Stretch 2 CF

[Reeper22]

What are your guy's thoughts on the Stretch 2 in zdp-189 and carbon fiber? I'm considering buying one and just wanted to hear your thoughts.

[NoFair]

It is great.

If you like back locks it might be the best :spyder: in production.

I do sadly prefer frame and liner locks, but I still love mine :D

Sverre

[alexcue]

Ditto, it's a **** of blade and the handle fits my hand like a glove!!!

The CF is outstanding IMO.

[CanisMajor]

My favorite design for a knife. The CF is really grippy, and IMO it looks very good. Blade shape is great, and it has a lot of blade for the handle size. ZDP steel is one of my favorites, and the knife itself is very thin. I can hardly notice it is there. I would say get one, it's truly a great knife.

Here's some influence :) .



Canis

[VashHash]

Excellent knife i love mine for food prep and i use it as my steak knife. It also is a great EDC in general theres not much it can't do. Slim and decent weight and the ZDP holds a **** of a edge. FFG makes it a dream to cut with and the ergos are tops

[Bolster]

Just starting to carry mine. Getting used to 1/2" more blade than my 3" bladed folders, takes a little reorientation.

Trying to decide if I want to continue carrying it. I know it's Sal's "personal" knife and all, but I'm curious why the finger choil is so shallow. I'm spoiled with deep finger choils now, so I'm a little skitterish of my finger sliding onto the blade without a deep choil/ricasso. I wish I could go in and regrind a deeper choil on the Stretch 2.

If I slide my grip back and away from the blade, so my finger's no longer in the choil area but behind the "guard" (for lack of a better word...the downward projection in the handle) then the index finger is crowded by the gentle curve. I need a photo to demonstrate.

This has always been my objection to the Delica...that gentle handle curve leaves the index finger no place comfortable to rest...for me...(I can already hear the rest of the forum shouting me down)...so I repeat: for me, personal preference.

I dunno. I have to carry it some more and see if I fall in love or not.

[Bolster]

Rough idea of what I mean:



Maybe I'm just so accustomed to the Caly 3, I'm having a little difficulty adapting.

[Reeper22]

Just starting to carry mine. Getting used to 1/2" more blade than my 3" bladed folders, takes a little reorientation.

Trying to decide if I want to continue carrying it. I know it's Sal's "personal" knife and all, but I'm curious why the finger choil is so shallow. I'm spoiled with deep finger choils now, so I'm a little skitterish of my finger sliding onto the blade without a deep choil/ricasso. I wish I could go in and regrind a deeper choil on the Stretch 2.

If I slide my grip back and away from the blade, so my finger's no longer in the choil area but behind the "guard" (for lack of a better word...the downward projection in the handle) then the index finger is crowded by the gentle curve. I need a photo to demonstrate.

This has always been my objection to the Delica...that gentle handle curve leaves the index finger no place comfortable to rest...for me...(I can already hear the rest of the forum shouting me down)...so I repeat: for me, personal preference.

I dunno. I have to carry it some more and see if I fall in love or not.

What do you mean Sal's "personal" knife?

Thanks for the responses guys keep them coming.

[damfan]

Just starting to carry mine. Getting used to 1/2" more blade than my 3" bladed folders, takes a little reorientation.

Trying to decide if I want to continue carrying it. I know it's Sal's "personal" knife and all, but I'm curious why the finger choil is so shallow. I'm spoiled with deep finger choils now, so I'm a little skitterish of my finger sliding onto the blade without a deep choil/ricasso. I wish I could go in and regrind a deeper choil on the Stretch 2.

If I slide my grip back and away from the blade, so my finger's no longer in the choil area but behind the "guard" (for lack of a better word...the downward projection in the handle) then the index finger is crowded by the gentle curve. I need a photo to demonstrate.

This has always been my objection to the Delica...that gentle handle curve leaves the index finger no place comfortable to rest...for me...(I can already hear the rest of the forum shouting me down)...so I repeat: for me, personal preference.

I dunno. I have to carry it some more and see if I fall in love or not.

Hi,

I'm not a big fan of the type of CF or the pattern - reminds me too much of G-10 and since G-10 isn't that much weaker or heavier, what's the point?

