Brown G-10 Stretch "Test Model" observations

[Tabo]

Nice. Thanks, Tabo. Do you have small hands? Looks like lots of room on that handle. It's what I'm hoping for.

No problem! I wear a large size glove. Plenty of room on the handle for both normal and choked up grips. I was already cutting some heavy plastic today and there wasn't any hot spots when doing so.

I recommend it highly if you can swallow the price.

[Jazz]

Well, I ordered one from BladeHQ. Hasn't shipped yet. Weird. Not impressed with the price, but have been looking forward to the improvements. I hope it's worth it. Looks good in your pics. :cool:

[wrdwrght]

Mine arrived this morning.

My initial impression is that I really, really like it. The heft, scale color, and slight increase in blade height (above the belly) and handle length all please me.

Thanks, Sal. Your Hunter has come a long way.

As much as I like my three FRN Stretches, I think this one feels beefy enough to compare favorably with the Manix2s or PM2s I prize.

[Liquid Cobra]

Pics or it didn't happen

[wrdwrght]

:)

[PayneTrain]

Perfect! Wrdwrght, it's hard to tell from the pic, but I was told long ago in this thread that the G10 model would be thinner in the handle than the FRN. Can you confirm this?

[wrdwrght]

Using primitive calipers, I'd say the G10 is 2mm thinner than the FRN.

I forgot to add in my first impressions that the blade has absolutely no vertical play.

[Able Dog]

Mmmmm it is beautiful! I look forward to video reviews of this one.

[Liquid Cobra]

Using primitive calipers, I'd say the G10 is 2mm thinner than the FRN.

I forgot to add in my first impressions that the blade has absolutely no vertical play.

I wonder if the fit and finish on these will be a little nicer than usual because they can only produce 100 a month. No blade play sounds good to me.

[PayneTrain]

Using primitive calipers, I'd say the G10 is 2mm thinner than the FRN.

Sweeeet...
Thanks for checking that for me. My hand is going to love this thing.

[Lebowski22]

Just put in my order for one. The price is slightly more then I wanted to spend, but I wanted this knife since I first heard of it's upcoming release.

The stretch, being my very first Spyderco way back when I was a babe in the woods, holds a very special sentimental status to me.

Hopefully it will arrive later this week. Thanks again Sal for putting this knife out there for us.

[The Deacon]

Got mine a couple weeks back, when they first started hitting dealer shelves. Looked and felt exactly like I remember the one I got to play with last year. Haven't grown any fonder of peel-ply G-10, and I really want to "get to know" this third iteration of the Stretch, so I sent it out to Sketchen Scales for some new clothes. Namely, black palm scales with "Anso style" texture. Photos he took of it are here, for anyone interested. He mailed it out today, so I should have it back in a couple days.

[Jazz]

Those scales look great, Paul. Can't wait to see it together. I'm assuming the knife feels a bit odd with your carry method, given it's a wee bit longer?

[Donut]

That looks really nice Paul! Congrats.

I knew you would be sending at least one out for new scales.

[The Deacon]

Those scales look great, Paul. Can't wait to see it together. I'm assuming the knife feels a bit odd with your carry method, given it's a wee bit longer?

Thanks Jazz. Never carried this one while it was "stock", but the proto fit fine in my back pocket and I don't think the new scales will have added any length. As for the texture, I don't have it back yet, so I can't say whether or not I'll notice it. It may not wind up being my first, or even second, choice to carry if I'm going on an all day drive, but I don't plan on doing that anytime soon. Should be fine for walking Bear and for my usual shopping trips.

That looks really nice Paul! Congrats.

I knew you would be sending at least one out for new scales.

Thanks Brian. Had to see what one would look like dressed decently. :D

[spinynorman]

...I included one of the "1st generation" Stretches, modified with brown canvas micarta inlay, as well since they were even a bit shorter than the current, "2nd generation" version.

Hi Paul, excellent writeup, and as a Stretch fan, I was wondering where could I get canvas micarta inlays like the ones shown on your 1st generation Stretch?

Thanks,
Doug

[The Deacon]

Hi Paul, excellent writeup, and as a Stretch fan, I was wondering where could I get canvas micarta inlays like the ones shown on your 1st generation Stretch?

Thanks,
Doug

Hi Doug, the gentleman who did mine was Chase Axxin. Not sure if he's still "in the game", not sure he'd be willing to take on that particular job again. Not sure if there's anyone else out there who'd be willing to tackle it either. Simply put, it's a royal PITA. The irregular shape of the cutout alone would make it difficult, the oval "landing pad" for the clip probably ups that by a factor of 10. They work just fine, but fit looks a lot better in that photo than when viewed directly from the side.

[Surfingringo]

I have played with the new Stretch extensively now and for my hand it is a huge improvement. I will likely pick one up when the frn version comes out.

[RadioactiveSpyder]

Congrats Paul on the Ketchen-ized Stretch, the pics of it are beautiful! :D

I thought might have been the first to send him one, mine will be heading his way very soon for some scales in another wood. I like your texturing; I was going to have him just swell the handles in spots for a 3D palm-filling effect but smooth overall.

Buyer beware though, Ketchen venom is more powerful than Sal's brand even, you'll be rebranding all your stock handles soon (if you have any left! ) Cheers, Radioactive :)

[Surfingringo]

Friar Phenn has a GB in that Spketch thread that has one of the sweetest looking custom handles I've ever seen.