Straight Spine Stretch 2 in Desert Ironwood

[The Deacon]

Received these scales in the mail today from Suingab, put them right on a straight spine Stretch 2...

Pics below are his, with the scales mounted on a regular Stretch 2. Mine show the color better, but am posting these because I think they show the texturing better than mine...

[bearrowland]

Nice!!

[Mike Blue]

Wow that's hard to beat.

[kennethsime]

Very nice Deacon!

How do they feel in hand?

How's the fit?

[The Deacon]

Very nice Deacon!

How do they feel in hand?

How's the fit?

I like the way they feel. IMHO, the Stretch handle shape offers a very secure grip even with smooth scales, but the corrugations give the wood about as much traction as the bi-directional FRN scales have. As for fit, I'd say it's as good as the original FRN scales and backspacer. Recesses for the liners are a perfect depth, his CF backspacer comes with a metal pin in the same location as the studs on the FRN one, and everything lines up as it should.

[kennethsime]

Very nice Deacon!

How do they feel in hand?

How's the fit?

I like the way they feel. IMHO, the Stretch handle shape offers a very secure grip even with smooth scales, but the corrugations give the wood about as much traction as the bi-directional FRN scales have. As for fit, I'd say it's as good as the original FRN scales and backspacer. Recesses for the liners are a perfect depth, his CF backspacer comes with a metal pin in the same location as the studs on the FRN one, and everything lines up as it should.

Looks Fantastic Deacon, thanks for the report.

I put some custom Allen Putnam scales on a Para 3 and felt like the fit was maybe 80% on. They seem to have "settled" after a few weeks, but the fit still isn't perfect around the pivot. Close enough that I'm going to keep them installed, anyway.

[Wartstein]

Received these scales in the mail today from Suingab, put them right on a straight spine Stretch 2...

...

Looks great!!

I´d also love to see that knife opened, maybe you´ĺl find the time to post a pic? :)

[Larry_Mott]

Lovely set of scales! Love the grain and color of desert ironwood.
Can't stand the Ansø pattern though, had two knives with those and sold one and replaced the scales on the other :)
That's purely subjective personal preference though. There's no denying Andrej/Suingab makes top notch scales with "factory" fit and finish!

EDITED, typo..

[The Deacon]

Looks great!!

I´d also love to see that knife opened, maybe you´ĺl find the time to post a pic? :)

Glad you like it. Here' are couple shots of it open...

Lovely set of scales! Love the grain and color of desert ironwood.
Can't stand the Ansø pattern though, had to knives with those and sold one and replaced the scales on the other :)
That's purely subjective personal preference though. There's no denying Andrej/Suingab makes top notch scales with "factory" fit and finish!

No problem, Larry. I find that texture feels good in my hand and makes an already interesting wood grain look even better, but nothing works for everyone. Had a neighbor who thought the Pontiac Aztec was the best looking car GM ever built, so I don't expect everyone to like what I like.

[Wartstein]

Looks great!!

I´d also love to see that knife opened, maybe you´ĺl find the time to post a pic? :)

Glad you like it. Here' are couple shots of it open...

Thanks, Paul, such a beautiful knife!! :)

I still think the Straight Spine Stretch 2 looks more harmonic than the "regular" Stretch 2, due to the very slightly longer blade and the shortened choil in the blade part, which gives it more actual edge. Though just about 2 or 3 mm (more edge) to me that looks perfectly proportioned. (Functionally speaking I still prefer the "curved spine" version)

Lovely set of scales! Love the grain and color of desert ironwood.
Can't stand the Ansø pattern though, had to knives with those and sold one and replaced the scales on the other :)
That's purely subjective personal preference though. There's no denying Andrej/Suingab makes top notch scales with "factory" fit and finish!

No problem, Larry. I find that texture feels good in my hand and makes an already interesting wood grain look even better, but nothing works for everyone. Had a neighbor who thought the Pontiac Aztec was the best looking car GM ever built, so I don't expect everyone to like what I like.

[The Deacon]

Thanks, Paul, such a beautiful knife!! :)

I still think the Straight Spine Stretch 2 looks more harmonic than the "regular" Stretch 2, due to the very slightly longer blade and the shortened choil in the blade part, which gives it more actual edge. Though just about 2 or 3 mm (more edge) to me that looks perfectly proportioned. (Functionally speaking I still prefer the "curved spine" version)

I like both versions, and would love to see a third with the "Gary Graley" / PE Dyad style blade because no one blade shape excels at all tasks. However, I do realize that producing a Stretch 2 like that would be somewhat risky for Spyderco.

[Mr Blonde]

That looks very impressive, nice!