A Stretch heavyweight would be a VERY nice knife

[jackknifeh]

I know. I'd still want an origional as well.



Well, it's a Phoenix not a GB but maybe this helps? Kinda similar starting grinds.

I had the same questions but Tom did a fantastic job with it. I still have an un modded Phoenix too but when I carry one, it's this one.




Ken

Where did I get the GB into my head? I'll never know. That Phoenix does look good.

[chuck_roxas45]

So where do we pre-order the super blue stretch?

[kbuzbee]

That Phoenix does look good.

Thanks! One of my all time favorites.

Ken

[The Deacon]

FFG'ing a blade has it's advantages, mainly making it a better slicer but, IMHO, it does tend to make the blade less robust. Not necessarily "delicate" or "fragile" but removing metal is going to make the blade relatively weaker compared to the original flat or hollow saber grind. I could see having TK thin out the blade of a lightweight Stretch to make it an even better slicer, but I'm not seeing the logic for doing it to a GB if your looking to maintain its status as a hard use knife.

[kbuzbee]

FFG'ing a blade has it's advantages, mainly making it a better slicer but, IMHO, it does tend to make the blade less robust. Not necessarily "delicate" or "fragile" but removing metal is going to make the blade relatively weaker compared to the original flat or hollow saber grind. I could see having TK thin out the blade of a lightweight Stretch to make it an even better slicer, but I'm not seeing the logic for doing it to a GB if your looking to maintain its status as a hard use knife.

Absolutely. Just depends what you're going to use it for. In my case, I don't see a big downside. Even thinned out that M4 would be way stronger than I ever "intend" to need. As is, it's orders of magnitudes beyond my needs. But even thinned out seems like it would go well beyond a Stretch (which is already plenty stout).

Not really planning to do it. I like my GB just the way it is. Just a thought tangent.

Ken

[The Deacon]

Absolutely. Just depends what you're going to use it for. In my case, I don't see a big downside. Even thinned out that M4 would be way stronger than I ever "intend" to need. As is, it's orders of magnitudes beyond my needs. But even thinned out seems like it would go well beyond a Stretch (which is already plenty stout).

Not really planning to do it. I like my GB just the way it is. Just a thought tangent.

Ken

I understand now Ken, lot's of my thoughts are tangents these days and it's not as if this thread hadn't already taken some interesting twists and turns. Which is probably a tribute to the Stretch. A knife has to be pretty well liked for there to be so many different visions of what would make it even better. I was just confused that it seemed to go in the opposite direction from Jack's suggestions for "beefing it up" to be more like the GB.

[kbuzbee]

I was just confused that it seemed to go in the opposite direction from Jack's suggestions for "beefing it up" to be more like the GB.

Of course it did... I wrote it

Cheers!

Ken

[Blerv]

I think in some cases FFG is extremely over-hyped. Sure overall it's thinner (especially the tip) but behind the edge often it isn't compared to the same knife in a hollow-grind. Some non-broad blades, like the Khukuri, are actually pretty squat in edge profile.

If "slicing" is determined by not having bevel shoulders to hang-up in dense materials all FFG blades are better. If that is defined by edge profile and ease of cutting many HG's blow them away. Especially those knives that USED to be hollow-ground that someone like Krein took a grinder too.

[The Deacon]

I think in some cases FFG is extremely over-hyped. Sure overall it's thinner (especially the tip) but behind the edge often it isn't compared to the same knife in a hollow-grind. Some non-broad blades, like the Khukuri, are actually pretty squat in edge profile.

If "slicing" is determined by not having bevel shoulders to hang-up in dense materials all FFG blades are better. If that is defined by edge profile and ease of cutting many HG's blow them away. Especially those knives that USED to be hollow-ground that someone like Krein took a grinder too.

Well, yes, no, and maybe. Ignoring sharpness, there are at least five variables involved: blade width, thickness at the spine, thickness directly behind the edge, edge grind angle and primary grind type. Blade finish could probably be added to that list as well. IMHO, if all the other variables are equal, a full flat grind will out slice any other grind type, at least when slicing thick, dense material.

[Blerv]

Well, yes, no, and maybe. Ignoring sharpness, there are at least five variables involved: blade width, thickness at the spine, thickness directly behind the edge, edge grind angle and primary grind type. Blade finish could probably be added to that list as well. IMHO, if all the other variables are equal, a full flat grind will out slice any other grind type, at least when slicing thick, dense material.

