Stretch?

[bh49]

This one. FFG, please. Dark green scales with ZDP189 blade

 

[landromus]

"Make a deeper finger choil like the Caly and straighten the spine line the Endura."

Stretch - A cross between a Delica and an Endura, plus a choil. Wow! I had to get one. But I was a bit disappointed.

The blade shape is just fine, I kind of like it. :thumbup:

Two negatives that come to mind at the moment, are the thick flat choil, and the knife when folded is rather deep/wide and takes up a bit too much pocket space. Can the blade tuck into the handle a bit deeper? I still carry the Stretch at times, but go out of my way to avoid choking-up on the choil, and silently sigh and wish it was more effective.

 

[The Deacon]

Also have to consider how they are in the closed position with the Stretch's handle pattern.

All that I modified in those pictures was the spine side of the blade between the tip and the top of the hump. In all three, the tip location and edge outline remain as on the current version, so there would not be any problem with any of them in the closed position, if done that way. Gary Graley and Yablanowitz have both proved that the bottom-most one works in practice as well as on paper. For the record, that version would also be my #1 choice.

 

[dc50]

The Stretch, is still my most cherished Spyderco. I would like to be able to have the choice of models, original or Stretch 2014.

 

[DedRok]

I really like this! Additonally it needs a carbon fiber version with stainless steel liners because I missed out on the stretch 2 CF.

 

[caldwelr]

I completely agree! Except keep the spyder hole the same size.

please no. If anything eliminate the existing choil and build one into the handle that is right under the pivot area. And the blade shape is a very unique one. Please don't change it. Unless it was to make the spydie hole a touch smaller which would nicely reduce the hump just a little.

 

[Bull Mountain Custom]

I really like the 3rd blade shape in Deacon's post. I have a VG10 Stretch that I will be grinding down the spine to look similar. The Stretch is one of my favorite knives and I actually like the choil the way it is currently. The stretch is like the swiss army knife of single blade folding knives, it seems to do all cutting tasks well. One modification that would be nice to see that would set it apart from other FRN models is a wire clip setup for deep pocket carry.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Sounds like a good plan there, here are some images of that mod I did on my CF Stretch;

and here's the before looksee at the blade shape;

G2

 

[Yotee]

As a new Spyderco fan who can not live without a Stretch in his pocket I would hate to see the blade shape change. A good point and a good belly on the same blade is what made me fall in love with this knife. The choil could be deepened I guess but I use it regularly for getting out slivers and fine cutting and have no real complaints. I bought the ZDP-189 steel model and love it but it deserves a higher class steel than even that in my opinion. I've been using my K390 Mule very hard and have been very impressed. Can't imagine being in the woods without it on my belt. (And then the Stretch in my pocket). So A K390 Stretch seems only logical. As a side - the handle on the Stretch is the largest I can flip open without changing my grip slightly to get comfortable after opening. Delica is just a bit better but the blade is a bit small for my needs. The Pacific Salt takes a major hand shift to reposition the blade after opening. Not a big deal day to day but self defense wise it's a very real consideration. Just my 2 cents.

 

[TPVT]

i love the stretch. i got the stretch and PM2 at about the same time and got rid of the stretch. i am now considering getting rid of the PM2 for a new stretch. love the handle shape. fits my hand very well. the only thing i would want changed would be to upgrade the FRN handle scales to G10. i.e. something in between the FRN and CF pricepoints. i would be all over a G10 Stretch.

 

[gkeenang]

Holy moly yes! Please come out in foliage or brown g10!

 

[Edgesnarf]

Sal, that sounds awesome. As comfortable as this knife is I've always thought the choil was too shallow. I'd buy that! Except I like the blade shape the way it is.

 

[VictorLouis]

I think offering one or more additional blade shapes would increase the potential market. Perhaps that should be done first, since it would be less costly to implement.

Couple mockups of potential blade shapes:

I agree with Deacon, perhaps a blade-shape change option first. As for me, I feel the current Stretch is an excellent large blade or use around NKP. The hump before the tip simply makes it appear less....uh, nasty...in profile, compared with the Dyad style. Plus, I have to imagine the humb serves a great deal to re-inforce the point, also. I would cough and gag at the bottom mock-up, widening the blade uselessly, IMO.

