Does anyone know if this straight spine stretch is going to be a production piece? I’m not super fond of the white, but I’d buy one a few of these in a heartbeat if they were regular production.
ZDP and green?
K390 and any color at all?
VG10 ?
I’d love to see this become regular production.
I am afraid it will be...
Why "afraid"? Cause as cool the SS Stretch is (I have one), I still love the unique blade shape of the original Stretch and fear it will actually be replaced by the straight spine version. I hope both blade styles will stay, but am pretty sure that a straight spine version will sell a lot better...
Anyway, the good thing really is that the straight spine version finally seems to bring more people trying the Stretch and experiencing its "magic" :)
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
You know that Sal is watching this thread, and the original Stretch blade is his baby, and one that I believe, while quite polarizing, has a following, I’m sure a fan. While the straight spine is cool, it is kind of boring, and nowhere near as interesting to look at as the original. Just carried my G-10 (ZDP) yesterday... I just love that knife.
I received my HAP40 Stretch 1 and it is every bit as incredible as I remember. JMO, but Sal can change the design to meet market changes and I think that I understand the reasoning, but he just can't improve his original design.
Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.
--Wovoka
I received my HAP40 Stretch 1 and it is every bit as incredible as I remember. JMO, but Sal can change the design to meet market changes and I think that I understand the reasoning, but he just can't improve his original design.
Glad you got it! :)
They won´t be around forever I guess, and as we both said earlier in this thread: The combination of this design and the HAP 40 steel is probably as close to perfection as it gets.
Though I carry my VG 10 Stretch 1 more often, I love my HAP 40 one even more.
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
The Stretch 1 was; 1) a bit too small for a large hand to hold the knife without using the finger choil, and 2) the finger choil was not deep enough to serve the function I wanted. Those two design features were, in my opinion, improved on the Stretch 2. It required new tooling, which was expensive, but I felt that the "2" version served the market better, was worth the cost ( to me ) and will permit the model to be around for a longer period of time.
The straight spine Stretch 2 served, in my opinion, a more general market for 1) appearance, which many hold as a high value, and 2) the sharper point which many have asked for. The original Stretch was focused more for the hunter as a blade for skinning, and the narrower blade of the "1" & "2" permitted more easily a change of direction while cutting something like cardboard.
The Stretch 1 was; 1) a bit too small for a large hand to hold the knife without using the finger choil, and 2) the finger choil was not deep enough to serve the function I wanted. Those two design features were, in my opinion, improved on the Stretch 2. It required new tooling, which was expensive, but I felt that the "2" version served the market better, was worth the cost ( to me ) and will permit the model to be around for a longer period of time.
The straight spine Stretch 2 served, in my opinion, a more general market for 1) appearance, which many hold as a high value, and 2) the sharper point which many have asked for. The original Stretch was focused more for the hunter as a blade for skinning, and the narrower blade of the "1" & "2" permitted more easily a change of direction while cutting something like cardboard.
sal
Imho it´s absolutely true that the ergos of the Stretch 2 are even better than the already great ones of the Stretch 1.
Just discovered that again with my Straight Spine Stretch. Now I definitely want both ("1" and "2") in my rotation... the "2" for the best ergos, the "1" for a lot of edge in a small package
Sal, as cool as the straight spine version is, I hope it will not replace the original "hunter" blade style, which I personally like even better.
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
The Stretch 1 was; 1) a bit too small for a large hand to hold the knife without using the finger choil, and 2) the finger choil was not deep enough to serve the function I wanted. Those two design features were, in my opinion, improved on the Stretch 2. It required new tooling, which was expensive, but I felt that the "2" version served the market better, was worth the cost ( to me ) and will permit the model to be around for a longer period of time.
The straight spine Stretch 2 served, in my opinion, a more general market for 1) appearance, which many hold as a high value, and 2) the sharper point which many have asked for. The original Stretch was focused more for the hunter as a blade for skinning, and the narrower blade of the "1" & "2" permitted more easily a change of direction while cutting something like cardboard.
sal
As always, that makes a lot of good sense. Thanks for the kind reply!
Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.
--Wovoka
The stretch 1 HAP40 is in and it feels fantastic. Every time I looked at the pics it never grabbed me. Now that I can hold it in the hand it feels like it was made just for me. I have medium size hands. The blade has a nice thin grind. It is a wonderful design!
One should spend time with a knife before rendering judgement. Out of the box opinions are usual honeymoon responses. Don't forget to follow up once you've figured it out.
Josh, I'm with you. Mine arrived today too, and I'm not sure what to think. The similarities to the PM2 (albeit as a backlock) are compelling. I sold my previous Stretch 1 FRN. But this one is definitely interesting to me. So we'll see.
Josh, I'm with you. Mine arrived today too, and I'm not sure what to think. The similarities to the PM2 (albeit as a backlock) are compelling. I sold my previous Stretch 1 FRN. But this one is definitely interesting to me. So we'll see.
I can tell you I like it a lot better then my Stretch 1. Feels a lot better in my hand now, with the subtle changes Sal made. It’s a fantastic knife and I love the design, I’m just still trying to figure out if I’ll finally get over the FRN and enjoy an FRN knife. It’s going to work with me for a while so I’ll let ya know what I think I’m a couple weeks.
Josh, I'm with you. Mine arrived today too, and I'm not sure what to think. The similarities to the PM2 (albeit as a backlock) are compelling. I sold my previous Stretch 1 FRN. But this one is definitely interesting to me. So we'll see.
I can tell you I like it a lot better then my Stretch 1. Feels a lot better in my hand now, with the subtle changes Sal made. It’s a fantastic knife and I love the design, I’m just still trying to figure out if I’ll finally get over the FRN and enjoy an FRN knife. It’s going to work with me for a while so I’ll let ya know what I think I’m a couple weeks.
Curious to hear your user impressions after a couple weeks. FRN isn't my favorite handle material either, but I do have a couple FRN handled knives that are among my favorite knives anyhow (Native Salt and V Toku Stretch).
Josh, I'm with you. Mine arrived today too, and I'm not sure what to think. The similarities to the PM2 (albeit as a backlock) are compelling. I sold my previous Stretch 1 FRN. But this one is definitely interesting to me. So we'll see.
My two favorite knives in one picture (ok, the Para 3 is growing on me though).
The remarkable similarity to the Stretch was actually my main motivation to pick up a PM2.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.