Comparison & Pic request: UKPK Drop Point + Stretch II

Shifty · #1

I would like to pick up a drop point blade in either the Stretch II or UKPK Drop Point. Would someone be willing to post a side by side, or rather... top and bottom, picture comparing these two knives?

For those who have handled both... what differences stood out for you? Aside from the obvious (steel, handle material, blade length). Do you find yourself wishing the Stretch II had a deeper finger choil like the UKPK? I have read everything I can about the Stretch II, and it seems to have an absolutely stellar reputation, but I haven't heard much about the UKPK Drop Point.

Thanks!

SmoothOne25 · #2

shifty,
i have the ukpk drop point and the blue strecth and the 3 black strecthes and the cf stretch. what compare pics do you want specificaly?

The Deacon · #3

[CENTER]

[/CENTER]

Given the choice I will take a locking folder over a non-locking one every time. Aside from that, the larger handle of the Stretch II feels better in my hand, the larger Spyderhole makes it easier for me to open and, if I get the urge to carry it clipped, has the option for tip down carry which I prefer.

Yes, I do wish the choil were a bit deeper. However, I can live with it the way it is and suspect it could not be made deeper without causing other changes which I might not appreciate.

SmoothOne25 · #4

here shifty. i will do what paul didn't do. i also have the se and ce black. love all of them but they are collector knives. these i dont use, just my half dozen "beaters" that i edc. EVERYTHING else i buy to collect and straight into my collector case. almost 150 spydies not being used. just sitting there. ten grand with no purpose but to make me happy that i know they are there. and yes i will catch **** from a lot of people about "use the knife-its what it was made for" "rather work then look cool in a case" "you are wasting your spydies" etc. so for everyday use i really cant comment to much. the stretch blue is why i bought it and the cf was cool too. the pe, ce, se were a set. i got them cheap and i had to get all of them. love and carry a second ukpk drop point that i use, the drop point make no difference in the actual cutting imho. take care. you need more pics just let me know.
and as always, shifty, i am sorry for the quality of the pics. still the crappy camera

SmoothOne25 · #5

more. more. more, yeah i want more more more more!!!! :D

you know that song- from the 80's...

SmoothOne25 · #6

before you ask.... its specks of tissues. i always wipe them down before the photo! :D

FIMS · #7

These blade styles are drop dead sexy.

Blerv · #8

I didn't realize until the pics above how much more agressive the stretch's bolstering is. It makes sence as the ukpk is more or less a skipjoints caly3 handle with a deeper choil.

I personally don't like using a choil grip except for a few knives (Lava, etc). It makes sense with Slipits as the choil offers a safety with your index finger. On locking knives I like it when you can give it a white knuckled saber or hammer grip behind the pivot. It lends itself to more intense uses.

Shifty · #9

Thanks for the great pics Deacon and SmoothOne!

I agree on the lock issue. I would also choose a locking folder over a slipjoint. I think the Stretch is winning for me so far. It's $20 cheaper, the scales are FRN which I LOVE, it's a lock back, and something about the handle just looks like it would just click right into your hand. Only negative I can think of is the blade length. It's a bit long for me. That's the only thing that would hold me back from buying it.

I'll have to wait a few weeks to handle one, but it looks very promising.

How useful is this drop point blade style for EDC?

SmoothOne25 · #10

blerv what is bolstering? in the sense you are using it for knife describing...

Blerv · #11

Sorry my terminology is prob wrong. I'm refering to the handle "swoop" on the stretch near the pivot that locks your hand from sliding forward. It's pretty deep and secure when your holding the knife in a non choked-up grip.

I find some handles that urge use of the choil less comfy in a "hard use" grip.

kbuzbee · #12

Shifty wrote:How useful is this drop point blade style for EDC?

My favorite blade shape for EDC - BY FAR!

It just does everything well. Okay, not pull cuts on rope as well as a Hawk - but everything else.

UKPKDP is one of my favorite designs, period.

Ken

thebestnoobcake · #13

If the choil on the Stretch was deepened, It would make it look ugly when it is closed. The choil matches up nicely with the thumb ramp.

PS, has anyone else noticed that the distance from the edge of the opening hole closest to the pivot to the pivot (if that makes sense) is verry close on the rescue, stretch, endura and urban are the same? they are the only ones i grabbed when i thought of this.. could someone else check their spydies for any design similarities?

The Deacon · #14

thebestnoobcake wrote:PS, has anyone else noticed that the distance from the edge of the opening hole closest to the pivot to the pivot (if that makes sense) is verry close on the rescue, stretch, endura and urban are the same? they are the only ones i grabbed when i thought of this.. could someone else check their spydies for any design similarities?

Yes, I've noticed, and commented on that before, although I usually describe it as the distance from the center of the pivot bolt to the center of the Spyderhole. That distance determines what I call the "throw", the arc your thumb needs to travel to open the knife normally.

Some models have a much longer throw than others and some combine a longer throw with a handle shape that forces a longer "reach" by positioning the hand too far back for my thumb to remain comfortably in the Spyderhole until the knife is fully open. One of the things which make the Stretch my favorite is the combination of short throw and short reach its handle shape provides and which, in turn, make the opening motion very smooth and natural for me.

JaM · #15

Thanks for the pictures Paul, I thnk I've just decided to get a Stretch II. :)

Love FFG, love the FRN, and the choil is probably a bonus.
Now I hope I can get a VG-10 one with blue scales... :D but I will probably settle for a black one.