 

[mwhich50]

The choil deepening wouldn't change the overall look of the knife, but otherwise I think it is fine the way it is. I like the unique look of the stretch.

 

[conriocht]

Thanx for the input. We wouldn't change the handle from the finger choil back. Only the choil would be deeper, more like the Caly. It has been suggested that we offer both blades. (current and straight spine).

Deepening the choil is a mold change so no going back.

sal

I would love a deeper choil, and as long as the current Stretch blade shape and spine is still available in some capacity, I'd be happy.

 

[FW JSB]

I like the idea.

Unfortunately Endura doesn't have a choil.

I think it's fortunate because the Endura is fine as is. A choil is completely unecessary, IMO.

 

[FW JSB]

As a new Spyderco fan who can not live without a Stretch in his pocket I would hate to see the blade shape change. A good point and a good belly on the same blade is what made me fall in love with this knife. The choil could be deepened I guess but I use it regularly for getting out slivers and fine cutting and have no real complaints. I bought the ZDP-189 steel model and love it but it deserves a higher class steel than even that in my opinion. I've been using my K390 Mule very hard and have been very impressed. Can't imagine being in the woods without it on my belt. (And then the Stretch in my pocket). So A K390 Stretch seems only logical. As a side - the handle on the Stretch is the largest I can flip open without changing my grip slightly to get comfortable after opening. Delica is just a bit better but the blade is a bit small for my needs. The Pacific Salt takes a major hand shift to reposition the blade after opening. Not a big deal day to day but self defense wise it's a very real consideration. Just my 2 cents.

I agree with this. Changing the blade to one of the proposed mods posted here would make it too much like other Spyderco's. That combination of belly and tip really sets the Stretch apart from other models and is highly useful. Spyderco already has many leaf shaped blades. Leave the Stretch's blade alone, though I wouldn't mind some sprint runs with different steels and colors.

 

[The Deacon]

I agree with this. Changing the blade to one of the proposed mods posted here would make it too much like other Spyderco's. That combination of belly and tip really sets the Stretch apart from other models and is highly useful. Spyderco already has many leaf shaped blades. Leave the Stretch's blade alone, though I wouldn't mind some sprint runs with different steels and colors.

Couple things worth keeping in mind. First, and probably most important, is that there's no reason to believe the current Stretch blade shape would be dropped. One or more additional blade shapes would simply expand the number of people to whom the Stretch would appeal. Those who like the original would have the choice to stick with it, or to try something a bit different with the same great handle shape and opening geometry. To me at least, those, more than the spine contour, are what set the Stretch apart from other models. I'm also fairly certain that the only part of the blade shape that would change would be the spine, and only between the tip and the top of the hump. In that case, the belly and the straight portion of the edge would remain as is while the tip became slightly, moderately, or considerably more acute, depending on the shape chosen and assuming Spyderco didn't elect to blunt it as they did with the Delica's and Endura's.

 

[Tanker Bob]

I'm all for improving/updating a design. But I will say that if the CF/ZDP Stretch would have been my first Spydie, it would have been my only one. IMO, it is the perfect balance of good looks, size and ergonomics.

While it wouldn't be my only Spydie, the CF/ZDP Stretch is still my favorite Spydie and most EDCed. There are plenty of other blade shapes on other knives to be had. The elegant curve of the Stretch spine is a thing of beauty. I think that the choil is fine as is with its current jimping, and it esthetically fits the smooth, understated curves of the knife.

 

[L2bravo]

I agree that the larger choil would be a plus but I don't see a real benefit in changing the blade shape. As a matter of fact the only change I would make to the blade, besides maybe a thicker stock, would be to add some jimping on the top.

I agree with shootist, on the heavier version. Make a little beefy version, with a little thicker stock, which I imagine would add a stronger lock, by virtue, and add a little stronger pivot to go with. are they breaking like crazy? No! But this would allow a little entry for this into a little heavier duty EDC. Blade? Leave it. Adding another wouldn't be bad, but current shape is great.

Sal, is it possible to add the beef? Or is that too many variables? I'll buy 5 now. Where do I pay? While we are at disneyland, make mine CPM3V.