The weight is the only thing going for it vis a vis the Gayle Bradley, in that size class. ZPD189 and M4 each have their strenghts and weaknesses.

Ergonomics of both are similar (At least for my hands) = both are "weak" in those areas you mention.

I'm so "eh" about the Stretch II that I might not keep it - it's too expensive to just be a drawer queen especially if I don't get that "charge" from just holding it and looking at it either.

But to each their own, of course.

re: Sal's personal knife - the marketing blah blah is that this is Sal's personal favorite knife.

Sal, is this true?

[Bolster]

I'm so "eh" about the Stretch II that I might not keep it - it's too expensive to just be a drawer queen especially if I don't get that "charge" from just holding it and looking at it either.

I'm in exactly the same quandary, thinking exactly the same thing.

[The Deacon]

Hi,

I'm not a big fan of the type of CF or the pattern - reminds me too much of G-10 and since G-10 isn't that much weaker or heavier, what's the point?

The weight is the only thing going for it vis a vis the Gayle Bradley, in that size class. ZPD189 and M4 each have their strenghts and weaknesses.

Ergonomics of both are similar (At least for my hands) = both are "weak" in those areas you mention.

I'm so "eh" about the Stretch II that I might not keep it - it's too expensive to just be a drawer queen especially if I don't get that "charge" from just holding it and looking at it either.

But to each their own, of course.

re: Sal's personal knife - the marketing blah blah is that this is Sal's personal favorite knife.

Sal, is this true?

Amen on the "to each his own". There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that works for everyone. It's one of the reasons Spyderco makes such a wide variety of totally different knives. As an example, plenty of folks rave about the ParaMilitary, while I find it one of the most unnatural feeling knives Spyderco makes. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I find the Stretch to be darn near perfect, although I must admit I prefer the slightly thicker FRN version over the CF one for prolonged use. That's not to say I wouldn't like it even better with a deeper choil and wiithout the Boye dent. Which is perhaps the other universal truth of production knives, there will always be something about them which isn't exactly the way you wish it was.

For me the pluses for the Stretch over the Bradley would be the weight, the choil, the deeper grip area of the handle, full flat grind, stainless steel, flush (or in the case of the FRN version nested) liners, and a lock that can be released even with gloved hands. But, as they say, that's just me. If the Stretch, or any other model for that matter, doesn't work for you there are plenty of other models out there to choose from.

And, although I'm most definitely not Sal, I can say that he's said more than once that he designed the Stretch for himself.

[Hector Castro]

+1 on this knife. It just calls my name and wants me to hold it. I just leave it on the desk next to the computer, so when I am reading, I can pick it up and open, close, open, close. Repeat!

[damfan]

in the world of online communities or nice knives :) I have to say I always read your posts and comments with respect.

Thanks for your comments.

[ChapmanPreferred]

The FRN fits my hand better, but either scale option is a winner.

[zidfeldts]

I have the FRN Stretch 2 in ZDP & VG10, they are both nice.

[mikerestivo]

I thought the Stretch was an ugly looking knife on first seeing one. I couldn't figure out why anyone would prefer this knife based on looks alone. I actually bought one out of sheer curiosity.

So many people praised this knife on the forums, and it had some elements that I like in other models, so I bought one (we don't have a Spyderco dealer in my area with any stock worth mentioning, so if you want to try it, you have to buy it).

The blue FRN ZDP-189 model I got gets a lot of pocket time. It's very versatile and I really like the ergonomics, the weight, and the size. It has been a joy to carry and I am surprised how much I like it.

I have to be a bandwagon-jumper and add that I, too, would prefer a deeper choil.

[MCM]

Great design..........

[yowzer]

I just couldn't justify an extra $50 for carbon fiber that looks like G10, so I went with the FRN ZDP-189 Stretch, and like it a lot. Now, if it was the Sage-type CF, that would have been a lot harder decision.

[TD22057]

For those of you who don't like the look of the stock CF, it's a quick fix w/ some 320 grit paper...

[Bolster]

By gum, I see they changed the thumb jimping from "rough" to "fine." I did not know that. I have an earlier "rough."

D'oh! They did the same thing on the original Manix!