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FRN Stretch 2 FFG vs FRN Endura 4 FFG

us Offline Heinz Doofenshmirtz

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FRN Stretch 2 FFG vs FRN Endura 4 FFG
on: November 11, 2011, 06:36:48 PM
Hi all,

I got a new FRN Stretch 2 with the VG-10 FFG blade a couple of days ago, and wanted to share my thoughts on it, and also compare it with my Endura 4.  I don't have any pics right now, and if anyone wants them, I'll make sure to post some later if requested.  Otherwise, this is just going to be my thoughts and musings about each knife.

First, the size differences between the knives is... unusual.  The blades are nearly the same size when you compare them side by side, but when you look at them separately, the Endura seems a lot bigger.  The handles are certainly much different in size; the Endura's handle is about 5/8" longer than that of the Stretch.  Other than the shape and length of the blades though, the only other difference is that the Spyder-hole on the Stretch is a couple mm larger.  Overall, the Endura is longer and thinner, while the Stretch is shorter and wider.  Except of the length, I'd say the Endura might actually be better for pocket carry because of its long and thin profile.

Looking at the blade shape, it's pretty obvious (to me anyway) that the Endura is meant as a tactial knife along the lines of the Police or the Military.  I've heard people calling the Tenacious the "poor man's" Military, but I'd say that label is better applied to the Endura.  On the other hand, the Stretch is clearly a utility / hunting blade.  Nutnfancy calls it a "light tactical", whatever that's supposed to mean, but I don't agree.  You certainly could use it in a self defense situation if you had to, but calling a "light tactical" implies it was designed with that use somewhat in mind, but I don't think that's the case at all.  It's pretty obvious when you look at the blade shape it wasn't meant for a self defense situation.

Both knives have the bidirectional FRN handles and nested liners, lock back mechanism, and so on.  They both have 4-way clip mounting options, and use the same stamped spring-steel pocket clip.  Both blades are 2.5 mm thick.  The stock edge on the ones I have is slightly different, with the Stretch being more shallowly ground than the Endura.  (Another reason I feel the Endura is meant as a tactical blade and the Stretch as a utility blade.)  The fit and finish on the handle scales on the Stretch is a bit better than on the Endura.  On the back of the knife where the FRN is joined by a spacer, the fit between those three pieces on the Endura is a bit sloppy; the three pieces are a bit out of line, creating a bit of ridging along that section of the handle.  The Stretch is perfect in comparison.  In fact, it looks like they were buffed down and smoothed out after assembly, when that wasn't done with the Endura.

The blade profile of the Stretch is more swept, with more belly than the Endura, so it would be better for things like skinning / caping than the Endura.  It also has a jimped semi-choil that's a half and half between the blade and the scales.  Unlike the Endura though, there's no jimping on the scales either at the choil (the Endura has no choil) or on the back side next to the thumb ramp on the blade.  I'm surprised by this, as Spyderco says the Stretch is descended from a hunting knife design.  If that's the case, and you are using the blade for skinning / caping, then jimping on the scales would be useful to provide extra grip during those kinds of chores.  Regardless, the choil on the Stretch allows you to choke up on the blade for more control to do precision work, and you can also more easily side-hand the blade for doing things like scraping and peeling.

I've never skinned a deer or a pig, but I've cleaned ducks, geese, pheasants, and turkeys while hunting with my grandfather when I was a kid, so I can tell you they can get pretty messy...  Ducks and geese especially.  Given the size and shape of the blade on the Stretch, I'd say it's better for light duty like that with small animals like birds, or rabbits even, than something larger like a pig or a deer.  With a bird, too, you don't have to fully skin them either if you don't want to, nor do you have to fully open them up to clean them; you can just go in through the cloaca to clean them out.  For any of these kinds of chores though, the Stretch is clearly the better choice.

Overall, both are very nice knives, and I'm glad I bought both.  But now that I've got the Stretch, I honestly don't know what to do with the Endura.  Not that I want to get rid of it mind you, just that I like to have some sort of purpose for all of my tools, and right now I can't seem to find a suitable home for the Endura.  I had been keeping it in my EDC bag as a secondary / backup knife to my Dragonfly 2 which I always clip carry in a pocket, but I'm carrying the Stretch in my EDC bag now instead. 

So if you're looking for something for general EDC use that will excel in a wide variety of applications, I'd say the Stretch would be the better choice.  The Endura would be better for larger jobs, tougher materials, and just plain old hacking and stabbing, or self defense purposes.

Just my two cents.  Thanks for reading.  :)
The first Noble Truth: life is suffering.  Only by accepting that fact can we transcend it.


us Offline asupernothing

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Re: FRN Stretch 2 FFG vs FRN Endura 4 FFG
Reply #1 on: November 11, 2011, 07:24:46 PM
Good review and comparision, thanks for the insight.
(insert witty quote)


us Offline Heinz Doofenshmirtz

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Re: FRN Stretch 2 FFG vs FRN Endura 4 FFG
Reply #2 on: November 12, 2011, 08:14:29 PM
Thanks.  I hope someone finds it helpful.
The first Noble Truth: life is suffering.  Only by accepting that fact can we transcend it.


 

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