Praise for the Stretch

npueppke · #21

I was comparing it to my Sage (I got them at the same time), and I like the deep choil of the sage much more. Using the knife with the choil would be much more natural if it was deeper... the rest of the handle is so narrow, I think it's kind of an awkward position to have your index finger so much further "down" on the handle. I think that the most natural grip with this knife is the "full fisted" grip without using the thumb ramp or the choil, but with the thumb on top it's more natural in the back position than in the choil.

I think I'm going to use some sandpaper and maybe a hacksaw/dremel (on the liner) to cut a line straight from the end of the jimped metal part of the choil to the groove in the handle. II'm hoping it will make the choil feel deeper, and it'll make the angled protrusion behind the choil more of a smooth curved bump.

THG · #22

npueppke wrote:I was comparing it to my Sage (I got them at the same time), and I like the deep choil of the sage much more. Using the knife with the choil would be much more natural if it was deeper...

Nah, I think choils belong on smaller knives like the Native and Sage and Caly. A bigger knife like the Stretch is kinda awkward with a choil when it could be replaced with more cutting edge.

spoonrobot · #23

I think the choil is the perfect size. Large enough to allow a higher grip with a fair amount of safety and small enough to not really impede the cutting length.

The small increase (looks to be about 1/4") in cutting edge that would come from removing the choil isn't a worth while trade off for me. Rather have the extra grip options and safety/closing factors.

The Deacon · #24

This is another of those "different strokes for different folks" situations. I'm ok with the 50/50 choil on the Stretch the way it is and would never have had any interest in it without one. However, I'd be happy as the proverbial pig in poop if it was as deep as the UKPKDP's. :o :D

THG · #25

spoonrobot wrote:The small increase (looks to be about 1/4") in cutting edge that would come from removing the choil isn't a worth while trade off for me. Rather have the extra grip options and safety/closing factors.

It would increase the cutting edge by about 10%. I think that's quite a bit.

spoonrobot · #26

I believe the increase would be closer to 7-8% but as I stated above, it's not a worth while trade off for me.

npueppke · #27

I would rather have a deeper choil than an extra 1/4" cutting edge, I think that the knife would have to be significantly redesigned to have a larger cutting edge (I think that it would be too easy to accidentally grip it further forward than intended and grasp the cutting edge with your index finger). It really just comes down to personal preference-and as the knife is it is still a highly functional design.

THG · #28

spoonrobot wrote:I believe the increase would be closer to 7-8% but as I stated above, it's not a worth while trade off for me.

Blade = 89mm
Cutting edge = 81mm
Therefore the choil/ricasso = 89mm - 81mm = 8mm

8mm is x% of 81mm cutting edge
8/81 = 0.098765
ANS * 100% = 9.8765%
or about 10%

Either that or I deserve to be failing differential equations :o

But I just read something that Sal had posted a while back: lockback knives require a kick. I had forgotten all about that. If we went with pure cutting edge, then we'd have an edge that smacks against the handle when closed. I guess I'd rather have a choil than that :o

dc50 · #29

THG, for sure you'll get an A from the math teacher, on this one. :D
Now..how much wood can a Woodchuck chuck, if a Woodchuck, chucks wood? :p

Jazz · #30

dc50 wrote:THG, for sure you'll get an A from the math teacher, on this one. :D
Now..how much wood can a Woodchuck chuck, if a Woodchuck, chucks wood? :p

I bet if I ate a toothpick, I could upchuck wood. :D

- best wishes, Jazz.

spoonrobot · #31

Oh. I thought you were using the measurement of a smaller choil I mentioned with an additional 1/4" instead of a straight choil removal.

dc50 · #32

Jazz wrote:I bet if I ate a toothpick, I could upchuck wood. :D

- best wishes, Jazz.

Jazz, you wood at that

The Deacon · #33

Actually, the "gain" would probably be close to 0%. The blade kick has to be were it is in relation to the pivot, or very close to it. So the only way to eliminate the choil/ricasso would be to extend the handle forward to cover it. You'd end up with a knife that would be longer in the pocket without gaining any appreciable amount of cutting edge.

THG · #34

The Deacon wrote:Actually, the "gain" would probably be close to 0%. The blade kick has to be were it is in relation to the pivot, or very close to it. So the only way to eliminate the choil/ricasso would be to extend the handle forward to cover it. You'd end up with a knife that would be longer in the pocket without gaining any appreciable amount of cutting edge.

Yeah, I mentioned that a couple posts up after reading something Sal wrote a while ago.

Sam Vimes · #35

Lose the choil and the Stretch becomes a variation on an Endura theme and another knife I'd have no interest whatsoever in. Please don't lose the choil, just because it's there doesn't mean it has to be used.

THG · #36

Sam Vimes wrote:Lose the choil and the Stretch becomes a variation on an Endura theme and another knife I'd have no interest whatsoever in. Please don't lose the choil, just because it's there doesn't mean it has to be used.

Well since, as we've said, the knife can't go without a kick anyway, we might as well go with some kind of a choil. The Delicas and Enduras could use one if they must have that section without cutting edge. But if it were a liner lock or something else, I'd say go with more edge.

Sam Vimes · #37

THG wrote:Well since, as we've said, the knife can't go without a kick anyway, we might as well go with some kind of a choil. The Delicas and Enduras could use one if they must have that section without cutting edge. But if it were a liner lock or something else, I'd say go with more edge.

Whatever you want bud, just leave the Stretch alone!

:p

npueppke · #38

Yeah it does need something to hit against your finger-if it didn't have a choil and the cutting edge were lengthened, it would need to be re-engineered and it would end up being an Endura variant. I would like it to be a bit deeper, but if it were too much deeper only the very end of the choil would hit your finger instead of the entire face of it when you close the knife.