True. Still, just acting as an advocate for hollow-grinds in the day and age of FFG fanatics.

When blanket policies are used to placate an audience (eg: fine, we can FFG it all!) some products get better and some get worse. Thick/narrow FFG knives can look nice and be great wedges. They can also be pretty crappy slicers for all tasks but watermelon prep and pumpkin carving.

Luckily I don't think Spyderco uses these blanket policies. The day all grind lines are eliminated I'll personally cry a little inside.

[chuck_roxas45]

True. Still, just acting as an advocate for hollow-grinds in the day and age of FFG fanatics.

When blanket policies are used to placate an audience (eg: fine, we can FFG it all!) some products get better and some get worse. Thick/narrow FFG knives can look nice and be great wedges. They can also be pretty crappy slicers for all tasks but watermelon prep and pumpkin carving.

Luckily I don't think Spyderco uses these blanket policies. The day all grind lines are eliminated I'll personally cry a little inside.

Yeh, unfortunate for the chinook 3.

[MCM]

Not to sound like nutn here, but the larger jimping on the early run was much better IMO.
Have had 4 in CF total, kept the two with the larger jimping. (I really hate using that word) LOL LOL
Here is the one to get / model a new one after.
{It was tough finding the 2nd one, but easy to trade the excess two away}

[TBob]

I never had one of the old ones, but the Stretch CF jimping works great for me. It also matches the other newer Spydercos that I have.

[xceptnl]

Not to sound like nutn here, but the larger jimping on the early run was much better IMO.

+1 The older jimping on the Stretch is better as well as the large square jimping on the older military.

[MCM]

I never had one of the old ones, but the Stretch CF jimping works great for me. It also matches the other newer Spydercos that I have.

Understand, you have no point of reference on the matter...

[DRKBC]

Now that you mentioned it, the handle of GB does look like Stretch exchanged a six pack for a keg, and perhaps t-shirt and jeans for tuxedo.

Strangely enough after a few years of marriage the same thing happened to me.

[dialex]

...My personal desire for a knife the size of the Stretch is to be more robust...

Jack

The very first Stretch could be what you are looking for.

[razorsharp]

Same color? No additional muscle?

sal

Nishjin CF? Blue G10?, Black CF weaved with blue fiberglass? (texalium)

[kbuzbee]

Nishjin CF? Blue G10?, Black CF weaved with blue fiberglass? (texalium)

So.... The secret code buried in Sal's reply said:

"If we do FRN you could see it "soon". If we do anything else, it MAY happen someday."

I love your suggestions, as well as mine of Burgandy Micarta. But the choice seems to be having one in FRN or wanting one in Micarta.....

As to jimping, I used to think I cared about it. Turns out, I don't Fine jimping, wide jimping, no jimping at all.... It's all good.

Ken

[jackknifeh]

So.... The secret code buried in Sal's reply said:

"If we do FRN you could see it "soon". If we do anything else, it MAY happen someday."

I love your suggestions, as well as mine of Burgandy Micarta. But the choice seems to be having one in FRN or wanting one in Micarta.....

As to jimping, I used to think I cared about it. Turns out, I don't Fine jimping, wide jimping, no jimping at all.... It's all good.
Ken

I like your comment about jimping. I like jimping as long as it is perfect (for me). Of course asking anything to be perfect for any one person is rediculous. Most are too hard on my thumb. The Native lightweight is the worst example. The squared jimps had to be ground into a rounded shape each within one day of ownership. Just looking at that knife made my thumb hurt. Even the small jimping sometimes is too rough on my thumb when cutting material requiring a lot of pressure with my thumb and a lot of use. I have "smoothed" the jimping on a lot of my knives. On the flip side I don't think I've held a knife recently that doesn't have any jimping for the thumb at all. So, I'd have to use one without any jimping to remember if I would like none at all. If jimping is going to be used I think the manufacturer should make it rougher rather than smoother. I can always smooth it but making it more aggressive (and look good ) is about impossible for me. Index finger or handle jimping? I find that I don't have an opinion about it. That makes me think it doesn't have much impact on using the knife, for me anyway.

Just my jimping thoughts.

Jack