Spyderco Stretch 2 Review

I got the Spyderco Stretch 2 folder because it came with favorable steel and handle materials at a good price. It had very smooth edges, contoured handle and excellent finish right out of the box, which was impressive. You can totally show off this knife on your social media handles, as it is quite appealing. Although it has been around for long, this is our first experience with it.

It was a comfortable hold for a first timer. I especially like that it is almost a full-sized knife. With almost 4” of handle space, you can hold it in your entire hand most comfortably. It also leaves enough blade space to carry out cutting tasks. The edge is especially sharp, good for cutting through and slicing cardboard boxes, envelopes, and papers.

I have had prior experience with textured and contoured FRN handles, and they never disappoint. So I’m hoping that same would be the case in Spyderco Stretch 2. It matches a lot with the Paramilitary 2 and Para 3 knives.

As you can see, the similarities are quite clear. Stretch 2 may as well has been a lock back PM2, except with a slightly different profile and shape. The Stretch 2 is slightly straighter, which I like. The finger choil is also pretty much the same and comfortable.

I also liked the overall thickness of the knife profile. It is roughly the same as Para 3. It is not too thin or thick yet lightweight. It is also pretty easy to disassemble and clean, as with my experience with similar knives by Spyderco.

The thumb hole is bigger and very smooth to operate. It easily flicks open and close without any blade play. You can even flick it open without twisting your wrist too much, which I like.

The K390 blade of Stretch 2 is a high-quality steel, close to Maxamet, which ranks at the highest level. Its edge stability exceeds CPM-M4. With a drop-point belly and straight spine, Stretch 2’s blade looks promising.

The high vanadium level adds to the toughness and wear resistance of the knife. It promotes carbides formation and allow for a super sharp edge. The hardness level of K390 measures up to 65HRC, making it a good knife to cut hard materials.

You can sharp the K390 of Stretch 2 with a standard whetstone like aluminum oxide stone. However, it could be challenging. But the good thing is that the sharpened edge will carry on for a longer period, and you can use it for various tasks before the need for sharpening arises.

The good thing is that the advantages of K390 exceed the disadvantages, making Stretch 2 a reliable knife.

The blade stock thickness matches that of an EDC knife. Its thickness is just right to carry out almost all kinds of outdoor and kitchen tasks.

The FRN handle scale is very well contoured and textured to enable a comfortable and slip-free hold. Therefore, it is suffice to say that the ergonomics on Stretch 2 are great. That, combined with the handle size, Stretch 2 makes for the perfect gripping knife.

However, the blue texture may not be the best choice, as it can come off and show visible signs of wear. The black finish, on the other hand, is a better choice of finishing.

At the same time, Spyderco has left a small section of the handle without texturing right where the 4-position ambidextrous pocket clip lies. It is so that when you hang the knife from the pocket, it does not shred the cloth material in the process.

The silver skeletonized liners run the length of the entire handle of Stretch 2. It goes in all the Spyderco Stretch 2 variants, including lightweight versions. This adds rigidity to the handle without adding extra weight and making it feel bulky.

There is also a lanyard hole at the base of the handle with pivot phosphorus bronze washers that are always appreciated. They are corrosion resistant and can last the length of the life of the knife. The bronze washers also add rigidity to the knife’s pivot, making the knife streamlined in design.

The fit and finish also aligns with the knife’s design, and is as good as it can get. However, there are a couple of drawbacks: firstly, the meeting point of the two scales at the back of the handle has uneven areas.

Secondly, the chamfering on the inner edge of the scale is missing, leaving sharp edges and a blade that is not perfectly straight. It could be a turn off for some knife enthusiasts, therefore, worth mentioning. However, it is good enough for me at this price point.

The lockback is the classic folding knife locking mechanism, easy to operate and is a favorite among knife collectors and enthusiasts. The fact that it is as simple as opening the blade manually with the thumb hole is what makes it a great lock choice. Other locking mechanisms such as the R.I.L takes some getting used to like Spyderco Swayback which I reviewed few days earlier.

The backlock works smoothly on Spyderco Stretch 2. However, it can add to the overall price of the knife depending on the kind of steel. The K390 certainly fits the bill with $150.

When locking the blade, it fits smoothly and evenly between the liners without absolutely no blade play no matter how you open and close the knife. Unlocking the knife is just as easy.

Spyderco uses the Boye Detent in the lock bar, which is just an indent. It helps when pushing the lock down to disengage it. However, the only drawback is that the blade may slightly move sideways after opening it.

Spyderco Stretch 2 is hardly a knife to keep for collection purposes. It is meant to be used if you want to take full utility of the knife. So, we tested the knife in the field using various methods.

We started off by cutting pieces of cardboard, and the action was the smoothest. You can see that the knife cut very smooth edges of the cardboard without breaking a sweat. The knife required minimal pressure, as the blade was sharp and the handle was quite grippy.

We continued carrying on with the task for a longer period, without the Stretch 2 giving way. It proved to be an excellent knife to work with boxes and paper around the house and in the office.

With the easy locking mechanism, we were able to flick it open and close continually with one hand without having any trouble. It also slip easily and quickly in and out of the pocket, and the pocket clip finishing and texture was well done, allowing it to be discreet.

We also used the knife wearing gloves and in freezing cold weather. It did not disappoint there as well.

The edge of the blade being thinner on one side than the other proved to be slightly varying in precise cuts. Although, it does not hinder the cutting performance, it can easily be countered with smart sharpening technique, and some savvy sharpening tools and experience. You can also consult an expert to get your knife sharpened in the best possible way.

It was also able to cut the wood chips in fine thinner pieces without any trouble.

I also cut the lanyard or say chop lanyard string in small pieces as if I’m chopping chilies and did it with easy.

Comparison between Spyderco Stretch 2 and Paramilitary 2 is inevitable in Spyderco Stretch 2 review. The profile of the two knives is very similar, except with a few differences.

The Paramilitary mostly comes in VG-10 blade with G10 handle scales, with its exclusive variants available in Sprint Runs and Cru-wear.