Spyderco's Stretch 2 XL Lightweight is the
another chapter of a tale that began decades ago. Its long, rich history
started with a focus on serving the needs of hunters and outdoorsmen;
but its design has steadily evolved far beyond that scope to become one
of the most capable all-purpose folding knives in our line.
The
roots of this story began in 1983 when Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser
created C03 Hunter. It was the first CLIPIT knife to feature a
drop-point blade—a style preferred by many outdoorsmen for processing
game. Like all early Spyderco models, the Hunter had a GIN-1 stainless
steel blade, a riveted stainless steel handle, a sturdy lockback
mechanism, and a single-position clip configured for tip-down carry.
Both right and left-handed versions were produced and both were
available with both PlainEdge and SpyderEdge blades.
In 1991, the
Hunter design was updated to add a bit more "belly" to the blade and
incorporate Kraton inserts into the handle and clip to provide a more
secure grip in demanding field conditions. These changes initially
created the C13 Pro-Hunter, but because that name was already in use by
another company, it was later changed to the ProVenator (venator meaning
"hunter" in Latin). To reduce the knife's weight and make it more
affordable, in 1994 the ProVenator design was rendered with a
lightweight fiberglass-reinforced-nylon (FRN) handle with a Kraton inlay
and an integral clip configured for tip-up carry. Initially, this model
was called the ProVenator Lightweight, but since the term "venator" was
not well known in the mainstream market, it was later renamed the C33
ProGrip.
In 1999, the C13 and C33 models were merged as the C13
ProGrip, which continued to be available with a choice of a stainless
steel or FRN handle. During the early 2000's, both versions were made
using several different blade steels and offered in both PlainEdge and
CombinationEdge configurations.
In 2004, the ProGrip was phased
out and the first Stretch model was introduced. As its name implies, it
was a "stretched" version of the ProGrip design. About 17 percent larger
overall and featuring a blade 24 percent longer than the ProGrip, the
Stretch was initially manufactured with a stainless steel handle,
mirror-image Kraton inserts on both sides, a four-position pocket clip,
and a VG-10 stainless steel blade. In 2006, this version was
discontinued and replaced a year later with a Stretch featuring carbon
fiber scales and an ultra-high-carbon ZDP-189 blade. Unlike the Hunter,
Pro-Hunter, ProVenator, and ProGrip models, which all had hollow-ground
blades, the refined Stretch design also marked a transition to a
full-flat grind.
Following in the footsteps of its predecessors,
in 2009, the Stretch pattern was rendered in a more affordable
lightweight version featuring an injection-molded FRN handle, a
high-traction Bi-Directional Texture pattern, skeletonized stainless
steel liners, and a four-position pocket clip. The Stretch Lightweight
was originally offered with a VG-10 stainless steel blade, but soon
inspired other variations, including one with an ultra-high-carbon
ZDP-189 blade and a British Racing Green FRN handle.
In 2015, Sal
Glesser went back to the drawing board again and redesigned the Stretch
to lengthen its handle slightly, refine its ergonomics, and deepen its
index-finger choil. Collectively, these subtle changes enhance the
user's control over the knife and make it even better suited to
general-purpose use. Initially offered with full skeletonized stainless
steel liners and peel-ply-textured G-10 scales, this design—christened
the Stretch 2—also inspired lightweight versions featuring blades
crafted of both standard stainless steel and high-performance tool
steels. On some versions of the Stretch 2, the signature drop-point
blade was also replaced by a "straight-spined" profile, which reflects
Spyderco's classic design style and supports a more evolved, all-purpose
functionality by providing a more acute point.
Throughout this
entire evolutionary process, in addition to the many main-product-line
versions detailed above, we also produced a broad range of variants,
Exclusives, and Sprint Run expressions of these models with different
blade steels, handle materials, and other unique features.
The Stretch 2 XL Lightweight
What
happens when you stretch something that's already been stretched once?
In the case of the Stretch 2, you get an "extra-large" expression of the
same proven design—and a lot more.
The Stretch 2 XL Lightweight
extends the Stretch 2's overall length by eight percent, while packing
13 percent more blade length into its full-flat-ground VG-10 stainless
steel blade. The blade's straight spine tapers to an acute, utilitarian
point and gives it the signature "modified clip point" profile of some
of Spyderco's most iconic models. A fully accessible Trademark Round
Hole allows swift, reliable, one-handed opening with either hand. To
allow enhanced control during precise cutting chores, the design
includes a 50/50 choil (finger groove) that enables the user to "choke
up," gripping the knife closer to the blade. Both the choil and its
opposing thumb ramp have strategically placed jimping (textured grooves)
to ensure a secure purchase.
Despite its larger size, the Stretch
2 XL is actually 29 percent lighter than the Stretch 2
Lightweight—tipping the scale at a mere 2.7 ounces (77 grams). It
achieves this amazing quality by dispensing with the stainless steel
liners of its progenitor and using linerless construction. Its
injection-molded FRN handle scales have a network of reinforced ribs on
their interior surfaces to give them enhanced structural strength. The
outer surfaces feature a Bi-Directional Texture pattern for a secure,
non-slip grip in even the most demanding conditions. A sturdy lockback
mechanism locks the blade securely when in use and a fully configurable
four-position pocket clip provides a choice of left or right-side,
tip-up or tip-down carry. These features, together with the knife's
completely symmetrical design, make all aspects of its carry and
operation completely ambidextrous.
Offering extra-large-sized
cutting performance in an ultra-lightweight package. The culmination of
an evolutionary process that has spanned nearly four decades, this
remarkable folding knife is in a class all its own.
Specifications
- Blade Length: 3.92" (100 mm)
- Closed Length: 4.97" (126 mm)
- Overall Length: 8.85" (225 mm)
- Cutting Edge: 3.46" (88 mm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.118" (3.0 mm)
- Blade Material: VG10 Stainless Steel
- Blade Style: Leaf Shaped
- Blade Grind: Full-Flat
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Handle Material: FRN
- Handle Color: Black
- Locking Mechanism: Lockback
- Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel (Tip-Up/Down, Right/Left Carry)
- Model Number: C258PBK
- Model Name: Stretch 2XL Lightweight
- Weight: 2.7 oz. (77 g)
- Made in Japan
