Straight Spine Stretch

[Wartstein]

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around. Will definitely get this version. Straight spine + ergos for the win. Would love to see a run in K390!

BBS still has it.... in VG10 and HAP40

[Chris_P_Bacon]

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around.

It's still around if you're willing to pay their shipping.
assuming you're in the USA 86.97 plus 14.99 S&H

http://bentoboxshop.com/

near the bottom of the page

Wartstein beat me to it

[The Deacon]

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around. Will definitely get this version. Straight spine + ergos for the win. Would love to see a run in K390!

BBS still has it.... in VG10 and HAP40

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around.

It's still around if you're willing to pay their shipping.
assuming you're in the USA 86.97 plus 14.99 S&H

http://bentoboxshop.com/

near the bottom of the page

Wartstein beat me to it

They show up occasionally (like right now) on eBay as well, some at decent prices, some at ridiculous ones. Just have to carefully check the auction photos to see if the markings in the oval on the handle say "Spyderco Stretch" and not "Spyderco Stretch 2".

[Cambertree]

Congratulations Deacon! The knife looks great, too.

Despite being a rusted on fan of the Stretch 1, I've become more and more interested in this version of the Stretch.

Is the belly basically the same as the standard 'drop point' Stretches?

[thewoodpecker]

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around. Will definitely get this version. Straight spine + ergos for the win. Would love to see a run in K390!

BBS still has it.... in VG10 and HAP40

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around.

It's still around if you're willing to pay their shipping.
assuming you're in the USA 86.97 plus 14.99 S&H

http://bentoboxshop.com/

near the bottom of the page

Wartstein beat me to it

They show up occasionally (like right now) on eBay as well, some at decent prices, some at ridiculous ones. Just have to carefully check the auction photos to see if the markings in the oval on the handle say "Spyderco Stretch" and not "Spyderco Stretch 2".

I'll keep my eyes peeled. Not quite ready to fork over the $15 s&h to BBS.

[The Deacon]

Congratulations Deacon! The knife looks great, too.

Despite being a rusted on fan of the Stretch 1, I've become more and more interested in this version of the Stretch.

Is the belly basically the same as the standard 'drop point' Stretches?

Yes, the profile of the blade's edge from tang to tip appears to be identical to that of the drop point FRN Stretch 2, only the spine profile is different.

[Cambertree]

Yes, the profile of the blade's edge from tang to tip appears to be identical to that of the drop point FRN Stretch 2, only the spine profile is different.

Very nice. I like that sweep of the edge up to the point.

The similar blade length Caly 3.5 has the belly weighted a bit more towards the choil, and the PM2 has it right about the middle.

I'm eager to hear some comparisons to those two knives in the way it performs.

If it comes out in K390, I'll definitely get one. I like VG10 a lot, I just find it hard to justify another knife in that steel.

[Jazz]

Very nice. Congratulations, Paul, and enjoy it.

[Spydergirl88]

Awesome, Paul. Congrats!

[Wartstein]

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around. Will definitely get this version. Straight spine + ergos for the win. Would love to see a run in K390!

BBS still has it.... in VG10 and HAP40

Still kicking myself for not getting the Stretch 1 when it was around.

It's still around if you're willing to pay their shipping.
assuming you're in the USA 86.97 plus 14.99 S&H

http://bentoboxshop.com/

near the bottom of the page

Wartstein beat me to it

I'll keep my eyes peeled. Not quite ready to fork over the $15 s&h to BBS.

Woodpecker, when it comes to the Stretch 1, I´d swallow the shipping costs... perhaps Sals best design (or to put it better: Imho maybe the best EDC folder on the planet... )
Just my 2c of course.
And if you have REALLY big hands (true XXL or bigger) the Stretch 2 might fit better anyway.

/ Concerning the straight spine Stretch: Looks really nice, I like the color of the scales.

[The Deacon]

I'll keep my eyes peeled. Not quite ready to fork over the $15 s&h to BBS.

It might make there prices more palatable if you consider that most places are asking $94 - $95 for the FRN/VG-10 Stretch 2 and at least some of those places charge you $5 - $7 for shipping on anything under $100, so $102 total from BBS isn't totally outrageous. There's always the alternative of keeping an eye on eBay and other secondary market venues like the BladeForum Exchange.

[Wartstein]

I'll keep my eyes peeled. Not quite ready to fork over the $15 s&h to BBS.

It might make there prices more palatable if you consider that most places are asking $94 - $95 for the FRN/VG-10 Stretch 2 and at least some of those places charge you $5 - $7 for shipping on anything under $100, so $102 total from BBS isn't totally outrageous. There's always the alternative of keeping an eye on eBay and other secondary market venues like the BladeForum Exchange.

Right.
And also or even more so true for the otherwise hard to find (for a reasonable price) HAP 40 Stretch 1: 120 plus 15 is really not too much for what you get...

