Stretch 2 XL in grey G10 and CruWear steel!

[olditguy]

So I did take it apart. My blade was not touching the tube, but there wasn't more than 2 sheets of printer papers room between the two. I took the tube out and now it looks just like my Shaman. I have to say it was quite difficult to get those darn liners back on, and all of the screws are T6 except for the T8 pivot. I'm happy with my CQI! Oh, I did sand down the lanyard tube holes in the liners in case somebody decides to use it someday. The holes were fairly sharp, thus one reason for the tube I suppose.

[ZrowsN1s]

I always assumed sharpening is thre last part of assembly. Which would explain why no one would be alarmed by blade slightly resting on the tube. Them assuming it would clear after sharpening.

[JSumm]

Well, we did ask for as much edge to be packed into the handle as possible.

[kennethsime]

I thought this thread could use some more comparison pics.



Not quite a Military, but man is it close. Fits my hands better, too. And with the deep cary clip, it just disappears in the pocket.

We'll see if the upcoming Millie 2 can knock this one out of my pocket.

[cabfrank]

Great pic. I could see that being my favorite of the four, although all are really nice.

[kennethsime]

Anybody have word on a source for custom scales on this bad boy? Would love to pickup some green canvas micarta. Should be an easy enough job with the full liners.

[CDEP]

I love this knife, and it's a user for me. Mine has the issue, but I don't find it has any impact on the usability of the blade. I went to 15° on mine and can still hear the "tink" when the blade contacts the tube. My plan is to go to 20° on the next sharpening, and then settle back to 17°. After the 15° angle I have to use a loupe to see the little dent in the edge, so I suspect this issue may just sharpen away.

It's Cru-Wear, however, so it will be a minute before I find out.

While I understand the concerns, for me, I'm just not surprised that knives with tolerances like these will sometimes run into issues. We all appreciate the CQI program, and this is one of the reasons it exists.

[Ramonade]

I was on the brink of trying to get this model when a Native 5 in Cruwear just appeared in front of me... Well this will be for another time !

(Well, more realistically I'm bound to buy one that will stay in production, like the VG-10 version)

[Bdubs808]

I too have the lanyard tube issue. I noticed it because I saw a nick in the edge and I knew that I didn't do it, because I pretty much haven't cut anything with the Stretch XL. Then I saw that the lanyard tube has marks on it from where the edge has been whacking it.

[CrustyOtter]

I was on the brink of trying to get this model when a Native 5 in Cruwear just appeared in front of me... Well this will be for another time !

(Well, more realistically I'm bound to buy one that will stay in production, like the VG-10 version)

I wasn't aware there had been a Cruwear Ntive 5. Details and/or pics would be appreciated.
Jack

[CrustyOtter]

Anybody have word on a source for custom scales on this bad boy? Would love to pickup some green canvas micarta. Should be an easy enough job with the full liners.

Same here. It "looks" great with G-10 but I prefer the way micarta feels in hand.
Jack

[CDEP]

I wasn't aware there had been a Cruwear Ntive 5. Details and/or pics would be appreciated.
Jack

[/quote]

KnifeCenter did their Cru-Wear/Smooth Black G10 treatment on the N5 in 2019. I don't have a pic of mine handy, but will ty to throw one up later if nobody else does.

[Ramonade]

I was on the brink of trying to get this model when a Native 5 in Cruwear just appeared in front of me... Well this will be for another time !

(Well, more realistically I'm bound to buy one that will stay in production, like the VG-10 version)

I wasn't aware there had been a Cruwear Ntive 5. Details and/or pics would be appreciated.
Jack

It will be my first exclusive. I always said I wouldn't buy any and import them from an american dealer. Well I did not since a fellow french collector had one to spare . It's a knifecenter exclusive, Cruwear and smooth G10

I do not have it yet so here's a couple of pics from the seller :




Thursday is the day

[CrustyOtter]

I was on the brink of trying to get this model when a Native 5 in Cruwear just appeared in front of me... Well this will be for another time !

