bit narrower at that point. I find the regular Stretch to be a hair too wide there when holding it choked up. Not enough to keep me from liking it, but I appreciate the change.
 
Thanks for all the replies everybody! And thanks for weighing in on it Sal! I'm new to the forums and this is one of the first threads I've started, so it was definitely cool to hear from the man himself!

I've had the Stretch 2 for a few months now and I absolutely love it! As bearfacedkiller had mentioned in his first post, the added length seems to be a nice fit when you are wearing gloves, (as an avid outdoorsman here in the great white north this is good thing). That being said, I still find myself carrying one of my FRN Stretchs quite often. I really love those knives too, now it just takes me longer to decide which one to choose in the morning haha.

Also, that's a really sweet mod you did to the blade Surfingringo, Looks awesome!
 
I like lightweight knives so for me the extra weight of the G10 Stretch would not be an improvement. An FRN version would be interesting. Meanwhile a Superblue Stretch is my most carried field folder. I have a HAP40 on preorder, not sure if it will come through or not.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Nice piece Deacon!

Hi Darby,

The finger choil on the new stretch 2 is also deeper. That was my first beef with the FRN version. The handle isn't much longer and the blade shape is not a major change.

The new pattern will replace the old FRN pattern. So if the old pattern is preferred, you may want to get one before the new one comes out. Probably a year.

sal
Click to expand...

Hey Sal. If that last part is for me then I will say that I do prefer the new version and I already have a few of the old pattern so I am all set there. ;) The changes like you said are subtle but I do believe that they are all improvements. I threw up a pic to clarify that the choil is in fact deeper. I was just hoping it would be even deeper. I am just nitpicking though. I love the choil on the R model as it is deep and the distance from spine to choil is narrow. I like to really pinch the knife when using the choil. I do like the bigger index finger guard and the smaller pinky horn. :thumbup: It is a winner for sure!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top