[Wartstein]

Does anyone know if there is any European store where one could preorder the Straight Spine Stretch? I can find none.

[Wartstein]

Found this on my front porch this morning...
...

Paul, do you happen to have a PM2?

I could imagine that it would be interesting for PM2 owners to see some more comparison pics, since the Straight Spine Stretch is almost similar in most dimensions, and in that the best choice for any PM2 - fan who perhaps wants to try out a similar Seki / backlock knife and/or the (for me) "ergo-magic" of the Stretch...

Generally it is my hope that with this model more people will think about trying this great design.

[The Deacon]

Paul, do you happen to have a PM2?

I could imagine that it would be interesting for PM2 owners to see some more comparison pics, since the Straight Spine Stretch is almost similar in most dimensions, and in that the best choice for any PM2 - fan who perhaps wants to try out a similar Seki / backlock knife and/or the (for me) "ergo-magic" of the Stretch...

Generally it is my hope that with this model more people will think about trying this great design.

Just the Spyderco Forum version...



...and it's my hope as well that the straight spine version will get more people to try the Stretch.

As with most comparison photos, take them with a grain of salt. Perspective is never your friend when taking this kind of photo and, whie I tried my best to shoot straight down with the camera centered above them, I can't guarantee I was 100% successful. Aside from the locks and blade thickness, the most obvious differences are the edge profile and the length of the grip area. It's not a huge difference, but PM2's grip area is closer to that of the "Stretch 1", so the Stretch 2 might work better for someone who finds the PM2's grip a bit cramped.

[Wartstein]

Paul, do you happen to have a PM2?

I could imagine that it would be interesting for PM2 owners to see some more comparison pics, since the Straight Spine Stretch is almost similar in most dimensions, and in that the best choice for any PM2 - fan who perhaps wants to try out a similar Seki / backlock knife and/or the (for me) "ergo-magic" of the Stretch...

Generally it is my hope that with this model more people will think about trying this great design.

Just the Spyderco Forum version...



...and it's my hope as well that the straight spine version will get more people to try the Stretch.

As with most comparison photos, take them with a grain of salt. Perspective is never your friend when taking this kind of photo and, whie I tried my best to shoot straight down with the camera centered above them, I can't guarantee I was 100% successful. Aside from the locks and blade thickness, the most obvious differences are the edge profile and the length of the grip area. It's not a huge difference, but PM2's grip area is closer to that of the "Stretch 1", so the Stretch 2 might work better for someone who finds the PM2's grip a bit cramped.

Thanks, Paul! Well, so let us hope both that your pics will do their part to bring some more people to the Stretch...

Interesting, that you mention the different edge profiles: For me the long totally straight section of the Stretch before the good amount of belly starts, feels noticably different than the rather countinous curve of the PM2 edge.
I personally like the Stretch edge profile a tad better , though of course I can not say it IS better. Yes, and the thinner stock of the Stretch for me is a plus over the PM2.

And,right, the Stretch 2 handle should work great with most hand sizes I think, but people with true XL and larger might like it especially, and probably over the PM2: Not only is the grip area longer, but also the choil a bit wider

[Chris_P_Bacon]

Wartstein thank you for asking for this photo and Deacon thank you for being gracious enough to provide it.

More striking to see those side by side.

It'll be interesting to see how the PM2 LW (Eric is working on) fits into the equation.

[Wartstein]

Wartstein thank you for asking for this photo and Deacon thank you for being gracious enough to provide it.

More striking to see those side by side.

It'll be interesting to see how the PM2 LW (Eric is working on) fits into the equation.

Glad it´s usefull to you (and hopefully others), that's wath I was aiming for when asking Paul for the pics (he kindly provided then).

For me a possible PM2 LW, while VERY similar dimension and probably weight-wise, wouldstill have some distincticve differences to the Straight Spine Stretch, so one almost should get both to decide which one he or she likes better...

In short (PM2 vs Staight Spine Stretch)
- Thicker stock vs thinner stock
- Comp.lock vs backlock
- less grip area vs more grip area (I think XXL and bigger hands will find the Stretch more comfortable??)
- a bit shorter choil vs more generous choil
- edge profile: Countionous curve vs rather long perfectly straight section before the belly
- well, and just different ergos...

I personally probably prefer the Stretch in most, if not all aspects, but there is no "better" or "worse" of course, just personal preferences

[camvdcs]

Just ordered a Stretch Sprint at Bladeops. Looks like they have them because I think page was saying Coming Soon or Out of Stock before. Still hunting for the Shaman Sprint. Good luck.

[abiggs]

Just ordered a Stretch Sprint at Bladeops. Looks like they have them because I think page was saying Coming Soon or Out of Stock before. Still hunting for the Shaman Sprint. Good luck.

Can confirm. I just received my shipping notice from Bladeops. Get 'em while they're hot!