Description

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: Serrated
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