Stretch or Ritter when the SHTF?

cgmblade

cgmblade

Joined
Jun 4, 2009
Messages
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The Spyderco Stretch and the Ritter RSK MK1 are both great knives, but which would you rather bet your life on?

Let me suggest a hypothetical situation:

Let's say it's early Fall and your small plane has just made an emergency landing/crash into a lake in the Canadian or Alaskan wilderness. You manage to get out safely and swim to shore, but the plane has sunk taking all your gear with it. All you have is what's in the pockets of your wet clothes, and no one will even know you're missing for at least two weeks.

Which knife would you rather have with you: the Ritter or the Stretch?

Stretch_Ritter_a1.jpg


Lock Type
Ritter - axis lock
Stretch - mid back lock

Weight
Ritter - 3.82 oz
Stretch - 3.4 oz

Blade Material
Ritter - S30V
Stretch - VG10

Blade Length
Ritter - 3.44"
Stretch - 3.5"

Stretch_Ritter_a7.jpg


Blade Thickness
Ritter - 2.92mm
Stretch - 3mm

Stretch_Ritter_a3.jpg


Closed Length
Ritter - 4.62"
Stretch - 4.44"

Stretch_Ritter_a4.jpg


Handle Thickness
Ritter - 16.3mm max
Stretch - 11.5mm approx.

As you can see the specs of the knives are very similar in most respects. Even the profile of the cutting edges is almost identical.

Stretch_Ritter_a5.jpg


The Ritter is set for L/R Tip-up carry, while the Stretch is 4-way carry.

Stretch_Ritter_a2.jpg


Stretch_Ritter_a6.jpg


The Ritter has a high flat grind and while I wasn't very impressed with it's cutting/whittling ability when I first got it, I've since reprofiled the edge and it preforms much better.

The Stretch has a FFG blade, and I've used it for a variety of cutting tasks and it has performed flawlessly. At this point I'd say the cutting performance of the two knives is comparable with maybe a very slight advantage to the Stretch, but that's probably more a reflection on my bad sharpening rather than the knife.

Stretch_Ritter_a10.jpg


I am a little concerned about the reliability of the omega springs on the axis lock. I have had one break on a mini Griptilian. BM replaced it, but in a survival situation it could be a problem.

Stretch_Ritter_a8.jpg


Stretch_Ritter_a9.jpg


In the end I think a person would be well served by either of these knives in a survival situation, but the Stretch carries a little better in the pocket and I think the back lock may be more reliable so for me I'd rather have the Stretch.

How about you; which of these knives would you want to bet your life on?




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Functionally, they seem virtually the same. I'd pick the Stretch just because I think it's cooler.:cool:
 
I would go with the Ritter.I like the axis lock.It is orange,thus harder to lose if dropped.And I hope I have a lighter in my pocket!!
 
They seem virtually the same knife. I would also pick the Ritter though, since the bright orange works better for survival purposes. It makes it easier to find when you put it down. Either would work great.
 
How bout a write in vote for the original Manix? One point someone made in another similar thread was do you really want an axis type lock when you are going to likely be using it with very dirty hands?
 
They are both supposed to be amazing knives, but Id take the Stretch. Its basically impossible to sharpen without a grinder or daimonds. VG-10 is much easier to sharpen. I also like lockbacks more in a gritty environment. Basically, you can't go wrong with either.

But overall, I wouldn't fly a plane without a proper fixed blade on my belt or in a Baldric. Thats besides the point of the thread though.
 
I'd prefer the Ritter - I've been wanting a Ritter, but I have a standard Griptilian in 154CM and cannot justify buying it. I prefer the Axis lock to the lockback (I've gotten rid of all my old lockbacks). In the city I also carry a Spydie Millie, but Zhangmaster is right - i wouldn't be caught without a small fixed blade (my Chris Reeve Prof Soldier is another EDC), with a small RC-3 or RC-4 in my GO bag.
 
I'd prefer the Stretch. I prefer a lockback to the Axis lock & I'm better at sharpening VG10 steel than S30V. I'm also one of the few people that find the Griptillian uncomfortable in my hand.
 
I appreciate everyone's comments, and thanks for playing along.

I agree w/ those who said the orange handle would be easier to spot. As I said in the original post, I also agree that the knives are very similar functionally. I am a little pleasantly surprised though that opinions weren't more biased one way or the other. Often in these types of threads there are those who sing the praises of one knife and damn the other. I respect and appreciate the rational and temperate responses of you W&SS experts.

Cheers :)
 
I'd sooner have a small fixed blade or at the least a folder with full length steel liners but if pinned down to an answer to your question I'd go with the Ritter !
 
never used the stretch and I have a griptilian, so i think id have to go with the griptilian on this one. The axis lock is a big plus in my book. with that said, I'm strongly considering a stretch as one of my next knife purchases
 
pitdog said:
I'd sooner have a small fixed blade or at the least a folder with full length steel liners but if pinned down to an answer to your question I'd go with the Ritter !
Click to expand...

Good point. I didn't mention this above, but the Stretch actually has full nested skeletonized stainless steel liners. The Ritter also has liners but they are much smaller and only extend about 3/4 of the handle length.

Edit: One more thing. The jimping on both knives is excellent. Due to the thumb ramp on the Spyderco and its ergonomic handle design the Stretch provides a slightly more secure grip imo, but both are very good.
 
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I've not handled either of those knives, but have handled and owned a fair amount of BM and Spyderco knives. Based on the pics, I'd say Ritter. It looks more refined with smoother radiusing of the edges. I like the Axis lock, and for states/towns that have a limit of 3.5" of blade, this would just pass muster. Plus, I like the orange handle for visibility.
 
personally id go with the stretch but honestly JUST for the opening hole rather than stud. i find it much easier to use in the weak hand. also i find the hole easier to open slowly whereas i can only flick studs and that can be dangerous for me left handed.

edit to add:
however if i had the chance to see how the tangs were shaped and how far back the blade goes into the handle may sway my decision.
 
Spydie for sure, haven't you seen the "101 uses of the spyder hole"? :)


The spyderco has a easier to maintain steel, less moving parts, and IMO better eurgo's.
 
S30V is not hard to sharpen, I don't know what some people are doing with it that makes it seem so hard.

Both locks can fail while I've never seen an omega spring snap (owning/have owned ~7 Benchmades over 10 years) I have seen a Spyderco lock back simply snap, probably bad metal from the supplier.

Benchmade omega issues I've heard of show up very quickly and from what I've garnered it sounded like a bad HT batch.

The point is one omega spring breaking is not as bad as the lock bar or its spring breaking.

The other up side for the axis is you can pop a stick or something behind the axis bar, locking it open, an option not available with the lock back design.

All that being said, I'd take the Ritter because of a better lock that can be gerry rigged, it'll be easier to see if I dropped it, and I don't care for the Hole®.

Good well thought out topic CGMblade!
 
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