(Well, more realistically I'm bound to buy one that will stay in production, like the VG-10 version)

I wasn't aware there had been a Cruwear Ntive 5. Details and/or pics would be appreciated.
Jack

It will be my first exclusive. I always said I wouldn't buy any and import them from an american dealer. Well I did not since a fellow french collector had one to spare . It's a knifecenter exclusive, Cruwear and smooth G10

I do not have it yet so here's a couple of pics from the seller :




Thursday is the day

That's a beauty, congratulations!
Like @kennethsime, I'd like to find a reliable source for aftermarket scales. I know Ripp's Garage Tech does micarta for a few models but I didn't see the S2XL or Native 5 listed.
I'm tempted to see what Cuscadi could do with the S2XL, maybe stabilized buckeye or walnut burl...

[Ramonade]

That's a beauty, congratulations!
Like @kennethsime, I'd like to find a reliable source for aftermarket scales. I know Ripp's Garage Tech does micarta for a few models but I didn't see the S2XL or Native 5 listed.
I'm tempted to see what Cuscadi could do with the S2XL, maybe stabilized buckeye or walnut burl...

Thanks, Cuscadi does beautiful scales for the Native 5. Never used their services before but in Western Europe it's pretty much the go to ! They'll definitely accept to make scales for the Stretch XL G10 model(s), but you might have to send your there if they don't have a sample of their own.

[Wartstein]

...

Thanks, Cuscadi does beautiful scales for the Native 5. Never used their services before but in Western Europe it's pretty much the go to ! They'll definitely accept to make scales for the Stretch XL G10 model(s), but you might have to send your there if they don't have a sample of their own.

Yep, Cuscadi can only be recommended.
I have/had Micarta scales for an Endura and Zirikote wood scales for a Millie made by them. Both really nice.

[Manixguy@1994]

I was on the brink of trying to get this model when a Native 5 in Cruwear just appeared in front of me... Well this will be for another time !

(Well, more realistically I'm bound to buy one that will stay in production, like the VG-10 version)

I wasn't aware there had been a Cruwear Ntive 5. Details and/or pics would be appreciated.
Jack

It will be my first exclusive. I always said I wouldn't buy any and import them from an american dealer. Well I did not since a fellow french collector had one to spare . It's a knifecenter exclusive, Cruwear and smooth G10

I do not have it yet so here's a couple of pics from the seller :




Thursday is the day

That's a beauty, congratulations!
Like @kennethsime, I'd like to find a reliable source for aftermarket scales. I know Ripp's Garage Tech does micarta for a few models but I didn't see the S2XL or Native 5 listed.
I'm tempted to see what Cuscadi could do with the S2XL, maybe stabilized buckeye or walnut burl...

Shoot an email requesting to RGT about Stretch XL scales . A few of us have already sent emails to him asking ( begging ) for some Micarta scales . Never know unless you ask . MG2

[SpyderFreak69]

Guess I was un lucky and have a S2 xl Cru that had terrible bevels (fixed myself), and hits the para tube. You can hear it click the tube when you close it.

If I am careful and just close it slowly it doesn’t hit. So, I’ll use it and sharpen it a few times and hope the tube touching goes away.


It’s kind of a disappointment on such a nice and expensive knife.

[CrustyOtter]

Shoot an email requesting to RGT about Stretch XL scales . A few of us have already sent emails to him asking ( begging ) for some Micarta scales . Never know unless you ask . MG2

Done!
As much as I like Natural and OD green micarta, something in a medium blue denim micarta should be easier to spot if I drop it in the grass or dead leaves while doing yardwork. I lost a vintage Benchmade 750 Pinnacle last Summer while weed eating my M-I-L's property. Luckily my wife found it with a metal detector the next day or it'd still be laying out there... maybe I should consider a lanyard attached to my belt while working outside, my current knife purchases are way too expensive to risk losing like that again.

[Manixguy@1994]

Shoot an email requesting to RGT about Stretch XL scales . A few of us have already sent emails to him asking ( begging ) for some Micarta scales . Never know unless you ask . MG2

Done!
As much as I like Natural and OD green micarta, something in a medium blue denim micarta should be easier to spot if I drop it in the grass or dead leaves while doing yardwork. I lost a vintage Benchmade 750 Pinnacle last Summer while weed eating my M-I-L's property. Luckily my wife found it with a metal detector the next day or it'd still be laying out there... maybe I should consider a lanyard attached to my belt while working outside, my current knife purchases are way too expensive to risk losing like that again.

Well done Jack ! Thank you ! The more interest we show there is a better opportunity . MG2