F&F on CF Stretch

-F1 · #1

I just got a CF Stretch (C90CFPE) today. (New--nominally, at least--not used.) I had seen lots of video reviews and read lots of posts and seen lots of pics. Everyone raved and bragged about how great the F&F was.

Well, the images attached show what I got. You tell me if you would be OK with it. The first thing I noticed was the obvious gap in the upper/right liner. The other three liner areas are perfect, but that one looks like an empty napkin holder.

It's hard to see in the pics, but there's a Uish-shaped scratch on the liner (it's near the left/bottom of the pics, near that annoying piece of fuzz I didn't notice when I took the pics).

There was also a grinding noise when the knife was first opened/closed. It seemed to get better after a few times. The blade was also the least well centered of my three Stretches and actually the least well centered of any Spyderco I've had (no photos of that).

MIL-DOT · #2

Considering how precise all of mine have been , I would be more than a bit annoyed with that. It's a PITA, but I think I'd send it back if/while you have the opportunity. If you don't, you know good and well that it'll get under your skin even more, and you'll later regret not trading it in for one that looks like it should.

nakahoshi · #3

I have 2 CF stretches and they both look just like that. (The gap, not the scratch) It doesn't bother me that much but I did attempt to correct it on one of them.

I took one apart and there was a lot of grime and some metal shavings around the lock and pivot. I cleaned it out and lightly sanded some surfaces and the action improved greatly. Its a joy to open now but that small gap is still there. I do not know what causes it, I think it may be the washer.

My other CF Stretch that I have not opened up, it was also gritty out of the box but after opening and closing it a bunch of times that cleared up and its very smooth.

I was not impressed at first after spending so much, but after taking the time to open it up and clean it out (Not that you should have to do this), I love it. Its my favorite Spyderco by far.

(Also, both were dead centered out of the box)

Has anyone repaired this issue? How did you do it?

Good Luck
-Bobby

rg02 · #4

MIL-DOT wrote:Considering how precise all of mine have been , I would be more than a bit annoyed with that. It's a PITA, but I think I'd send it back if/while you have the opportunity. If you don't, you know good and well that it'll get under your skin even more, and you'll later regret not trading it in for one that looks like it should.

Agreed. I just sent back a Sage 3 that had seems like that on the backspacer. Knife functioned perfectly but I couldn't get over the visible seams!

DiKa · #5

I would say, depends on how much you spent. If you spent what they are going for right now, it would have bothered me a lot. As an example, last month, I got a Kiwi CF for $50, which has a minor scratch. but it does not bother me for this price.

nakahoshi · #6

Maybe I am not as picky as some

-Bobby

rondv · #7

I agree that the scratch would bother me but not as much as the open seam. I just got a G-10 D'fly with liners and the back looks like one piece of metal.
Good Luck!

Ron

Redeye · #8

Your Stretches are truly beautiful nakahoshi, but if those knives were mine the gaps would prevent me from enjoying them and I wouldn't keep them.

mikerestivo · #9

I can't see what you are referring to in the photos. Do you have others that you could post?

-F1 · #10

mikerestivo wrote:I can't see what you are referring to in the photos. Do you have others that you could post?

I'm sorry--can't see what? The gap is easy to see, I think. The scratch isn't as easy to see but you can make it out. I should have photographed the blade but didn't. It's in a box now...

I'm assuming nakahoshi swapped one of the black clips for an unpainted one.

MIL-DOT · #11

mikerestivo wrote:I can't see what you are referring to in the photos. Do you have others that you could post?

What is being referred to would be the giant chasms that look like the Grand Canyon as seen from an airliner at 30K feet, that run the length of the knife's back ( as seen in photo A and B ). The ones that should NOT be there at all. NOT AT ALL. Not even a little. Yeah.....them. :D

Bearcat1 · #12

I have two CF Stretches. One has a date code of AJ and the other is KH. Mine have a slight gap between the back lock and the liner on one side. Mine seem to be worse once the blade is locked. I noticed it, but it never really bothered me that much. Funny side note neither of my knives have Sal's insignia on the blades. My FRN versions do have the insignia.

If the scratch bothers you take some Flitz on a Q-tip and rub the affected area.

I am not sure sending the knives back to Golden is going to remedy these shortcomings you note. Do you think they will make a new back lock to fit in between the liners that is better than what you have now? I honestly do not know what they would do to remedy this, but maybe someone else could confirm how they fix this situation.

I understand where you are coming from, but these are ~$180 production knives. At the end of the day you have carbon fiber scales with an exceptional blade steel in a nice package for $180. I do not own any custom knives, but I expect you could spend a lot more and still find some things you would not like on a knife.

I guess if you are not happy then sell the knife.

Jay_Ev · #13

I gotta say, yeah, that would bother me. Now that you know that flaw is there, you will never be able to un-see it and your attention is going to be drawn to it every time you use / handle that knife. Send it back, you will never be 100% happy with it in that condition.

And you better brace yourself, get ready for the influx of responses saying "quit being picky" or "it isn't a $500 custom" or "it's perfectly acceptable for a production knife" etc etc...

mikerestivo · #14

-F1 wrote:I'm sorry--can't see what? The gap is easy to see, I think. The scratch isn't as easy to see but you can make it out. I should have photographed the blade but didn't. It's in a box now...

I'm assuming nakahoshi swapped one of the black clips for an unpainted one.

Are you being sarcastic with me? I sure hope not.

I'm saying I don't see it as a big issue from what I can see in the pics. Some other dude from the former Confederacy said that there were gaps as big as the Grand Canyon or other exagerration. Not seeing it as being defective.

But the bottom line is that if you are unhappy with it, send it back. Your own opinion is valid enough about what you have bought.

MIL-DOT · #15

mikerestivo wrote: I'm saying I don't see it as a big issue from what I can see in the pics. Some other dude from the former Confederacy said that there were gaps as big as the Grand Canyon or other exagerration.

Then maybe just one more glance at the description from another "dude from the former Confederacy" , (we'll call him "The O.P., hailing from North Carolina") will be helpful :
".....The first thing I noticed was the obvious gap in the upper/right liner. The other three liner areas are perfect, but that one looks like an empty napkin holder....."
Still not seeing it,huh ? Have you actually looked at the photos,by any chance ? :rolleyes:

mikerestivo · #16

MIL-DOT wrote:Then maybe just one more glance at the description from another "dude from the former Confederacy" , (we'll call him "The O.P., hailing from North Carolina") will be helpful :
".....The first thing I noticed was the obvious gap in the upper/right liner. The other three liner areas are perfect, but that one looks like an empty napkin holder....."
Still not seeing it,huh ? Have you actually looked at the photos,by any chance ? :rolleyes:

Thanks for the insults and the eyerolls. Georgia, CSA, Earth seems to describe the former Confederacy to me. I don't know how NC fits into it.

I AM out of the thread now.

MIL-DOT · #17

mikerestivo wrote:Thanks for the insults and the eyerolls.

I out of the thread now.

I out of the thread now,too. :rolleyes: .

computernut · #18

The main thing that would bother me would be not a tight lock, I have a Delica with some up and down play and it drives me nuts even though it's just a little movement. The gaps in the liners and the scratch I could probably live with but it's your knife.

Blerv · #19

It probably wouldn't bother me. It seems fairly common and if so might just be a model nuance.

Sorry bud. I'd return or send it in, or enjoy using it. Not trying to excuse it for the record.

MachSchnell · #20

Mine is a little off center, but then again it sees regular hard use and the blade has plenty of character. Just use it and you'll soon forget any flaws that it has. This is a superb example of an functional folder that is an awesome slicing machine.